On May 16, 2025, Israel announced its readiness to review its policy towards Syria, softening its position towards the country's new leadership led by Ahmed al-Sharaa. According to Kommersant, this decision followed US President Donald Trump's meeting with al-Sharaa in Riyadh on May 14 and his announcement of the complete lifting of sanctions against Damascus, which had been in place since 1979. Israel, which previously viewed al-Sharaa and his group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (recognized as terrorist and banned in the Russian Federation) as a threat, is now expressing its readiness to establish relations within the framework of the Abraham Accords, aimed at normalizing ties with Arab countries. This was reported by Reuters, citing Israeli officials.

The change of power in Syria following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 has caused concern in Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has increased its military presence in southern Syria, creating a buffer zone and attacking military targets to prevent arms from being transferred to Iranian-linked groups. However, the BBC reports that a visit by US congressmen Corey Mills and Marlin Stutzman to Damascus in April 2025 and a subsequent meeting between Trump and al-Sharaa changed the dynamic. Trump called on Syria to join the Abraham Accords, expel foreign fighters and combat the Islamic State, which al-Sharaa welcomed, according to The Times, who expressed a willingness to negotiate with Israel through intermediaries, including the UAE.

The Abraham Accords, initiated by Trump in 2020, have already normalized Israel’s relations with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. According to The Wall Street Journal, al-Sharaa offered economic concessions to the U.S., including access to oil and gas fields, and expressed interest in a peace deal with Israel if sanctions were lifted. This sent a signal to Netanyahu, who, according to Axios, was unaware of Trump’s decision to lift sanctions, causing “panic” in his administration. However, on May 16, Netanyahu said Israel was “ready for a pragmatic dialogue” with Syria if it renounced its support for terrorism and Iranian influence.

Syrian businessmen have already called on Israeli companies to invest in the country's economic recovery, and al-Sharaa confirmed indirect talks with Israel through the UAE to reduce tensions.