Signs of a shifting Middle Eastern order are emerging as Syria prepares to officially join the US-led anti-ISIS coalition, raising speculation over whether normalization between Damascus and Tel Aviv could follow.
According to Al-Monitor, the US special envoy to Syria and ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, announced at the Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain that Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa will travel to Washington next week to sign the agreement. The ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 10 at the White House, marking Syria’s formal entry into the coalition targeting ISIS remnants.
Damascus' new move represents a significant geopolitical pivot for Syria, which for years had been isolated internationally during its civil war. The report notes that Sharaa’s willingness to work with Washington could pave the way for broader regional realignments, opening the door to engagement with countries once considered adversaries — including Israel.
Diplomats in the region suggest that while the Syria-Israel file remains politically sensitive, the precedent of Arab states normalizing ties with Tel Aviv in recent years could influence Damascus’ strategy. Syria’s participation in a US-led military effort may also soften opposition among some of its allies and create a framework for indirect contacts.
Analysts caution that such normalization would require resolving contentious issues, including the status of the Golan Heights, seized by Israel in 1967 and annexed in 1981, a move never recognized internationally. However, in a rapidly changing Middle East — where former hostilities have given way to pragmatic accords — observers believe even this decades-old dispute may enter diplomatic discussions.
While no official talks between Syria and Israel have been confirmed, Sharaa’s Washington visit is widely seen as more than just a military alignment. For some, it could be the first step toward an unprecedented chapter in Syrian foreign policy.
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