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Israeli Doubts About the Possibility of Reaching a Peace Agreement with Syria
Israeli statements and positions have recently seen controversial developments regarding potential peace negotiations with Syria. Israeli officials expressed doubts about the possibility of reaching a peace agreement without Israel's withdrawal from the occupied Golan Heights.
The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported today, June 30, 2025, that unprecedented Israeli sources have expressed “serious doubts” about Syrian President Ahmad al-Shar’a’s willingness to sign a peace deal that does not include Israel’s withdrawal from Golan, with indications that negotiations are focusing on issues beyond mere security arrangements.
The newspaper clarified that the United States has been informed of negotiations that appear to be closer to “political arrangements” rather than final agreements, and that Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer will head to Washington today to discuss potential developments, including the possibility of expanding the Abraham Accords for peace.
In a related context, Israeli Foreign Minister Naftali Bennett expressed Israel’s desire to establish formal diplomatic relations with Syria and Lebanon, considering it part of the normalization plan. However, he emphasized that Israel would not back down from its stance of not negotiating over the fate of the Golan Heights, asserting that maintaining control over Golan is a fundamental condition for any future peace agreement.
Bennett also stated that Syrian recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan would be a prerequisite for a peace deal, believing that the continued Israeli sovereignty over Golan reflects a positive outlook for Israel’s future.
Concerning the Syrian position, an Israeli channel cited a Syrian source as saying that Israel and Syria are likely to sign a peace treaty before the end of 2025, which would include a gradual withdrawal from territories occupied by Israel following its invasion of the buffer zone in December 2024, turning the Golan Heights into a “Peace Garden.”
Al-Shar’a, during a meeting with officials in Quneitra and the Golan Heights, confirmed ongoing efforts to halt Israeli attacks through indirect negotiations, with work underway through international mediators to reduce tensions despite continued Israeli incursions into deep Syrian territory since the fall of the previous regime in December 2024.
These developments point to secret negotiation rounds, under international and American sponsorship, between Damascus and Israel, amidst efforts to advance the peace process and expand the Abraham Accords, which have been instrumental in normalizing relations between Israel and several countries since 2020, despite existing doubts and challenges.
