FANTASTICAL: Syria and Israel in Conversations to Normalize Relations

It’s a notion that seemed like the stuff of fiction only a year ago.

Israel and Syria are openly discussing a permanent peace deal. For the 1st time in modern history Syria will end its claim to the Golan Heights, annexed by Israel after the 1967 war.

No US President and Israeli Prime Minister Minister ever managed to achieve this cementing of Israeli security and rights. This would be a historic development, and will lead to a peace deal with Lebanon as well.

Israeli left-wing Prime Ministers all wanted to give up this crucial territory to Syria. Itzhak Shamir, and Benjamin Netanyahu insisted the Golan is Israel.

All US modern Presidents wanted to give up this crucial territory to Syria, President Trump insisted the Golan is Israel.

These are historic wins, historic leaders, after fifty plus years of dispute and conflict. (X)

Times of Israel: Israel and Syria are holding “advanced talks” on a bilateral agreement halting hostilities between the countries, a senior Israeli official told The Times of Israel on Monday. The contacts are focused on coordination around security matters, said the official, who would not speculate on when a full peace deal between the two enemy states could turn into reality. “Could it develop into something beyond (security arrangements)?” the official asked. “We will wait and see. For now, there isn’t anything concrete” (Times of Israel).

What are the terms or the conditions of such an development? Israel Hayom: According to a report by Lebanon’s LBCI news channel, Syria has outlined several conditions for normalizing relations with Israel. These reportedly include official Israeli recognition of the regime led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, a full withdrawal from territories captured by Israel last December, an end to Israeli airstrikes in Syria, security arrangements in southern Syria, and US guarantees and support for the Syrian regime. In return, Syria may agree to permanently recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights (Israel Hayom).

That last part– Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights—is enormously significant. Michael Oren explains: We must not miss this opportunity … (Oren). Lazar Berman: Could this lead to Syria joining the Abraham Accords? And what position does this put Turkey in, even as its neighbor, Iran, just suffered a defeat at the hands of the US and Israel? (TOI).