Tom Barrack describes Israel-Syria agreement as groundbreaking decision based on coexistence

The US Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, has described the outcome of the meeting between Israeli and Syrian officials in Paris, the capital of France, as “groundbreaking.” He stated, “The new Syrian government has no hostile intentions toward Israel and seeks a relationship based on mutual respect and coexistence.”

In an interview with Israel’s Jerusalem Post newspaper, Barrack shared evaluations regarding the meeting held in Paris between Syria and Israel.

Expressing his satisfaction with the results of the meeting, Barrack characterized it as “groundbreaking.”

Barrack argued that the outcome of the meeting between Israel and Syria “reflects a strong and mutual desire of both countries to move toward cooperation and shared prosperity.”

Claiming that Syria and Israel “favor a new relationship based on transparency and partnership,” Barrack said this would increase cooperation between Tel Aviv and Damascus.

Referring to the decision to establish a joint communication mechanism between Israel and Syria, Barrack stated: “The new Syrian government has made it clear that it harbors no hostile intentions toward Israel and instead seeks a relationship based on respect and coexistence. Israel, for its part, has long been eager to engage with the leadership of this neighboring country and welcomes the replacement of the old hostile regime with one committed to cooperation and a new paradigm.”

Paris meeting

Israeli and Syrian delegations held a meeting in Paris yesterday under US mediation.

Israel was represented by the Israeli Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military secretary Roman Gofman, and the acting head of the National Security Council, Gil Reich. Syria was represented by Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Sheibani and Intelligence Chief Hussein al-Salameh.

Present on the American side were representative Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and the US Special Envoy for Syria and Ambassador to Türkiye, Tom Barrack.

In a statement from Washington, it was announced that a “joint communication mechanism” was established under US supervision with the aim of reducing tensions and making relations between Israel and Syria more stable.

It was noted that the parties discussed a potential security agreement between Syria and Israel at length. Two sources familiar with the details told the Post that progress had been made in these talks.

According to the Syrian state news agency SANA, a Syrian government source stated that the talks focused on the reinstatement of the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement of Forces. The source said, “In this framework, a balanced security agreement is aimed for, which will ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the lines held before December 8, 2024, uphold Syria’s full sovereignty above all else, and guarantee the prevention of any kind of interference in Syria’s internal affairs.”

Security and civil cooperation

At the conclusion of the meeting, Israel, Syria, and the United States agreed to establish a joint intelligence-sharing mechanism—a special communication cell—to ensure instantaneous and continuous coordination, intelligence sharing, the reduction of military tensions, and diplomatic engagement under US supervision. This mechanism was described as a platform designed for the rapid addressing of disputes and the prevention of misunderstandings. The mechanism will operate in a third country outside of Syria and Israel and will be permanently staffed by Syrian, Israeli, and American representatives, some of whom will participate virtually.

Furthermore, as first reported by the Post, the trilateral meeting ended with an agreement to initiate talks between Tel Aviv and Damascus on civil matters such as health, energy, and agriculture. Barrack told the Post, “Under President Trump’s leadership and inspiration, prioritizing economic opportunities, prosperity, and open dialogue consistently leads to meaningful and long-term cooperation.”

It was noted that this marks the first time Israel and Syria have agreed to discuss civil issues rather than focusing solely on efforts to reach a security agreement.