Hanegbi: Israel in direct daily contact with Syria, exploring normalization

Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi says that Israel and Syria are in direct daily contact and are discussing the possibility of normalization, Israel Hayom wrote, Report informs via The Times of Israel.

Hanegbi today confirms comments he made during a classified session of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Sunday, saying “There is direct daily dialogue at all levels between Israel and the regime in Syria. I am leading it with political officials there,” the Hebrew outlet wrote.

Hanegbi told the committee that Syria and Lebanon are candidates for the Abraham Accords normalization agreements, the paper said.

When asked whether Israel had agreed to withdraw the IDF from buffer zones in Syria as part of these efforts, Hanegbi responds: “If there is normalization, we’ll examine this,” but clarified that “we will not withdraw from the Syrian Hermon.”

Hanegbi’s comments confirm recent foreign reports that Israel has been engaged in direct dialogue with Syria to calm border tensions and prevent conflict with new Syrian leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa. He revealed that the conversation is not limited to military channels, but also includes direct diplomatic engagement.

When asked in the committee meeting how he responds to IDF intelligence assessments that Sharaa has not parted ideologically from his past ties to jihadist terror groups, Hanegbi replied: “We are evaluating it. Sharaa is being shaped as things move forward.”