Last Saturday in Damascus, Sharaa told visiting US congressional representatives Marlin Stutzman and Cory Mills that he would consider joining the 2020 Abraham Accords—normalizing relations with Israel as Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and the UAE have done—if certain conditions are met. A senior Israeli political source, speaking anonymously to Al-Monitor, acknowledged the novelty of such statements but emphasized caution, noting the need to assess whether Sharaa’s stance reflects genuine strategic change or a bid for global legitimacy and sanction relief. Conditions likely include halting Israeli airstrikes in Syria, withdrawing forces from occupied border territories, and addressing issues like the Golan Heights, captured by Israel in 1967.
Israel’s concerns extend to Turkey’s growing influence in Syria, fearing transfers of advanced weaponry that could threaten Israeli air superiority. A senior Israeli diplomatic source expressed unease over US President Donald Trump’s apparent leniency toward Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, warning of a potential new Islamist coalition replacing Iran’s dismantled axis of resistance. Meanwhile, in Lebanon, Israel sees opportunity in Hezbollah’s weakened state post the November 2024 ceasefire, but insists any disarmament must come from internal Lebanese forces with international backing, not Israeli intervention. For now, Israel prioritizes stability and security over hasty diplomatic embraces, closely watching Sharaa’s actions rather than his words.