Israeli Officer Considers Normalization with Syria Easier than with Lebanon
It appears that the Israeli assessment of the regional situation is moving toward the possibility of achieving a diplomatic breakthrough with Syria before Lebanon due to the different demographic comp
March 25, 2025, 10:38 pm

Israeli Officer Considers Normalization with Syria Easier than with Lebanon

سوريا \ مصممة بالذكاء الاصطناعي

Former Israeli military intelligence official Jack Neria stated that establishing diplomatic relations with Syria is considered an easier option compared to Lebanon, given the social and structural complexities in the Lebanese fabric.

Neria's comments came in response to statements by US envoy Steve Whitcoff regarding the strong possibility of establishing formal relations between Israel and both Syria and Lebanon in the near future.

The Israeli official explained that "the composition of the Lebanese people hinders the conclusion of such an agreement, as within each sect there are different positions regarding normalization, with varying proportions of supporters and opponents." He indicated that this sectarian diversity constitutes an obstacle to achieving a comprehensive peace agreement.

Neria recounted details of his meeting with the former Lebanese president, saying: "I personally met with President Amin Gemayel in Paris in 1993 and asked him why he did not sign a peace agreement with Israel. He answered me: 'You should know that according to the constitution, Lebanon has an Arab face. We must turn to the Arab world and not rely on Israel.'"

The former Israeli officer continued, quoting Gemayel: "If Lebanon is not provided with military, economic, and political cover from Israel, there will be no normalization. It's easier to establish normalization with Syria where the majority is Sunni," pointing out that Syria's demographic situation differs from that of Lebanon.

In the context of his conversation, Neria referred to the possibility of "reaching an agreement with al-Shara after a period, if he remains in his position," referring to the temporary transitional Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara and the possibility of achieving progress on the path of relations with Israel.

Steve Whitcoff, the US President's Special Envoy, considered that the position of the temporary transitional Syrian President has shifted from what it was previously, and that the normalization of relations between Lebanon and Syria with Israel has become a realistic possibility, which enhances the chances of building a stable regional system.

The American envoy hinted that organizing relations between Lebanon and Israel, then between Syria and Israel, could form a pivotal element within a broader strategy to consolidate peace in the Middle East region.

Turkey Protests Enter Second Week Amid Government Warnings and Widespread Arrests Pedersen: Syrians' Hopes Have Declined and Coastal Events Are Concerning

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”