New Syrian Leader, Visiting US, Plays Down Prospect of Israel Normalisation

Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, visiting New York for the UN General Assembly, expressed hope on Monday for a security deal to ease tensions with Israel, but downplayed any immediate prospect of official recognition.

Sharaa, a former jihadist whose forces toppled longtime President Bashar al-Assad in December, met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and is scheduled to deliver the first address in decades by a Syrian leader to the General Assembly.

Syrian officials have set a target of reaching military and security agreements with Israel by the end of the year. Since Assad’s fall, Israel’s military has repeatedly carried out airstrikes and cross-border operations against Syrian targets.

“I hope that will lead us to an agreement that will keep the sovereignty of Syria and also resolve some of the security fears of Israel,” Sharaa told the Concordia Summit at a New York hotel on the sidelines of the UN session.

When asked about joining the Abraham Accords—the 2020 agreements under which the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco normalised relations with Israel—Sharaa was cautious.

• Sharaa stated:“Syria is different, as those that are part of the Abraham Accords are not Israel’s neighbours. Syria has been subjected to more than 1,000 Israeli raids, strikes and incursions from the Golan Heights into Syria.”

He expressed distrust towards Israel, questioning its intentions in Syria and citing alleged violations of peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan.

• Sharaa also commented on Gaza: “There is huge anger over what’s going on in Gaza, not only in Syria but globally, and this impacts our position on Israel.”

Context of Regional Relations

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently noted a “new window of possibility” for peace with both Syria and Lebanon following a military campaign against Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shiite militant group aligned with Assad.
• Sharaa previously met with US President Donald Trump in Riyadh in May. Trump, advised by Saudi Arabia and Turkey, lifted certain Assad-era sanctions on Syria, despite Israel’s objections.

Sharaa hailed the lifting of sanctions and urged US Congress to remove remaining restrictions, arguing they disproportionately burden ordinary Syrians still suffering from the former regime’s oppression.

During their meeting, Rubio discussed Syria’s relations with Israel, emphasising the importance of Syria seizing the opportunity to “build a stable and sovereign nation”, according to State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott.

Summary Table: Key Points on Syria-Israel Relations

Sharaa’s statements highlight Syria’s desire for security guarantees without rushing into formal recognition of Israel, reflecting the complex legacy of conflict, distrust, and regional tensions.