Syrian and Israeli officials reportedly hold direct de-escalation talks

Israeli and Syrian officials have reportedly held, in recent weeks, face-to-face de-escalation talks with the goal of reducing tensions between the two countries and longtime foes.

Five unnamed individuals who are familiar with the issue, revealed that Syria is represented in the talks by its border governor Ahmad al-Dalati. The Israeli side is represented by unnamed security officials. The direct meetings have reportedly been held in the border region between the two countries, including talks on Israeli-controlled territory. 

One informed source revealed that the focus of the talks is for now "about peace, as in the absence of war, rather than normalization”.

However, it still marks an important development as the countries have been enemies ever since Syria attacked the reborn Jewish state in May 1948. Syria also attacked Israel during the Six Day War in 1967 and during the Yom Kippur War in 1973.

In recent years, Syria has become a hub for anti-Israel terrorism, especially during the years of Iranian influence. Since the direct bilateral meetings are considered a sensitive topic, Israeli and Syrian officials have so far refrained from discussing the issue in public. 

In December 2024, the secular pro-Iranian Assad regime collapsed after over 50 years in power. Syria’s current interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has a history as an Al Qaida-affiliated jihadist, claims that he has reformed and seeks peace. While Israeli officials have been skeptical and described him as a terrorist in a suit, European countries and the United States have signaled that they are prepared to give Syria a fresh start. 

Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump met with the new Syrian Islamist leader during a visit in Saudi Arabia. It was the first direct meeting between an American president and a Syrian leader in 25 years. Trump reportedly urged al-Sharaa to join the Arab Israeli Abraham Accords and expel Palestinian Arab terrorists from Syrian territory.

Following the meeting, Trump announced that Washington would lift the economic sanctions against Syria. However, the U.S. State Department warned in a letter to the Syrian foreign ministry that “we will not allow Syria to become a source of threat to any party, including Israel.”

Al-Sharaa confirmed earlier this month that indirect talks between Syria and Israel were taking place, following reports that the United Arab Emirates was facilitating this diplomatic dialogue. The new Syrian leader has also signaled that his regime does not pose any threat to the Jewish state. However, Jerusalem remains skeptical due to al-Sharaa’s radical Jihadist past. 

Following the collapse of the Assad regime, the Israeli military swiftly neutralized remaining Syrian military assets and seized a strategic border buffer zone to prevent anti-Israel Islamists from threatening nearby communities. The Israeli government has vowed not to tolerate hostile Islamist groups on the Syrian-Israeli border.

Following Trump’s meeting with al-Sharaa, Israel has signaled a growing willingness to engage in a dialogue with the new Syrian leadership. 

Last week, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, even assessed that Israel could potentially normalize its ties with Syria and Lebanon even ahead of a potential normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia. 

"There's no reason now why we wouldn't be moving into accommodation with Syria and Lebanon," Leiter said. 

"We have dramatically changed the paradigm there. I'm very upbeat about the potential for an Abraham Accord with Syria and Lebanon, and that may actually precede Saudi Arabia."