Action Group | Syria
The Syrian government has officially rejected joining the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, under which Israel normalized relations with several Arab states, emphasizing that “such agreements do not apply to a country whose land remains under occupation,” referring to the Syrian Golan Heights occupied by Israel since 1967.
This stance was communicated by Damascus in an official response to the U.S. administration, according to Syria TV.
In a related development, Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa told The New York Times that Syria “will not allow its territory to be used to threaten neighboring countries,” expressing openness to a regional dialogue aimed at ensuring stability. However, he ruled out any normalization with Israel “as long as the occupation persists,” as he put it.
President Al-Sharaa also stated that the issue of foreign fighters in Syria “requires careful negotiations,” expressing willingness to distinguish between “those posing a threat to U.S. security and others,” and even hinted at offering citizenship to long-term residents, especially those married to Syrian nationals.
Despite Damascus’ firm stance against normalization, U.S. Congressman Cory Mills, who met with President Al-Sharaa in Damascus, revealed a “Syrian openness to security cooperation with Israel,” particularly in the fields of border control and arms smuggling prevention. Speaking to Alaraby TV, Mills said that Damascus is exploring a “comprehensive deal” that would involve lifting sanctions in exchange for security guarantees.
The U.S. administration has not officially commented on Syria’s response, though reports suggest that indirect negotiations between the two sides could accelerate in the coming weeks.
The Abraham Accords were signed in 2020 to normalize relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with the goal of expanding to include other countries.