Netanyahu and Syria's Al-Sharaa Poised for Historic Security Agreement in Washington

By Ahora Qadi 

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a landmark development that could reshape the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa are expected to meet in Washington DC this September to sign a security agreement, a Syrian source close to Al-Sharaa told i24NEWS.

The source confirmed that the meeting, scheduled to take place at the White House under the patronage of U.S. President Donald Trump, will represent the first formal step toward normalization between the two long-standing adversaries.

“This will be the first step towards a peace and normalization agreement between the two countries,” the Syrian source said, emphasizing the historic nature of the pending accord.

UAE-Led Mediation and Regional Dynamics

According to Gulf sources cited by i24NEWS, the United Arab Emirates continues to lead extensive mediation efforts between Syria and Israel, with the full knowledge and informal coordination of Saudi Arabia. These efforts come as part of broader regional diplomacy aimed at expanding the Abraham Accords framework.

However, the sources noted that a significant obstacle remains: Israel's reluctance to commit to a phased withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. Israeli officials have cited concerns about the current security dynamics in southern Syria and Al-Sharaa’s still-fragile control over various armed factions.

Trump Pushes Deal as Gaza War Leverage

The anticipated breakthrough follows mounting pressure from Washington. Reports from Israel Hayom suggest that President Trump is using the promise of a Syria-Israel normalization agreement as a diplomatic incentive to convince Netanyahu to bring an end to the Gaza war.

According to the report, Trump dispatched a special envoy to Damascus earlier this week to secure Syria’s participation, underscoring his administration’s intent to position itself as the guarantor of the emerging accord.

Though details remain undisclosed, U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack was seen in Beirut today, while President Al-Sharaa was reportedly holding talks in the United Arab Emirates focused on improving ties with the Gulf.

The diplomatic groundwork follows Trump’s recent announcement to revoke the foreign terrorist designation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group previously linked to Al-Qaeda and reportedly led by Al-Sharaa after his rise to power in Syria in late 2024.

Regional Vision: Expanding the Abraham Accords

In Tel Aviv, Israeli officials confirmed the ongoing high-level talks with Damascus. An official told The Times of Israel last week that the Israeli leadership sees this as part of a broader strategy to expand the Abraham Accords to include additional Arab states — with Syria now being seen as a potential participant.

“There is absolutely an aspiration to expand the Abraham Accords, and it’s no secret that we want to see Syria in this,” the official said. “And there may be an opportunity.”

As anticipation builds ahead of the UN General Assembly this September, observers view the planned Netanyahu-Al-Sharaa meeting as a potentially transformative moment, with implications reaching far beyond the borders of both nations.