A New Dawn: Israeli-Syrian Relations on the Path to Reconciliation

In a significant shift, Syria and Israel are engaging in indirect talks to address border issues, signaling a thaw in decades of animosity, influenced by a mutual disdain for Iran and mediated by the U.S.

Syria and Israel, historically entrenched in hostility, are now taking steps toward diplomatic engagement as the new Syrian regime led by President Ahmed al-Shara seeks to establish contact with its neighbor to the south. Recent discussions facilitated by the United States reflect a significant shift after years of animosity, paving the way for indirect negotiations aimed at resolving pressing border issues.

The current dialogue marks the most serious interaction between the two nations in over a decade, moving away from the confrontational stance held by former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Both Israel and Syria share heightened concerns regarding Iran's influence in the region, which has traditionally supported Assad. Al-Shara's administration, rooted in a coalition that ousted Assad, finds common ground with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in countering the threats posed by Iranian-backed militia groups.

United States envoy to Syria, Thomas J. Barrack Jr., has been instrumental in brokering these back-channel discussions, advocating for a nonaggression pact between the two countries to foster a more stable relationship. Despite ongoing Israeli military operations within southern Syria, the establishments' engagement underscores a new chapter in Israeli-Syrian relations, driven by practicality and mutual interests over historical animosities.