Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the United States to broker negotiations with Syria’s new government, marking the first potential peace talks between the two countries in over a decade, according to Israeli officials speaking to Axios.

From Airstrikes to Overtures: Israel’s Syria Reassessment

Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad and the rise of Ahmad al-Sharaa’s U.S.- and Saudi-aligned government, Israel initially launched extensive airstrikes on Syrian military assets and seized territory in the border zone. Now, Israeli officials say shifting geopolitical realities—particularly the departure of Iran and Hezbollah from Syria—have created a “diplomatic opportunity.”

Trump’s surprise meeting with al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia, coupled with his lifting of all U.S. sanctions on Syria, accelerated a policy shift in Jerusalem. Netanyahu told U.S. envoy Tom Barrack that Israel wants to “use the momentum” to initiate formal talks.

Israeli Demands: Demilitarization and U.S. Involvement

Israeli officials laid out several conditions for talks: no Turkish bases in Syria, no return of Iranian or Hezbollah forces, and the full demilitarization of southern Syria. Netanyahu’s goal is to first secure a revised security agreement—modeled on the 1974 disengagement deal—followed by a formal peace accord.

Israel also wants the U.S. to expand its presence in a future border force alongside the UN to ensure security guarantees.

U.S. Diplomatic Moves and Syrian Openness

Tom Barrack, Trump's envoy and longtime confidant, visited both Damascus and Jerusalem in recent weeks. After reopening the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Damascus, he called the Syria-Israel conflict “a solvable problem.” He told Israeli officials that al-Sharaa is open to negotiations and no longer aligned with Turkish directives.

Barrack briefed President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressing optimism: “The President’s vision with the Secretary’s execution is not only hopeful but achievable.”

Golan Heights Looms Large

A potential stumbling block in talks remains the Golan Heights, which Israel has occupied since 1967 and which Trump previously recognized as Israeli territory. Though al-Sharaa is expected to raise the issue, Israeli officials believe he may be more flexible than Assad was in past negotiations.