Israel seeks diplomatic relations with Syria and Lebanon

2025-06-30 17:01:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Israel is interested in formally establishing diplomatic relations with its old enemies, Syria and Lebanon, but the status of the Golan Heights is non-negotiable, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Monday.

Israeli leaders argue that, with their arch-rival Iran weakened by this month's 12-day war, other countries in the region now have the opportunity to forge relations with Israel.

The Middle East has been rocked by nearly two years of war in the Gaza Strip, during which Israel has also carried out airstrikes and ground operations in Lebanon against Iran-backed Hezbollah, and by the fall of former Syrian leader and Iran ally Bashar al-Assad.

In 2020, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco became the first Arab states to establish relations with Israel since Jordan in 1994 and Egypt in 1979.

The agreements to normalize relations with Israel were extremely unpopular in the Arab world.

"We are interested in adding countries like Syria and Lebanon, our neighbors, to the circle of peace and normalization, while preserving Israel's vital and security interests," Saar said at a press conference in Jerusalem.

"The Golan will remain part of the State of Israel," he added.

Israel annexed the Golan Heights in 1981, after capturing it from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War.

While most of the international community considers the Golan to be occupied Syrian land, US President Donald Trump recognized Israeli sovereignty over it during his first term.

After the overthrow of Assad, Israeli forces moved deeper into Syrian territory.

A senior Syrian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Syria would never give up the Golan Heights, describing it as an integral part of Syrian territory.

He also added that efforts to normalize relations with Israel should be part of the Arab Peace Initiative from 2002, and not follow a separate path.

The 2002 initiative proposed normalizing Arab relations with Israel in exchange for Israel's withdrawal from occupied territories, including the Golan Heights, the West Bank and Gaza. It also called for the creation of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem - also captured by Israel in 1967 - as its capital.

During the war in Gaza, regional power Saudi Arabia has reiterated that normalizing relations with Israel depends on the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

Saar said it is not "constructive" for other states to condition normalization on the creation of a Palestinian state.

"Our position is that a Palestinian state would threaten the security of the State of Israel," he said./ REL