Call for Syria-Israel Non-Aggression Pact Marks Diplomatic Shift

Thursday 29 May 2025 - 15:35

By: Zahouani Ilham

Call for Syria-Israel Non-Aggression Pact Marks Diplomatic Shift

Thomas Barrack, the U.S. special envoy to Syria, has proposed a "non-aggression pact" between Syria and Israel as a starting point for renewed dialogue. During his visit to Damascus, Barrack emphasized that the longstanding conflict between the two nations could be resolved through open discussion. He stressed that the first step should involve an agreement to cease hostilities, followed by talks on borders and a path toward a new bilateral relationship.

Barrack’s trip signals a significant development in U.S.-Syria relations, coinciding with the inauguration of the American ambassador’s residence in the Syrian capital. This marks a symbolic reopening of diplomatic ties, following the closure of the U.S. embassy during the Syrian civil conflict that erupted in 2011 under Bashar al-Assad’s rule.

The envoy also met with interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who came to power after leading an Islamist coalition that ousted Assad in December. This meeting follows earlier talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and al-Chareh in Riyadh, which resulted in the lifting of American sanctions against Damascus.

President Trump announced that Syria’s new leadership is open to normalizing ties with Israel, despite decades of hostilities dating back to 1948. Meanwhile, Israel has continued to carry out military operations inside Syria, including hundreds of airstrikes on strategic sites and deployments in the UN-monitored buffer zone on the Golan Heights.