Syria Rules Out Direct Talks with Israel as Trump Revives Abraham Accords Push
Al Sharaa Links Decision to Ongoing Golan Heights Occupation
Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa has dismissed the possibility of direct negotiations with Israel, saying that the conditions in Syria differ sharply from those of nations that joined the Abraham Accords. His remarks came on Monday during an interview with Fox News, where he commented on renewed US efforts to expand the normalization agreements under President Donald Trump.
“The situation in Syria is not the same as that of the countries who signed the Abraham Accords,” Al Sharaa stated. “Syria shares a border with Israel, which has occupied the Golan Heights since 1967. We are not ready for direct negotiations right now, though the United States under President Trump might help us reach such a point in the future.”
Damascus Cites Expanded Israeli Control Over Golan Heights
The Syrian leader specifically mentioned Israel’s continued occupation and expansion of the Golan Heights, which reportedly grew in 2024 following the collapse of the Assad regime. He said that as long as Israeli forces remain in the region, any move toward normalization would be unrealistic.
Renewed Focus on the Abraham Accords
The Abraham Accords, brokered during Trump’s first term, established diplomatic ties between Israel and several Muslim-majority nations. Trump has since expressed hope that Syria could become part of the next phase of these agreements. However, Al Sharaa’s comments indicate that such a development remains unlikely for now, given Syria’s unresolved territorial disputes with Israel.
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