Could Syria Be the Next Arab Nation to Make Peace With Israel?
- Hananya Naftali
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
A former Al-Qaeda commander, once hunted by the U.S. with a $10 million bounty on his head, shaking hands with Israeli officials, paving the road to peace. Sounds insane, right? Maybe not.
Middle East politics is never boring, but this? This would be a seismic shock. Syria, the country that trained, armed, and funded decades of terror against Israel, could actually be the next Arab nation to sign a deal with the Jewish state.
No, it's not a fantasy. It's happening right now in real-time, behind the scenes, pushed by shifting alliances, American pressure, and one leader's astonishing attempt to clean up his bloody resume.
The Man at the Center of the Storm
Meet Ahmed al-Sharaa. Not long ago, this man had a $10 million reward on his head from the U.S. government. He was a key figure in a jihadist militia linked to al-Qaeda, responsible for acts of terror across Syria and beyond. He’s now President of Syria.
The Syria that for decades rejected Israel’s existence. The Syria that let Iranian and Hezbollah proxies camp out at Israel’s doorstep. And now? That same Syria is reportedly in advanced talks with Israel about a security deal and normalization.
We’re not saying trust him blindly. No sane person should. But maybe, just maybe, this is what repentance looks like on a geopolitical scale: not with apologies and flowers, but with hard negotiations, security guarantees, and a willingness to chart a new path.
You can hate a man’s past and still work for a better future. And for the Middle East, that better future must include peace with Israel.
Why Syria Might Want Peace (Finally)
So, why now?
Because Syria is flat broke. Decimated by war. Sanctioned by the West. Used by Iran. And completely isolated from the Arab world. If al-Sharaa wants to survive politically, and rebuild his country, he needs legitimacy. And money. And fast.
Guess what opens the door to both?
Peace with Israel.
The Abraham Accords already shifted the balance. The UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, all made peace with Israel and saw economic gains.
The U.S. and Gulf countries are now pressuring Damascus to get on board or get left behind.
Israel, dealing with a northern front crowded by Hezbollah, would love to stabilize its border with Syria. It's a national security no-brainer.
Make no mistake: this is not about hugging it out. This is about cold, strategic calculation. But sometimes, that's exactly how peace starts.
Big Barriers Still Block the Road
Let’s not get too excited just yet. This thing is fragile. Really fragile.
The Golan Heights: Syria still wants it back. Israel isn’t budging. Period.
Iran: Tehran won’t take kindly to Syria making peace with the “Zionist enemy.” Iran has poured billions into Syria and has no interest in losing its foothold.
Public Opinion: Syrians, many of whom were fed anti-Israel propaganda their entire lives, may not easily accept normalization - especially under a man who was once labeled a terrorist by the U.S. himself.
And yet, all of this might still happen. Because what once seemed impossible is now merely unlikely, and that’s already a dramatic improvement.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”
This isn’t about being naive. This is about believing that even the worst of men can change when reality hits them. And in the Middle East, nothing hits harder than survival.
Peace with Egypt seemed impossible. Until it wasn’t. Same with Jordan. Same with the UAE. History keeps repeating a lesson for anyone willing to see it: enemies don’t stay enemies forever.
Yes, His Hands Are Bloody. But the Future Doesn’t Have to Be
Al-Sharaa is not a hero. He’s not Mandela. He doesn’t deserve applause. But if he helps bring peace with Israel? If he pulls Syria out of Iran’s grip? If he stabilizes the border and ends 50 years of war?
Then give him credit for that.
We don't forget who he was. We shouldn't. But we also shouldn't reject the chance to create something new because of what someone once was.
Israelis know that. Christians who pray for peace in the Holy Land know that. And Syrians, even in their silence, are desperate for someone to fix their broken lives.
So, could Syria be next? Yes. There’s a real shot.
If Syria walks away from Iran and terror, if it recognizes Israel and opens its doors to trade and tourism, the entire region could change. This could be the next one.
And if it is, may it be real. May it be strong. May it be holy.
And may it bring one more enemy into the family of nations who finally choose peace over destruction.