by Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – In a stunning diplomatic shift, Israeli officials confirmed Monday that Israel is in advanced talks with Syria and Lebanon as part of a broader effort to expand the Abraham Accords and reshape the regional balance of power.
At a press conference in Tel Aviv, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced that Israel is actively pursuing peace deals with both countries but firmly ruled out any negotiation over the Golan Heights. “The Golan Heights will remain part of the State of Israel,” he declared, reiterating a long-standing Israeli position.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is reportedly playing a central role in the mediation efforts. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said last Thursday that Syria could be among the next nations to join the Abraham Accords. Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, hinted at “big announcements” soon to come, suggesting more nations are poised to formalize ties with Israel.
The possibility of a peace agreement with Syria represents a dramatic reversal of decades of hostility. Israeli officials say talks are focused on security coordination and a possible end to formal hostilities. While a full normalization deal is not yet on the table, both sides appear more open than ever before. A senior Israeli official told The Times of Israel that “there is absolutely an aspiration to expand the Abraham Accords, and it’s no secret that we want to see Syria in this.”
In a noteworthy departure from previous demands, Damascus is reportedly not insisting on the return of the Golan Heights. Instead, Syrian negotiators are seeking Israeli recognition of the new regime under President Ahmad al-Sharaa, withdrawal from areas in southern Syria seized by the IDF since January, and defined security arrangements in the Jordan-Syria-Israel border triangle. Syrian sources told Lebanese media that American support–albeit vaguely defined–is also on the table.
The U.S. lifted sanctions on Syria earlier this year following Bashar al-Assad’s flight from the country and has since taken the lead in brokering potential peace. Trump met with Sharaa in Riyadh in what was seen as a pivotal moment signaling Washington’s support for regional reintegration of Syria’s new leadership.
Talks are being spearheaded on the Israeli side by National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, who confirmed that Israel and Syria are in “daily direct contact.” The discussions are being treated with the utmost urgency, to the point that testimony in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s trial was postponed so top security officials could brief the court on the breakthrough opportunities.
Still, not everyone within Syria is on board. Lebanese outlet Al-Akhbar cited unnamed sources close to President Sharaa who cautioned that no full consensus exists within Damascus regarding normalization with Israel. Some in his inner circle reportedly advocate for a more limited agreement that halts hostilities without establishing formal diplomatic ties.
The situation in Gaza and lingering tensions across the Arab world complicate Syria’s diplomatic calculus. Critics within the Syrian regime reportedly fear that a full peace deal would diminish Turkish influence while increasing Israeli and Saudi leverage.
Despite such reservations, Israeli officials are signaling cautious optimism. A Kan public broadcaster report noted that Syria has not once raised the issue of the Golan Heights in the ongoing negotiations–a development unthinkable in past decades. Instead, the new regime’s emphasis has been on mutual recognition and security guarantees.
Meanwhile, Israel is also eyeing Lebanon as a potential peace partner. Sa’ar emphasized that Lebanon, long considered an entrenched adversary due to Hezbollah’s presence, is viewed as a possible candidate for normalization in the future.
President Trump, speaking to Fox News, echoed the confidence of his Israeli counterparts: “We have some really great countries in there right now, and I think we’re going to start loading them up,” he said. “Iran was the primary problem… I actually thought Iran would join the Abraham Accords.”
While far from finalized, the current negotiations between Israel and Syria mark the most significant thaw in relations in decades. As the Trump administration presses forward with expanding the Abraham Accords, a new chapter for the Middle East may be on the horizon–one that includes not just former adversaries but entirely redrawn alliances.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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