This is an important and positive development. It is also worth remembering that Syrian officials have met senior Israeli figures before, including Ron Dermer.

Still, the fact that meetings between senior Syrian and Israeli officials are becoming almost routine is remarkable. A few years ago, who would have imagined this would become the new reality?

But meetings alone will not resolve the fundamental problem. As long as Israel continues to view a weak Syria, with limited military capabilities, as preferable to a stronger and more stable Syria, and prioritizes the protection of Syrian minorities above virtually every other strategic consideration, little will change.

Israel cannot realistically prevent Syria from rebuilding its military indefinitely through threats and periodic strikes. A stable and capable Syria under al-Sharaa is also broadly consistent with the interests of Washington and key regional states, which do not want Syria once again becoming fertile ground for ISIS, Iran, or other destabilizing actors.

So, with all due respect to the importance of this meeting, it will mean little without a fundamental shift in Israeli policy: moving toward a security agreement with Damascus, restoring predictable rules of the game, and deepening security cooperation where Israeli and Syrian interests overlap, most importantly in preventing Iran and Hezbollah from rebuilding the infrastructure they once enjoyed in Syria.

Without such a change, these meetings may help manage tensions, but they will not resolve them. The next Israeli-Syrian confrontation will remain only a matter of time.

This is an important and positive development. It is also worth remembering that Syrian officials have met senior Israeli figures before, including Ron Dermer.

Still, the fact that meetings between senior Syrian and Israeli officials are becoming almost routine is remarkable. A few years ago, who would have imagined this would become the new reality?

But meetings alone will not resolve the fundamental problem. As long as Israel continues to view a weak Syria, with limited military capabilities, as preferable to a stronger and more stable Syria, and prioritizes the protection of Syrian minorities above virtually every other strategic consideration, little will change.

Israel cannot realistically prevent Syria from rebuilding its military indefinitely through threats and periodic strikes. A stable and capable Syria under al-Sharaa is also broadly consistent with the interests of Washington and key regional states, which do not want Syria once again becoming fertile ground for ISIS, Iran, or other destabilizing actors.

So, with all due respect to the importance of this meeting, it will mean little without a fundamental shift in Israeli policy: moving toward a security agreement with Damascus, restoring predictable rules of the game, and deepening security cooperation where Israeli and Syrian interests overlap, most importantly in preventing Iran and Hezbollah from rebuilding the infrastructure they once enjoyed in Syria.

Without such a change, these meetings may help manage tensions, but they will not resolve them. The next Israeli-Syrian confrontation will remain only a matter of time.

Source:https://twitter.com/barakravid/status/2091567554791690590