This episode of ME24 Middle East Breakdown tackles one of the most unexpected developments now under discussion: the possibility of a security agreement between Israel and Syria. What once sounded far-fetched is suddenly part of serious regional conversations, tied to the Gaza war, shifting U.S. strategy, and the future balance of power across the Middle East.
We start with reactions to the Trump–Netanyahu Gaza peace plan and the regional buy-in it received, then pivot to why Syria was left out of that announcement and what might be taking shape behind the scenes.
Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Schenker lays out what Washington is really hoping to achieve: lifting sanctions, stabilizing the new Syrian government, and keeping Iran in check. Dr. Eran Lerman, vice president of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, explains Israel’s core priorities stopping Iranian influence, preventing a direct clash with Turkey, and securing minorities like the Druze and Kurds. From Damascus, Shadi Martini, CEO of the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees, brings insight into what life in post-Assad Syria looks like, how locals view Israel’s moves, and why the Sunni majority will ultimately decide whether peace is possible.
Together, the panel debates the feasibility of a Syrian–Israeli deal, the risks of foreign fighters and jihadist influence, the legacy of the Assad regime, and whether Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE will bankroll Syria’s reconstruction. They also explore how October 7 changed Israel’s calculations, why the Druze community has become central to current dynamics, and what decentralization inside Syria could mean for minorities and regional stability.
We close with a lightning round: what’s realistic in the next six months, and what red lines could derail the entire process from U.S. caution over Turkey’s ambitions, to Israel’s demands for guarantees, to Syria’s own struggle to balance majority and minority fears.
This is a rare, three-sided conversation; American, Israeli, and Syrian perspectives all at the table, on an issue that could redefine the region’s security architecture.
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👥 Guests
• David Schenker: https://x.com/davidschenker1
• Shadi Martini: https://x.com/shadimart
