On December 1, US President Donald Trump advised Israel to steer clear of actions that could destabilize Syria and its new leadership. This statement followed an Israeli military operation that resulted in 13 deaths.
Trump communicated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, extending an invitation for another visit to the White House, according to Netanyahu’s office shortly after Trump’s advisory.
“Maintaining a robust and authentic dialogue with Syria is crucial for Israel, ensuring nothing disrupts Syria’s path towards becoming a prosperous nation,” Trump shared on his Truth Social platform.
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The US President has been advocating for a security agreement between Israel and Syria since President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Islamist coalition displaced long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad a year prior.
However, tensions have escalated due to numerous Israeli strikes on Syria, with the most lethal being the Friday operation in Beit Jin, resulting in 13 deaths.
Syria condemned the Israeli operation as a “war crime,” while Israel claimed it targeted an Islamist group.
Trump expressed satisfaction with Syria’s progress under former Islamist rebel Sharaa, who recently made a significant visit to the White House.
The US President emphasized Sharaa’s commitment to fostering positive developments, aiming for a prosperous relationship between Syria and Israel.
He assured that the United States is “utilizing all efforts to ensure the Syrian Government fulfills its intended role” in rebuilding the nation.
– ‘Broadening’ peace initiatives –
Trump highlighted that improved Syria-Israel relations would bolster his broader Middle East peace efforts following October’s tentative Gaza ceasefire.
The Trump administration lifted sanctions on Syria to support Sharaa, with Washington acknowledging Damascus joining the global coalition against the Islamic State group.
In their discussion on Monday, Netanyahu and Trump explored “broadening” regional peace agreements, as per a statement from the Israeli prime minister’s office, following Trump’s social media post.
“Trump has extended an invitation to Prime Minister Netanyahu for an upcoming meeting at the White House,” the statement confirmed.
Netanyahu has visited Trump more frequently than any other foreign leader since the US president resumed office.
“The leaders underscored the necessity of disarming Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, while also discussing the expansion of peace agreements,” stated Netanyahu’s office.
Despite the Gaza agreement with Palestinian group Hamas and last year’s ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israel maintains its right to strike militant groups in neighboring countries.
The Israeli military stated that the targets in the Beit Jin operation were fighters from Jamaa Islamiya, an Islamist group based in Lebanon and affiliated with Hamas.
Netanyahu faced criticism from Damascus and other regional actors following his visit to Israeli troops in the Golan Heights buffer zone, a demilitarized area since 1974.
