A senior Syrian official has emphatically declared that the Golan Heights are non-negotiable for any normalization with Israel, asserting that the territory is an integral part of Syria. This statement comes in direct response to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s announcement on Monday that Israel is interested in establishing formal diplomatic relations with Syria and Lebanon, while simultaneously insisting that the Golan will remain under Israeli control.
Israel’s push for new ties is attributed by its leaders to Iran’s perceived weakening after the recent 12-day war, creating an opportunity for other regional countries to forge relations. This follows a tumultuous period in the Middle East, marked by conflicts in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah, and the overthrow of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
Saar explicitly stated Israel’s interest in adding Syria and Lebanon to the “circle of peace and normalisation,” aiming to safeguard Israel’s security interests. This diplomatic drive builds on the 2020 Abraham Accords, which saw the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco normalize ties with Israel, a move that was deeply unpopular in the broader Arab world.
The Syrian official further clarified that any normalization efforts must be part of the comprehensive 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. This initiative calls for full Arab recognition of Israel in exchange for its complete withdrawal from occupied territories, including the Golan Heights, West Bank, and Gaza, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Israel’s Foreign Minister, however, deemed conditioning normalization on Palestinian statehood “not constructive” and a threat to Israel’s security, highlighting a significant and likely insurmountable hurdle.
