Israel has initiated secret talks with Syrian officials in recent days, exploring the possibility of the new Syrian regime joining the Abraham Accords and normalizing ties with Israel, according to a Channel 12 report. The discussions, mediated by the United Arab Emirates, come on the heels of US President Donald Trump’s invitation to Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to join the accords during their first direct meeting in 25 years in Riyadh.

One meeting took place recently in Azerbaijan, where Israel was represented by Maj. Gen. Oded Basyuk, chief of the IDF Operations Directorate. Representatives from the new Syrian government and Turkish officials were also present, Channel 12 reported. The UAE is reportedly facilitating these talks as part of broader regional diplomatic efforts.

Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One after meeting al-Sharaa, expressed optimism about Syria’s potential participation in the Abraham Accords. “I told [Sharaa], I hope you’re going to join [the Abraham Accords] once you’re straightened out, and he said yes,” Trump said. “But they have a lot of work to do.”

In a separate development, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Syrian Foreign Minister Hassan al-Shaibani in Turkey, welcoming “the Syrian government’s calls for peace with Israel,” according to the State Department. Rubio’s remarks appeared to reference a senior Syrian official’s statement to the Kan public broadcaster, which expressed Damascus’s openness to peace with all regional actors “without exceptions.” Rubio also “affirmed the United States’ support for sanctions relief to stabilize Syria” and praised Syria’s efforts to curb Iran’s influence, eliminate chemical weapons, and address the fate of missing or killed US citizens. He further “underscored the critical importance of protecting the human rights of all Syrians regardless of ethnicity or religion.”

Israel views Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria positively but remains cautious, Channel 12 noted. Jerusalem sees an opportunity to influence the future of its northern border and relations with Syria, a stark contrast to its previous stance, which labeled al-Sharaa a terrorist and dismissed constructive engagement. The report suggests Israel now sees potential for Syria to exit Iran’s “axis of evil” and align with the US, possibly even fostering improved Israel-Turkey ties.

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