Washington presses Israel on peace window with Syria – US Envoy
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – U.S. envoy Tom Barrack said on Wednesday that Syria is “not seeking aggression,” urging Israel to “seize the moment” for a peace deal — as Washington offers to serve as a peace-keeping force to verify compliance in place of trust.
Barrack, who also serves as U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, addressed attendees at a diplomatic conference in Washington DC, reaffirming that post-October 7 distrust should not block a Syria-Israel agreement.
He stressed that U.S. verification — rather than blind trust — could underpin a de-escalation accord.
Recent months have seen renewed U.S. efforts to chart a diplomatic path between Damascus and Jerusalem. Barrack and Syrian officials reportedly view a non-aggression pact or border-security arrangement as a realistic first step toward broader normalization.
Still, Israeli scepticism and deep mistrust remain obstacles. According to Barrack, Israel has not yet committed to a full security agreement, but the envoy expressed optimism that “the window” for a breakthrough remains open.