The Voice News: Despite a long history of hostility, Syria and Israel have held direct meetings in recent weeks. According to five reliable sources cited by British news agency Reuters, representatives from both countries met to reduce tensions along the border and avoid potential conflict.
Analysts consider this dialogue a significant diplomatic breakthrough in the Middle East, overcoming decades of animosity. The United States is reportedly encouraging the new Syrian Islamist rulers to establish relations with Israel.
According to sources, the Syrian delegation is led by senior security official Ahmad al-Dalati, who is currently the governor of Quneitra Province and has recently been given responsibility for security in Suwayda Province. Suwayda is home to Syria’s Druze community, where recent bloody clashes have occurred.
Three sources stated that several rounds of talks have taken place in border areas, including some regions under Israeli control. However, it remains unconfirmed who participated in the discussions on behalf of Israel. Two sources indicated they were likely officials from the security department.
Neither the Israeli nor Syrian governments have made official comments on the matter.
Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump and Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharar held a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This marked a dramatic shift in decades of U.S.-Syria policy. After the meeting, Trump stated that Sharar was interested in normalizing relations with Israel, though it would take time.
A regional intelligence source noted that this initiative could be a setback to Israel’s earlier strategy of keeping Syria weak and fragmented.
Currently, the discussions are primarily focused on joint security issues and reducing Israeli incursions along the border. However, two sources mentioned that this could pave the way for a broader political settlement in the future.
Sharar has not publicly announced any normalization of relations with Israel. However, he has called for a return to the terms of the 1974 ceasefire agreement, which established a UN buffer zone in the Golan Heights.
The new Syrian administration has taken several steps to make it clear that it is not a threat to Israel. They have held meetings with Jewish representatives in Damascus and abroad, and have detained two senior leaders of Palestinian Islamic Jihad who were involved in the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.
Additionally, Syria’s Foreign Ministry, in a letter sent to the U.S. State Department last month, stated: “We will never allow Syria to be a source of threat to any party, including Israel.”
Recently, Syria returned some old personal belongings of former Israeli spy Eli Cohen.