Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met World Jewish Congress chief Ronald Lauder in New York amid U.S.-mediated Israel-Syria negotiations, as Netanyahu points to a new opening for regional peace after Israel’s decisive campaign against Hezbollah.
Syrian state TV confirmed on Sunday that President Ahmad al-Sharaa met with World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder at Syria’s mission in New York, in a rare and symbolic encounter on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Lauder, who was previously involved in Syrian-Israeli peace contacts in the 1990s, reportedly discussed the current U.S.-mediated negotiations between Syria and Israel aimed at forging a security agreement.
Last week, Sharaa voiced cautious optimism: “I hope that this will lead us to an agreement that will keep the sovereignty of Syria and also resolve some of the security fears of Israel.” At the same time, he rejected the notion of normalization, insisting Syria would not join the Abraham Accords, citing Israel’s repeated airstrikes on Syrian territory.
“Syria is different—as those part of the Abraham Accords are not Israel’s neighbors. Syria has been subjected to more than 1,000 Israeli raids, strikes, and incursions from the Golan Heights into Syria,” he said.
His remarks followed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration that Israel’s recent military victory against Hezbollah had “opened a new window of possibility” for peace with both Syria and Lebanon. Netanyahu stressed that while talks with Damascus are real, “there is still a long way to go.”
For his part, Sharaa hinted that a security pact could be finalized “in the coming days” and might even pave the way for further agreements—though he insisted that full normalization with Israel remains off the table for now.
The meeting with Lauder underlines the seriousness of the talks and highlights how Israel’s military deterrence and diplomatic strength are once again reshaping the region’s political landscape.
