Syria's new transitional leadership has indicated it will not be hurried into signing any peace or normalisation agreements with Israel, prioritising immense domestic challenges in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse. Officials and analysts close to the new government stress that the focus must remain squarely on establishing security, unifying the country, and addressing a severe humanitarian crisis before tackling deeply contentious foreign policy issues.
This cautious stance reflects the fragile political landscape that the new authorities are navigating. According to a report by the London-based news outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the transitional government's primary mandate is internal consolidation. This includes drafting a new constitution, rebuilding state institutions, and fostering national reconciliation after more than a decade of brutal civil war. Engaging in high-stakes negotiations with Israel at this early stage, the report suggests, would risk fracturing the delicate national consensus required for rebuilding the nation.
Central to any future talks is the unresolved issue of the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau that Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed in a move not recognised by the international community. For decades, the return of the Golan has been a non-negotiable demand for any Syrian government, and this sentiment remains deeply embedded in the national psyche. "For the Syrian people, the Golan is not just a piece of land; it is a matter of national dignity and sovereignty," commented a Damascus-based political analyst. "Any new leadership that appears to compromise on this issue without a complete return would lose its legitimacy overnight."
This position places Syria in stark contrast to other Arab nations like the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco, which normalised relations with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords. Unlike those countries, Syria has been in a direct state of war with Israel for over half a century. It has territory under Israeli occupation, making the diplomatic path far more complex and politically perilous.
While international powers may hope the change in Damascus opens a new chapter for regional peace, Syrian leaders are signalling that stability at home is the essential prerequisite. For now, the message from Damascus is clear: the monumental task of rebuilding a shattered Syria takes precedence, and any potential peace with its long-standing adversary will have to wait until the foundations of a new, stable Syrian state are firmly in place. The door to diplomacy may not be sealed, but it is unlikely to be opened anytime soon.