Syria may join Abraham Accords: Why Ahmed al-Sharaa is moving close to Israel

The Trump administration has expressed optimism that Syria may soon join the Abraham Accords, marking a potential expansion of the landmark regional normalisation initiative. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said yesterday that Trump remains hopeful more Middle Eastern nations will follow suit. She confirmed that during his recent meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa Trump had directly requested that Damascus join the accords.

 

Leavitt described the Abraham Accords as central to achieving lasting peace in the region. While she did not provide a timeline, she emphasised that the administration was committed to expanding the initiative and expected regional allies to take note.

 

The Abraham Accords were first signed during Trump’s previous term in 2020, with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan agreeing to normalise relations with Israel. Now, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has hinted at new developments, suggesting additional countries are likely to join soon. Speaking to CNBC, he said the administration was excited about countries coming on board that many would not have expected, calling it a potential stabilising force in the region.

 

According to Israel Hayom, Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi identified Syria and Lebanon as the two most likely candidates. In a closed-door meeting with Israel’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, Hanegbi reportedly disclosed that Israel is already in direct dialogue with Syria’s new government under al-Sharaa. The discussions, he said, extend beyond military channels and include diplomatic engagement.

 

Al-Sharaa, a controversial figure with past ties to jihadist groups, is being closely monitored by both Israel and the US. Hanegbi said Israeli officials were still assessing whether the Syrian leader had distanced himself from those ideologies. He noted that any future Israeli withdrawal from buffer zones in Syria would be contingent on the success of the normalisation process, although he ruled out withdrawing from Mount Hermon.

 

Al-Sharaa has also reportedly expressed willingness to join the Abraham Accords during an April meeting with US Congressman Cory Mills, provided certain conditions are met. Analysts suggest that Syria’s new leadership sees strategic value in moving closer to Israel and the West, especially at the expense of Iran.

 

Many experts believe that Syria’s non-interference during Israel’s recent war against Iranian targets was a calculated decision by al-Sharaa. Syria monitored the Israeli raids closely but refrained from obstructing them because they served the new regime’s interests. Weakening Iran aligns with al-Sharaa’s goal of reducing Tehran’s influence in Syria. The Syrian leader appears quietly appreciative of Israel’s actions, which have deterred Shia militias in Iraq and also Hezbollah, which are considered threats by Damascus.

 

Al-Sharaa knows that Iran wants to unseat him and reassert control over Syria, and thus sees alignment with Israel as a way to consolidate his position.

Middle East