In a meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Riyadh, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Syria to join the "Abraham Accords" and normalize relations with Israel, in a move he described as a "historic opportunity" to reintegrate Syria into the international community.

Trump: Al-Shara showed openness to normalization

Trump said that al-Shara expressed a preliminary willingness to normalize relations with Israel, but he noted that "there is a lot of work to be done" before that happens, referring to the existing political and security challenges.

Al-Shara: No intention for conflict with Israel

For his part, Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara has not issued any public statement regarding normalization, but media sources indicated that al-Shara affirmed his commitment to the 1974 disengagement agreement with Israel, and that he does not seek a new conflict, but focuses on rebuilding Syria after years of war.

It is worth noting that al-Shara, who assumed power after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, seeks to reposition Syria regionally, while reducing Iranian influence and opening up to Gulf and Western countries.

Israel watches cautiously

In contrast, Israel expressed concern over Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Syria without preconditions, considering that it could weaken pressure on Damascus and give it greater leverage without sufficient security guarantees.

While Trump believes that normalizing relations between Syria and Israel serves the region's interests, the step remains fraught with challenges, especially amid the historical and political complexities between the two countries.