Netanyahu Eyes Peace With Syria: Trump Tapped to Broker Historic Golan Deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly requested today that the Trump administration to mediate peace negotiations with Syria’s new government, aiming to update the 1974 disengagement agreement and pave the way for a historic peace deal. During a visit by Tom Barrack, Trump’s Syria envoy and ambassador to Turkey, Netanyahu expressed his desire to seize the diplomatic opportunity created by Syria’s leadership change. “We want to try and move towards normalization with Syria as soon as possible,” a senior Israeli official stated. This marks a significant shift, as Israel initially labeled Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a “terrorist” due to his jihadist past, launching airstrikes that decimated Syrian military infrastructure after the Assad regime’s fall in December 2024.

Despite early skepticism, Israel sees potential in al-Sharaa’s government, especially after Trump’s unexpected meeting with him in Riyadh last month, where he lifted U.S. sanctions on Syria. “It is better for us that the Syrian government is close to the U.S. and Saudi Arabia,” the Israeli official noted, highlighting concerns over Turkish influence. Israel’s engagement evolved from indirect messaging to covert meetings in third countries. Barrack, who toured the Golan Heights with Israeli officials, called the Israel-Syria conflict “a solvable problem,” advocating for a non-aggression pact as a starting point. Israel’s red lines include no Turkish bases, no Iranian or Hezbollah presence, and southern Syria’s demilitarization, with a demand for U.S. troops in the UN truce-monitoring force.

The Golan Heights, occupied by Israel since 1967 and recognized as Israeli territory by Trump in 2019, remains a contentious issue. Unlike the Assad regime’s insistence on full withdrawal, al-Sharaa’s government may show flexibility, Israeli officials believe. Netanyahu’s push for talks, the first since 2011, reflects a strategic pivot amid Iran’s weakened regional influence and Syria’s 700,000 war deaths. Barrack briefed Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, writing on X, “I can assure you the President’s vision with the Secretary’s execution is not only hopeful but achievable.”