U.S. Should Promote Security Agreement as Precursor to Israel-Syria Normalization

Israel and Syria may be inching toward a breakthrough, with ongoing security discussions signaling the potential for a peace agreement after decades of hostility. According to Israeli sources, talks between the two sides have advanced in recent weeks. Syria’s interim leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has sought to project openness toward Israel, stating in December that he would “seek no conflict, whether with Israel or anyone else, and we will not allow Syria to be used as a base for such hostilities.”

However, reports have indicated that Sharaa has made it clear that Syria will not accept a deal with Israel without the return of the Golan Heights — a nonstarter for Israel. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has reiterated, “The Golan will remain part of the State of Israel.” Still, both sides may consider a security agreement as a first step, laying the groundwork for broader diplomatic ties and normalization in the future. The Jewish state effectively annexed the Golan Heights in 1981 when it passed a law applying Israeli law over the territory. In 2019, the first Trump administration formally recognized Israeli sovereignty in the Golan.

Syrian Openness to Discussions With Israel

Since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Syrian officials have sought to alleviate Israel’s concerns over the new Islamist leadership. In one of the earliest signs of outreach, Damascus Governor Maher Marwan declared that the “new administration is not fearful of Israel and does not want to ally with any other country against it and does not want to endanger its security.”

Despite this initial overture, tensions escalated when Israeli Foreign Minister Saar labeled Syria’s new leaders as “terrorists in suits” and Israel pledged to protect the Druze minority in southern Syria through military intervention. However, the dynamic began to shift following the removal of U.S. sanctions and closer engagement between Washington and Damascus. In May, Israel and Syria held direct talks aimed at reducing tensions. Since then, Israeli airstrikes have become less frequent, though occasional ground incursions have continued, including operations that resulted in the capture of Hamas operatives near the border.

Golan Heights Will Block the Path To Full Normalization for Now

The future of the Golan Heights, a territory under Israeli control since 1967, remains the single most contentious issue blocking any path to normalization or peace between Israel and Syria. For Sharaa, relinquishing Syria’s claim would risk sparking public unrest, echoing past anger directed at former Syrian leaders Hafez and Bashar al-Assad, whom many Syrians accused of abandoning the Golan.

For Israel, the Golan holds immense strategic value, as it provides critical water resources and serves as a military buffer. Ceding it would expose Israel to potential threats from the elevated positions in the territory. Although past negotiations, such as those between Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Hafez al-Assad, had contemplated a land-for-peace deal involving the Golan, talks ultimately collapsed over Syrian demands for access to the Sea of Galilee.

Israel’s strategic calculus has shifted following the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023. The Gaza experience has hardened Israeli skepticism toward territorial concessions, and the idea of handing over the Golan to a fragile Syrian administration strikes most Israelis as a dangerous gamble.

Washington Should Back Syria-Israel Security Talks

President Trump has urged Syria to foster closer ties with Israel. Although the process remains in its early stages, the United States can play a crucial role in brokering talks by asking Syria to remove all Palestinian factions operating on its territory that pose a threat to Israel. Washington should also urge Damascus to establish a mechanism to coordinate with Israel on any security threats emanating from southern Syria, including those of Iranian-backed organizations. In areas where Syria cannot act directly, Israeli operations — with Syrian consent — could serve as a practical interim solution. A security framework would lay the foundation for trust-building for future negotiations.

Ahmad Sharawi is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from Ahmad and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Ahmad on X @AhmadA_Sharawi. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.