The Path to Peace: Israel’s Conditions for Syria and Lebanon

Israel has laid out its conditions for a path to peace with Syria and Lebanon, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressing interest in normalization but declaring the Golan Heights non-negotiable. Saar’s announcement on Monday underscores Israel’s strategy to capitalize on Iran’s perceived weakening after the recent 12-day war, and the broader regional upheaval, to forge new diplomatic ties.
The Golan, annexed by Israel in 1981 after its 1967 capture from Syria, remains a significant point of contention. While President Donald Trump recognized Israeli sovereignty, the international community largely views the territory as occupied Syrian land, creating an immediate hurdle for any direct negotiations.
This diplomatic initiative builds on the momentum of the 2020 Abraham Accords, which saw the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco establish formal ties with Israel. While these agreements marked a new era of regional diplomacy, they were widely unpopular among Arab populations, suggesting that future normalization efforts will face considerable public and political challenges.
A major impediment, however, is the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. A senior Syrian official reiterated that any normalization must be rooted in this initiative, which calls for Israeli withdrawal from all occupied territories and the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, dismissed the Palestinian statehood precondition as “not constructive” and a security threat, highlighting a fundamental disagreement that could derail any diplomatic breakthrough.