Since being appointed Syria’s interim leader following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Ahmed al-Sharaa (also known as Abu Muhammad al-Jolani) has embarked on a new path in Syria’s foreign relations. Contrary to expectations and predictions, al-Sharaa made declarations that surprised researchers and politicians alike regarding the new regime’s stance toward Israel.
His conciliatory statements toward Israel were met with skepticism and doubt regarding his true intentions. The core argument remains the fact that he is a jihadist who was once a member of ISIS, one of the founders of Jabhat al-Nusra (a breakaway from ISIS), and the founder of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which in recent years controlled the Idlib enclave in northern Syria. This group succeeded on December 8 in toppling the fifty-year regime of the Assad family and the Ba’ath Party.
While Israel continues to question al-Sharaa’s intentions, he has persisted with conciliatory declarations. In December 2024, al-Sharaa stated that his government “will not seek confrontations – not with Israel nor with anyone else – and will not allow Syria to be used as a base for such hostile activities.” He further emphasized: “We do not want to threaten Israel’s security or that of any other country.”
A recurring theme in his statements is his commitment to the 1974 disengagement agreement. He confirmed that “Syria is committed to the 1974 agreement,” and called for UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) to return to the “blue line” of separation. Al-Sharaa stated several times that after the fall of the Assad regime, “There is no justification for the Israelis to bomb Syrian facilities or advance into Syria. Israel has no reason to continue harming Syria since my regime opposes Iran and Hezbollah.”
While advocating for dialogue, al-Sharaa urged Israel to cease its ongoing airstrikes within Syria. He declared: “The era of tit-for-tat bombings must end. No nation thrives when its skies are filled with fear,” and claimed that Israel’s actions only prolong instability.
Despite Israel ignoring al-Sharaa’s initiatives, in May 2025 he confirmed that his government is holding “indirect talks” with Israel through mediators. The declared aim of these talks is “to calm and try to stabilize the situation before it spirals out of control for both sides.” Arab and Western reports have described meetings between the two sides in Azerbaijan and the UAE, and more recently even in the buffer zone between Israel and Syria. These included Israeli military officials and, on the Syrian side, Suwayda governor al-Dilati.
Moreover, American reports revealed that during a historic meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, al-Sharaa was asked to join the “Abraham Accords” and normalize relations with Israel. According to reports, he expressed a principled willingness to do so. Al-Sharaa also hinted at potential future security cooperation with Israel. In a groundbreaking statement, he said: “We have common enemies – and we can play a central role in regional security.”
Beyond verbal declarations, al-Sharaa initiated a unique gesture aimed at building trust. In early May 2025, personal items, documents, and photos related to Eli Cohen, the Israeli spy executed in Damascus in 1965, were returned to Israel. Reports indicate that al-Sharaa personally approved the transfer.
In conclusion, while some in Israel insist on calling al-Sharaa “Juliani” (!) instead of “Jolani,” and ignoring his initiatives toward Israel, the United States, Western countries, Arab nations, and Turkey are engaged in an ongoing flurry of diplomatic efforts aimed at rebuilding the shattered Syrian state.
The United States made a bold move by lifting all sanctions imposed on the Assad regime, while the UAE signed contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars to rehabilitate the port of Tartus. Recently, the United States also announced it would no longer oppose integrating 3,500 jihadists (Chinese and Chechen) into the Syrian army. It also decided to withdraw its forces from the Conoco oil fields to allow Syria to reclaim control of its natural resources and generate income for its empty treasury.
Al-Sharaa’s actions and statements since December 8, 2024, paint a picture of a Syrian leadership seeking to stabilize its country’s borders and explore a new, different relationship with Israel. These declarations, along with tangible gestures such as the return of Eli Cohen’s archive, point to a strategic shift toward de-escalation and potential future engagement – far from the decades of open hostility.
The current geopolitical reality has created a rare convergence of interests between Israel and Syria: Israel is interested in preventing the infiltration of jihadists toward the Golan Heights – a situation that holds the potential to replicate the October 7, 2023 disaster from this front. Thus, it needs cooperation from the new Syrian regime to prevent such a scenario. Conversely, al-Sharaa is well aware of Israel’s relationship with parts of the Druze community as well as with the Kurds, and the potential such relationships hold to destabilize the Syrian regime.
From all these perspectives – and given American policy aimed at crushing the Iranian axis by building a regional alternative under its leadership – it would be wise for Israel’s decision-makers to consider something different.
