How Turkey can help Syria-Israel normalization — and why it should
Despite Ankara’s tense relationship with Israel and current diplomatic freeze, some experts believe Turkey’s role in Syrian-Israeli dynamics could grow over time.
Turkey can be a potentially valuable player in normalization efforts between Syria and Israel, even if its minimal diplomatic ties with Israel make direct mediation unlikely.
While Ankara’s formal ties with Israel remain largely frozen due to opposing stances on the Gaza war, its influence over Syria’s new government, longstanding intelligence links with Israel and regional credibility with Western and Gulf actors can make Turkey a behind-the-scenes facilitator in a shifting postwar landscape. Analysts say that although direct Turkish mediation is not on the horizon, Turkey's role in regional diplomacy, from military deconfliction efforts to reconstruction plans, could place it at the center of a long-term Syria-Israel detente.
Ankara wields influence over the government of President Ahmad Al-Sharaa. Its sway over Damascus and its ability to rally international and regional actors to rebuild Syria make it a highly useful partner for Washington and other Western capitals that wish to see long-term stability in the country following its 14-year civil war.
Turkey has reason to be constructive
