The recent diplomatic overtures from Israel have exposed a significant divide, as Israel’s conditions for normalizing ties with Syria and Lebanon clash directly with the broader Arab Peace Initiative. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed Israel’s interest on Monday but insisted the Golan Heights are non-negotiable, while Syria and others demand adherence to the 2002 initiative.
Israel’s push for new ties is attributed by its leaders to Iran’s perceived weakening after the recent 12-day war, creating an opportunity for other regional countries to forge relations. This follows a period of significant regional upheaval, including the Gaza conflict, Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, and the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
Saar explicitly stated Israel’s interest in adding Syria and Lebanon to the “circle of peace and normalisation,” aiming to safeguard Israel’s security interests. This diplomatic drive builds on the 2020 Abraham Accords, which saw the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco normalize ties with Israel, though these agreements were deeply unpopular in the broader Arab world.
However, a senior Syrian official, speaking anonymously, firmly stated that any normalization efforts must be part of the comprehensive 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. This initiative calls for full Arab recognition of Israel in exchange for its complete withdrawal from occupied territories, including the Golan Heights, West Bank, and Gaza, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Israel’s Foreign Minister, however, deemed conditioning normalization on Palestinian statehood “not constructive” and a threat to Israel’s security, illustrating the deep ideological chasm preventing easy reconciliation.