Syrian President Al-Julani Seeks Security Arrangement, Not Peace With Israel, Expert Says

Dr. Yousri Khizran, a senior lecturer and political historian specializing in the Fertile Crescent, assessed that Syrian President Ahmad al-Julani is not pursuing peace with Israel but rather a security arrangement to stabilize his regime. Speaking to Channel 7, Khizran explained that al-Julani’s recent statements rejecting conflict with Israel should not be interpreted as an ideological shift but as pragmatic moves to consolidate power amid regional pressures.

Khizran noted that the new Syrian regime views Israeli military presence in southern Syria and Israel’s support for the Druze community as threats to its stability. Therefore, al-Julani aims to "smooth over" these tensions through a security agreement rather than a formal peace deal. Khizran emphasized that the regime currently lacks the military capacity to pose a significant threat to Israel.

Regarding al-Julani’s political backing, Khizran described it as dependent on three pillars: Turkey for political, military, and intelligence support; Qatar and Saudi Arabia for economic aid; and the West, including the United States, for political legitimacy. He stressed that the regime is not independent and relies heavily on these external actors.

Khizran also clarified that Qatar funds Sunni Islamist jihadist groups rather than Hezbollah and maintains ties with rival factions, enhancing its role as a mediator. Militarily, the regime’s forces remain a coalition of jihadist militias rather than a regular army, despite Turkey’s efforts to strengthen them.

While the fall of the Assad regime disrupted Hezbollah’s weapons supply routes, Khizran warned that the current regime could potentially become a military threat to Israel in the future. He concluded by highlighting the emergence of a new Islamist regional axis led by Turkey, with al-Julani’s regime acting pragmatically rather than ideologically.