A once-unthinkable peace agreement between Israel and Syria may now be closer than it has been in decades, possibly sealed by the end of 2025. That’s according to a well-placed Syrian official who spoke to The Media Line’s Rizik Alabi [1]. The deal on the table includes a phased Israeli withdrawal from recently captured territories, including Mount Hermon, and would fully normalize relations between the two long-time adversaries. Yes, you read that right: normalization between Israel and Syria.
And it’s not just wishful thinking. Israeli National Security Council chief Tzachi Hanegbi recently told lawmakers that Israel and Syria are now speaking directly—no go-betweens. “The dialogue is no longer limited to intermediaries … but has become direct communication involving multiple government levels,” Hanegbi said. That’s a serious upgrade from the backchannel era of years past.
Give the gift of hope
We practice what we preach:
accurate, fearless journalism. But we can't do it alone.
- On the ground in Gaza, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and more
- Our program trained more than 100 journalists
- Calling out fake news and reporting real facts
- On the ground in Gaza, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and more
- Our program trained more than 100 journalists
- Calling out fake news and reporting real facts
Join us.
Support The Media Line. Save democracy.
One eye-catching detail? The contested Golan Heights could become a so-called “peace garden”—a shared space for joint economic development. It sounds utopian, sure, but it reflects a new regional mood where exhausted war zones are looking for ways out of isolation.
Behind this diplomatic pivot is Syria’s shifting calculus. With Russian and Iranian influence on the wane and the country still reeling from sanctions and years of civil war, Damascus may be ready to play a different game. “The Syrian leadership realizes that remaining in regional and international isolation is no longer a sustainable option,” said Dr. Kamal Jbeili, a strategic analyst based in Damascus.
Iran’s presence in Syria? Fading. Israeli airstrikes go unanswered. That, says Iranian affairs expert Mostafa Al-Nuaimi, suggests Damascus is trying to quietly untangle itself from the Iranian-Israeli feud on its own soil.
It’s not a done deal. Syrians are divided, and any agreement would need to guarantee sovereignty and dignity. But if this peace comes through, it would be the first between Syria and Israel since 1948—and a seismic shift in Middle East diplomacy. To read Rizik Alabi’s full report [1] and understand the stakes involved, visit The Media Line.