Syrian Transitional President To Offer Peace Talks With Israel to Trump
By Kardo Roj
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Syrian Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa is reportedly considering extending an offer to U.S. President Donald Trump to join the regional peace framework with Israel, according to a report by The Times published Monday.
Citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, the British outlet revealed that al-Sharaa may propose initiating diplomatic discussions aimed at Syria’s participation in broader normalization efforts between Arab states and Israel. The move, if confirmed, would represent a significant policy shift by Damascus after more than a decade of diplomatic isolation and ongoing internal conflict.
The potential proposal is expected to be raised during an anticipated meeting between the two leaders, reportedly scheduled to take place later this week in Saudi Arabia, one of several Gulf countries Trump is set to visit on a regional tour.
The Times report notes that the initiative could involve discussions on establishing a demilitarized zone in southwestern Syria, as well as tacit acceptance of a continued Israeli security presence in areas near the Golan Heights. Such measures could serve as confidence-building steps in future peace negotiations.
While the details remain speculative and no official statements have been made by either party, sources indicate that al-Sharaa’s team views engagement with Trump as a potentially advantageous channel, given the former president’s history of brokering normalization deals during his administration under the Abraham Accords.
Trump’s visit to the Gulf comes amid heightened diplomatic activity in the region, including renewed conversations around Israeli-Saudi normalization and shifting power dynamics shaped by the ongoing war in Gaza, Iranian influence, and U.S. retrenchment.
The prospect of Syria entering peace talks with Israel underlines a broader recalibration across the Middle East, where several actors have begun pursuing pragmatic alignments amid protracted instability. Analysts suggest al-Sharaa may be seeking to rebrand Syria’s global image and reduce international pressure as part of a long-term strategy to secure economic relief and political legitimacy.
However, the notion of a Syrian-Israeli rapprochement remains deeply contentious within Syrian society and among regional players. The Israeli occupation of the Golan Heights—a territory internationally recognized as part of Syria—remains a significant obstacle to formal peace.
Neither the U.S. State Department nor Israeli officials have publicly commented on the report. Trump’s camp has also remained silent on the possibility of such a meeting or what it might entail.
Northeast Syria Observes with Caution
In northeast Syria, where the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) governs vast swathes of territory in partnership with the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the potential implications of any high-level negotiations involving Damascus and foreign powers are being closely monitored.
While the AANES has been largely excluded from international diplomatic processes, it continues to call for a political resolution that includes all Syrian components. Officials in the region have long advocated for decentralized governance and dialogue over military escalation, positioning the SDF as a reliable security partner against terrorism and regional instability.
Should the Syrian government re-engage diplomatically with Western powers or regional adversaries, questions will likely arise over the political future of areas currently under AANES control and the broader trajectory of the Syrian conflict.
While the reported meeting remains unconfirmed, the very notion of such a high-profile engagement underscores how fluid regional dynamics have become. Whether these talks materialize—and whether they yield any substantive outcomes—could have wide-ranging consequences for Syria’s internal political architecture and its standing on the global stage.
Observers caution that any normalization efforts would require substantial compromises, particularly on sensitive territorial and sovereignty issues. For now, the international community watches closely as regional leaders weigh diplomacy over confrontation in a landscape shaped by years of war, shifting alliances, and renewed ambitions.