Golan Heights Non-Negotiable as Israel Seeks Syria, Lebanon Ties

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated on Monday that Israel is keen to normalize relations with Syria and Lebanon, its neighbors to the north, but underscored that the Golan Heights will remain firmly under Israeli control. This declaration sets a clear boundary for any potential diplomatic engagement, as the Golan, seized from Syria in 1967 and annexed in 1981, is internationally recognized as occupied Syrian territory, though the U.S. under President Donald Trump recognized Israeli sovereignty.
The push for new diplomatic ties follows a tumultuous period in the Middle East, marked by two years of conflict in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon against Hezbollah, and the recent ousting of Iran-backed Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Israeli officials perceive Iran’s reduced influence as an opening for other regional players to reconsider their stance toward Israel, making new alliances possible.
Saar explicitly articulated Israel’s interest in bringing “countries such as Syria and Lebanon” into the fold of normalization, emphasizing the need to safeguard “Israel’s essential and security interests.” This initiative seeks to expand upon the Abraham Accords of 2020, which normalized relations with the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco – a move that was met with significant public disapproval across the Arab world.
In response, a high-ranking Syrian official, wishing to remain anonymous, reiterated Syria’s unwavering claim to the Golan Heights and insisted that any normalization efforts must align with the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. This comprehensive proposal calls for full diplomatic recognition of Israel in exchange for its withdrawal from all territories occupied in 1967, including the Golan, West Bank, and Gaza, along with the establishment of a Palestinian state. Israel’s rejection of Palestinian statehood as a precondition, citing security concerns, highlights the deep ideological chasm preventing easy reconciliation.