Mossad Enters Damascus-Tel Aviv Talks: From Behind the Scenes to the Negotiating Table; Netanyahu Seeks "Political Oxygen" from the Heart of the Crisis

Damascus-Tel Aviv talks have entered a new security phase with the direct entry of Mossad, but a deadlock over withdrawal from occupied areas and Netanyahu's electoral calculations has turned it into a tool for his political survival.

Jahan Mashrekh Service - The Syrian-Zionist regime negotiations have entered a new stage with the mediation of the UAE; The stage in which the terrorist organization "Mossad" has directly entered the negotiation table and the level of contacts has been upgraded from diplomatic consultations to security-military dialogues. But the main question is: are these negotiations a path to a sustainable security agreement, or another tool in Benjamin Netanyahu's hands for political survival?

Mossad entry; Changing the level of negotiations

According to published reports, on April 13, 2025, Ahmad al-Shara (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani), the head of the Tahrir al-Sham government in Syria, met with senior security officials of the Zionist regime in Abu Dhabi. In this meeting, high-ranking officials from the terrorist organization Mossad, the National Security Council and the intelligence of the Zionist regime were present, and it was mediated by the UAE. This meeting created a new stage in the relations between Damascus and Tel Aviv and opened the doors for more direct contacts between the two sides.

Khaled Khalil, an expert on Syria-Zionist regime relations, emphasized in a conversation with Ambassador Arjan Step that the direct entry of the Mossad terrorist organization into the negotiations with Damascus represents a "qualitative change" in the process of communication between the two sides and reflects the transition of the talks to a level that is more related to security and military issues. He has described this development as the highest point of contact announced between Damascus and Tel Aviv since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government.

What was raised in these talks is beyond the usual diplomatic issues: sharing information about jihadi networks active in southern Syria, security coordination to contain the groups supported by the resistance axis in the Daraa region, and reviewing the resettlement of the Zionist army forces in the Golan Heights. These topics show that the nature of the talks has changed from the political level to the security-operational level.

It should also be noted that in addition to Al-Sharia's meeting with the security officials of the Zionist regime in the UAE, the new head of the Mossad terrorist organization also met and talked with Asad Al-Shibani, the foreign minister of the Tahrir al-Sham government in Jordan last month.

Netanyahu; War as "political oxygen"

Khalid Khalil believes that the policy of the Zionist regime towards Syria cannot be separated from the internal political crisis that Netanyahu is dealing with. The Prime Minister of the Zionist regime, who is facing increasing political and electoral pressures, uses the war and the escalation of tension as a tool to maintain his political position and gain the support of Israeli voters. According to this expert, for Netanyahu, the war has become "political oxygen" that prolongs his life in the Israeli political scene.

Hebrew language media also confirm this fact. In an analytical report, a Zionist media described Netanyahu's statements and views as "illusory" and wrote that he is "addicted" to the continuation of the war. Another report points out that Netanyahu thought he could save his political future with war, but now that his calculations have failed, he is deeply worried about the results of the upcoming elections.

The Zionist regime is facing a decisive election in October 2026. Polls show that Netanyahu faces a difficult test in this election. After the heavy defeat of October 7, 2023, the Zionist regime is in a situation where many of its senior security officials have resigned and Netanyahu is the only senior figure remaining from that period, which has turned this election into a referendum on his leadership. In such a situation, the continuation of tension and conflict in Syria and other fronts is considered a tool to create an image of Netanyahu as a "national leader capable of defending Israel".

deadlock in negotiations; Israel at a crossroads

However, what emerges from recent developments shows a different picture than what Netanyahu is promoting. Media reports indicate that the negotiations between Tel Aviv and Damascus have reached a complete deadlock. Israeli officials consider withdrawal from the occupied areas of Syria - especially the buffer zone and the strategic Mount Hermon - "irrational". Channel 12 of the Zionist regime reported that Netanyahu's strong opposition to the immediate withdrawal of this regime's forces from the occupied Golan has led to a complete halt in negotiations between Tel Aviv and Damascus.

Meanwhile, according to reports, before Israel's withdrawal, the two sides were close to 90% agreement on the security framework, but the Zionist regime stopped the process by adding new conditions.

Khalid Khalil emphasizes in his analysis that Tel Aviv's behavior in the recent period does not show a clear seriousness in opening or maintaining a stable communication channel. According to him, Israel suffers from confusion and a loss of strategic balance, and Netanyahu's government, dominated by the extreme right, is mainly focused on managing the tension, rather than addressing its roots and reaching a long-term agreement.

internal gap; The voice of the opposition and regional competition with Turkey

The signs of the gap between the political and security levels in the Zionist regime have become more evident. Israel's National Security Studies Institute, one of the most prominent strategic think tanks of this regime, along with political and security figures, have called for avoiding reaching the point of no return and turning military actions into a political path. These voices believe that security cannot be achieved by military force alone and that the interests of this regime require the achievement of long-term security arrangements supported by the United States.

This gap deepens while Netanyahu is facing simultaneous crises on the security, diplomatic and media fronts. Reports indicate that not only the negotiations with Damascus have been completely stopped, but internal disputes and political scandals have cast a heavy shadow on the foreign policy and security apparatus of this regime.

Another dimension of these negotiations is the competition between Türkiye and Israel over the shape of the equation in Syria and the region. The foreign ministers of Syria and Türkiye emphasized in a joint meeting in Damascus that Israel must abandon its expansionist policies in order to achieve stability in Syria and the region. Turkey, which has gained increasing influence in Syria, is concerned about the consequences of the Syrian-Israeli negotiations on the regional power balance, and is consulting with Washington in this regard.

Syrian-Israeli negotiations have reached a new level with the entry of the Mossad terrorist organization, but this development does not necessarily mean moving towards a lasting agreement. There are three main obstacles in the way of these negotiations: First, Netanyahu's opposition to any withdrawal from the occupied territories, which is tied to his election calculations. Second, the lack of trust between the two parties, which Khalid Khalil considers to be a decisive factor. And third, the lack of real will in Tel Aviv to reach an understanding that requires concessions.

Finally, what is happening behind the scenes of the Syrian-Israeli negotiations, rather than a sign of moving towards peace, reflects Netanyahu's complex political calculations for survival and the Zionist regime's efforts to consolidate its control over the occupied Syrian territories.