Netanyahu set to meet with Syrian leader at historic White House Summit brokered by Trump

Netanyahu and Al-Sharaa are expected to discuss security agreements between the two countries, as well as steps leading towards full diplomatic recognition and normalization of ties.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have agreed to a historic meeting at the White House in September, which could pave the way towards normalization between the two countries, i24 reports.

The meeting between the leaders of Israel and Syria, two countries that have had an adversarial relationship for decades, will occur before the annual UN General Assembly meeting.

Although details remain secret, Netanyahu and Al-Sharaa are expected to discuss the first stage of security agreements between the two countries, as well as steps leading towards full diplomatic recognition and normalization of ties.

Netanyahu and al-Sharaa are expected to sign a security agreement under the patronage of US President Donald Trump.

The meeting marks the culmination of a back-channel between the two countries, and the summit is expected to signal a significant shift in the relationship between the two nations.

The United Arab Emirates, which signed a normalization agreement with Israel in 2020, and Saudi Arabia are involved in the communication between Israel and Syria.

Gulf sources have said that a significant obstacle to an agreement is the Golan Heights, which Israel has claimed since the conclusion of the 1967 war, but Syria insists it is its territory.

Some Israeli officials are ambivalent about the news of potential normalization with Syria and question whether al-Sharaa’s new government has complete control over terror groups in the south that might threaten Israel.

A senior envoy from President Donald Trump’s administration recently visited Damascus to help finalize a pending agreement between Israel and Syria, according to a report by Israel Hayom.

The deal, backed by US guarantees, is expected to be completed within days, marking a significant diplomatic development in the region.

As part of the broader effort to facilitate the agreement, the Trump administration also announced it would lift sanctions on the Al-Tahrir organization. The group had previously been designated a terrorist entity.

Al-Tahrir was formerly led by Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who had preceded him in power, following the removal of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.