Israeli officials are increasingly concerned that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is leveraging shifting regional dynamics to boost the PA’s international legitimacy and lay the groundwork for a renewed push toward statehood—an outcome Israel appears reluctant to confront. Those fears intensified on Friday, when Abbas visited Syria for the first time in over a decade, in a trip Israel tried but failed to block.
The high-profile meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, held at the People’s Palace in Damascus, marked a rare moment of Palestinian-Syrian engagement and signaled Ramallah’s attempt to recalibrate its diplomatic posture.
Israeli authorities initially tried to prevent Abbas from flying to Syria from Jordan by withholding airspace clearance for Jordanian helicopters. Citing Syrian President al-Sharaa’s government as “hostile” and “terrorist” under Israeli law, the permits were denied, senior Jordanian officials told The Media Line.
Sources close to the Palestinian leadership said Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, appealed directly to Israeli officials. The Israeli response was blunt: “Israel rejects Abbas’ visit to Damascus, as Syria’s leadership is considered terrorist.” When the direct route failed, al-Sheikh sought US intervention. After nearly 12 hours of diplomatic wrangling, Abbas was finally able to proceed to Damascus, via Jordan.
The meeting with al-Sharaa included discussions on the status of Palestinian refugees in Syria, the political fallout of the Gaza war, and the Palestinian Authority’s growing international isolation. Abbas’ visit comes as Syria continues its slow reintegration into the Arab world. Having been suspended from the Arab League for more than a decade due to its brutal civil war, Syria was readmitted in 2023. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates have since resumed ties with Damascus, signaling a pragmatic regional shift.
The diplomatic overture is being read by some analysts as a broader effort to reposition the Palestinian Authority within a rapidly changing regional order.
“Abbas’ visit can be read as part of a broader Palestinian repositioning in a shifting regional system, as Arab states reassess their alliances after years of conflict, fragmentation, and political realignment,” said Syrian political analyst Abdul Rahman Riyad in an interview with The Media Line.
While symbolic, Abbas’ visit signals the Palestinian Authority’s intent to diversify its alliances in an increasingly fragmented Middle East. According to Dr. Harel Chorev, an expert on Palestinian affairs at Tel Aviv University’s Moshe Dayan Center, “Yes, it’s possible Abbas is trying to build new alliances to strengthen the PA’s position—especially as Hamas refuses to disarm, thereby effectively maintaining its status as the de facto ruler of the Gaza Strip.” Chorev noted that Syria has become a key player in regional arms smuggling, and Abbas may be attempting to steer that influence away from Hamas and toward the Palestinian Authority.
“Many in the current Syrian regime express open support for Hamas and jihadist narratives, including backing for the October 7 attacks,” Chorev said. “Abbas might be trying to shift their allegiance—away from Hamas and toward the PA.”
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If Abbas can convince figures like al-Jolani to cooperate with him instead of Hamas, that might be positively received in Washington and Brussels
Despite longstanding tensions between Fatah and the Syrian government, particularly during the Lebanese civil war and the 1976 Tel al-Zaatar massacre, Chorev said the realignment could serve broader strategic purposes. Referring to al-Sharaa by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, Chorev said, “If Abbas can convince figures like al-Jolani to cooperate with him instead of Hamas, that might be positively received in Washington and Brussels. He could present himself as the moderate alternative, the one worth supporting.”
This view is echoed by others in the region who see deeper meaning in the outreach.
Alexander Haddad, a Syrian political activist, said the visit carried layered messages. “It shows that the Palestinian leadership is seeking greater diplomatic flexibility in the face of Israeli-imposed political and economic constraints,” he said. From the Syrian perspective, he added, “it reaffirms Syria’s central role in the Levant and its historic support for the Palestinian cause.”
Hamas and Fatah are not allies. They are fierce enemies. There is a deep hatred and fear between them.
Such outreach reflects a larger recalibration in PA strategy as it navigates mounting internal and external pressure. The Gaza war has deepened rifts between Fatah and Hamas, exacerbated public disillusionment, and left the PA increasingly sidelined on the international stage. While some have speculated about a unified Palestinian front, Chorev was unequivocal: “People need to understand: Hamas and Fatah are not allies. They are fierce enemies. There is a deep hatred and fear between them. Thinking they can cooperate just because they’re both Palestinian is a fundamental misunderstanding of the situation.”
From the Israeli side, Abbas’ trip has raised eyebrows and speculation. Syrian journalist Karima Alsaed told The Media Line that Israeli officials likely fear renewed cooperation between the PA and Damascus could empower Hamas and Islamic Jihad—groups aligned with Syria and Iran. “This could challenge Israel’s long-standing strategy of fragmenting opposition to its plans, including the so-called ‘deal of the century’ and ongoing annexation and Judaization efforts,” she said.
But Israel’s rationale for opposing Abbas’ trip remains murky. “That’s a good question. I honestly have no idea why Israel reacted that way,” Chorev admitted. “Syria hasn’t functioned as a unified state for a very long time. It’s more accurately described as a collection of territories and competing power centers rather than a cohesive country.”
He suggested that Israel’s hesitancy may reflect broader strategic uncertainty. “Even for someone like me who specializes in this area, Israeli policy toward Syria is quite mysterious,” he said. “We’ve captured limited areas—mostly to secure our border in the Golan Heights—but we risk provoking the regime unnecessarily.”
Perhaps Israel is worried that the PA, with more international legitimacy, could move more assertively toward statehood—something Israel is not ready to discuss at this point
Chorev also raised the possibility that Israel’s decision may be rooted in long-term political calculations. “If Abbas’s intentions are to reduce Iranian-backed smuggling and curb Hamas’s influence, it would seem logical for Israel to support that,” he said. “Frankly, it feels counterproductive. But perhaps Israel is worried that the PA, with more international legitimacy, could move more assertively toward statehood—something Israel is not ready to discuss at this point.”
Against this backdrop, the European Union recently pledged $1.8 billion in financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority over the next three years, reversing earlier cuts. Chorev noted that the decision reflects broader fears of the PA’s potential collapse. “Everyone is concerned that the PA might collapse,” he said. “Financial relations between the PA and Israel are fraught—especially the issue of stipends to the families of terrorists, which has been a longstanding and controversial matter.”
“The EU had previously suspended support for the PA’s education system, but later realized that without their backing, the PA would continue to weaken. Ultimately, they concluded that while the PA isn’t perfect, it’s the best available option.”
The meeting between Abbas and al-Sharaa also points to deeper questions about the region’s future. With Syria’s return to the Arab fold and Iran’s influence growing, Abbas may be attempting to position himself—and the Palestinian Authority—as the only credible alternative to extremist actors. “If it were up to Abbas, absolutely. He would want to see Hamas completely destroyed,” Chorev said. “The PA despises Hamas. The idea that there is unity between them is false.”
While it is unclear what immediate outcomes Abbas’ visit will yield, it reflects a calculated attempt by the Palestinian leadership to remain diplomatically relevant. With the peace process stalled and Israel forging ahead with settlement expansion, Abbas appears to be testing new alliances—whatever the risks involved.
As Chorev put it, “Some things remain opaque, even to experts.”