Israeli scholar warns against peace with Syria’s transitional government
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – An Israeli researcher issued on Sunday a warning against a potential peace agreement between Israel and Syria’s transitional government, amid recent discussions surrounding Syrian-Israeli normalization.
Speaking to North Press, Mordechai Kedar, Israeli scholar of Arab culture and a lecturer at Bar-Ilan University, emphasized that Syria must recognize Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, who have the right to live in peace on their ancestral land.
These talks have intensified following a high-profile meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Syria’s Transitional President, Ahmad al-Sharaa, held in the Saudi capital Riyadh, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in attendance.
Two days earlier, the U.S. State Department released a statement welcoming Syria’s expressed willingness to pursue peace with Israel, following a meeting between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Antalya, Turkey.
Kedar further stated that any pursuit of peace must include Syrian recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
He also expressed concern over the continued presence of foreign fighters in Syria, warning that they could pose a threat to Israeli security—particularly in the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.
He cited ongoing instability and violent incidents in coastal Syria, Damascus, and Suwayda as additional causes for concern, asserting that these are all factors Israel must carefully consider before moving forward with any peace agreement with Damascus.