Syria and Lebanon might normalize ties with Israel before Saudi Arabia does. This is what Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Oren Likud’s envoy, said in an interview. He spoke to PragerU, a conservative U.S. media outlet.
The Israeli daily The Jerusalem Post published the interview on Saturday, May 24.
Ambassador Oren said Syria and Lebanon could soon join the Abraham Accords. These deals aim to normalize ties between Israel and Arab states. He believes these two countries could sign deals before Saudi Arabia does.
“There is no reason now not to reach peace with Syria and Lebanon,” Oren said. “We’ve changed the ground reality there in major ways. I’m very hopeful about this. This could happen even before Saudi Arabia joins.”
He spoke with PragerU’s CEO, Marissa Streit. Oren said Saudi Arabia is still thinking about joining the Accords. He added that the country almost joined in 2019. “If Trump had won the 2020 election, we might have reached that goal,” he said.
Even with the Gaza war causing trouble, Oren said Israel and Saudi Arabia are still moving toward peace.
When asked about Lebanon, the ambassador said it could move past its status as a failed state. He believes Lebanon can become a civil society again. About Syria, he said the U.S. should rethink its sanctions on the country. He also noted the need to protect Syria’s minorities like the Druze and Alawites.
“We cannot let the jihadists sit near our borders,” Oren said. He referred to the October 7 attacks as a lesson. “We want to see Bashar al-Assad take steps. He must ban groups like Hamas and Hezbollah and protect his country’s minorities,” he said.
The Abraham Accords were first signed in 2020. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain were the first Arab states to join. Sudan and Morocco followed later. These deals were led by the Trump administration.
The Abraham Accords broke decades of no formal ties between Israel and Arab nations. These deals opened the door to trade, travel, and tech deals between the nations.
Syria and Lebanon have long been foes of Israel. Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel in a 1967 war. Lebanon has had many clashes with Israel, mostly through the group Hezbollah.
Still, Oren thinks change is coming. “The situation in Syria and Lebanon is not the same as before,” he said. “These are not stable governments, but that may help in a way. There is a chance for real change.”
Many experts are unsure if Syria and Lebanon are ready to make peace. Hezbollah holds great power in Lebanon and still fights Israel. Syria is still recovering from a long civil war and holds close ties with Iran, a key enemy of Israel.
But Oren’s words show that Israel is thinking ahead. It hopes to grow the Abraham Accords even as new wars and unrest shake the Middle East.
The idea of Syria or Lebanon joining the Accords before Saudi Arabia is bold. Saudi Arabia is a big player in the region. Its ties with the U.S. are strong, and it holds influence in the Arab and Muslim world.
For now, Saudi Arabia has not taken any big steps toward full peace with Israel. But backdoor talks and quiet deals have taken place for years.
Still, Oren believes real peace is possible—and sooner than many expect.