Israel appears to be contemplating a strategic shift, moving from a policy of containment to one of potential integration, by expressing interest in normalizing ties with Syria and Lebanon. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s announcement on Monday is driven by the belief that Iran’s influence has waned after the recent 12-day war, creating an opportunity for a broader regional embrace.
However, Saar immediately tempered this ambition with a firm declaration: the Golan Heights, captured from Syria in 1967 and annexed in 1981, is non-negotiable and will remain part of the State of Israel. This stance directly clashes with Syria’s unwavering claim to the territory, which is largely recognized as occupied land by the international community.
This push for broader regional ties follows the precedent set by the 2020 Abraham Accords, which saw the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco establish formal ties with Israel. These agreements, while groundbreaking, faced widespread unpopularity in the Arab world, underscoring the deep-seated resistance to normalization without addressing core Palestinian grievances.
Indeed, a senior Syrian official anonymously asserted that any normalization efforts must strictly adhere to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. This initiative proposes full Arab recognition of Israel in exchange for its withdrawal from all occupied territories, including the Golan Heights, West Bank, and Gaza, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, dismissed the Palestinian statehood precondition as “not constructive,” citing security concerns, thereby highlighting a fundamental impasse in Israel’s strategic shift.