Syria–Israel Direct Talks: A Fragile Opening Toward Regional Recalibration
ULTRA SYRIA
May 28, 2025
“For now, this is about coexistence, not normalization,” one source involved in the talks said.
“For now, this is about coexistence, not normalization,” one source involved in the talks said.
The meeting, which brought together top officials from both governments, was held away from the media spotlight, al-Hal writes.
While London has avoided presenting itself as an official sponsor of Syria’s transitional authorities, its fingerprints are increasingly visible, Malek Hafez argues.
While recognizing Trump’s move as a step in the right direction, Hof emphasized to al-Majalla the enormity of the task ahead: rebuilding a country devastated by over a decade of war, and reconstituting its political and economic institutions under international scrutiny.
The renewed U.S. diplomatic engagement in Syria follows a series of rapid developments, Syria TV writes.
Erdoğan explained, in statements made aboard his plane during his return from a visit to Hungary, that lifting sanctions on Syria “demonstrates how constructive Turkish diplomacy yields results.”
Turkey’s message to Damascus is clear: it supports Syrian reunification, so long as Kurdish military autonomy is eliminated, al-Hal writes.
A significant portion of the now-lifted sanctions had affected key sectors such as infrastructure, transportation, oil and gas, and humanitarian financing
Robert Ford, who served as the U.S. Ambassador to Syria from 2011 to 2014, recently recounted two private conversations with Ahmad al-Sharaa during visits to Idlib in 2023—prior to the collapse of the Assad regime.
In Lebanon, the decision opens long-blocked channels for energy and trade, 963 writes.
Syria’s Minister of Health, Dr. Musab al-Ali, joined delegates from WHO member states in a symbolic development, Syria TV writes.
Rubio’s remarks came just hours ahead of his scheduled meeting in Antalya with Syria’s interim Foreign Minister, Asaad Shibani.
Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Austria have reportedly drafted a joint memorandum calling for the lifting of restrictions on the Central Bank of Syria and other financial institutions, Enab Baladi says,
The Sharaa-Trump encounter was far more than a ceremonial handshake, Syria TV writes.
This was the first meeting between a U.S. and Syrian president in 25 years.
Central Bank Governor Abdelkader Housriyeh described the sanctions relief as critical for restoring monetary stability. “This is not just an economic shift—it is a psychological one,” he said.
While the lifting of sanctions marks a dramatic breakthrough, the road ahead remains fraught.
What makes this moment unique is not just the shifting tone in Washington, but the rare convergence of interests across political lines.
Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem, Sa’ar stated, “We want good relations. We want stability. Of course, we have security concerns—and that’s understandable”.
During Sharaa’s visit to the Élysée Palace in Paris on Wednesday, Macron criticized Israeli actions in Syria as “unacceptable”.
