Appease and Be Erased: Israel's Savage Betrayal of Syria Exposes Folly of Arab Normalization

During Trump’s first term, the Abraham Accords were crafted with the goal of normalizing relations between Arab countries and the Zionist regime. This initiative, part of Washington's long-term vision for a "New Middle East," is now being revived in Trump’s second administration. After much political back-and-forth, Syria—following the fall of Assad’s regime and the rise to power of former terrorist Julani, leader of a Turkey-backed faction—has taken visible steps toward joining the normalization plan. In return for this alignment, Western countries have lifted sanctions against Syria.

Immediately following these developments and the Syrian regime’s passivity toward Israeli aggression, Zionist warplanes officially violated Syrian airspace, bombed Syrian army sites under the pretext of supporting Druze militias, and even targeted Julani’s presidential palace. This article examines the bitter consequences of appeasement toward the Zionist regime by regional governments and evaluates the future of these states under Israeli expansionist ambitions.

Zionist Expansionism Exceeds Temporary Gains

The aggressive policies of the Zionist regime go far beyond short-term strategic gains. Syria’s recent experience shows that no level of concession satisfies the regime. Julani’s surrender of territories and his silence on critical issues failed to quench the Zionists’ insatiable appetite. This illustrates that the regime does not recognize any defined territorial limits or abide by agreements. It continues to pursue expansionist objectives without restraint.

Tel Aviv Needs No Justification for Aggression

Unlike other war-seeking governments that typically seek justifications before launching military operations, Israel has shown it needs none. Its decades of behavior since its inception demonstrate a blatant disregard for diplomatic norms. Syria, despite granting several concessions, was bombed by Zionist forces, leading to the destruction of the Tishreen Palace and the Ministry of Defense. These actions prove that Israel operates under pretextual geopolitical and security narratives that justify any military campaign it deems necessary.
The Fate of Appeasers: Betrayal and Political Collapse

A historical review of Israeli actions reveals that any form of cooperation or silence toward the regime ultimately leads to distrust, destruction, or political irrelevance. States that crave normalization will only be met with betrayal. Syria’s experience should compel Arab countries to reevaluate their strategic approach toward Israel. The illusion that appeasement brings stability only enables Israel to penetrate deeper into the region’s political and military fabric—to the detriment of Arab sovereignty.

The Need for a Real Deterrence Axis

Only through active resistance can Israel’s greed from the Nile to the Euphrates be curbed. Arab nations must quickly reassess their Israel policies and align with the resistance axis. Without a strategy of active resistance, the West Asian states will not be able to defend themselves against repeated Zionist aggression. Failure to resist would make Israel’s vision of a Greater Israel dangerously feasible.

This confirms the assertion that sovereignty, dignity, and security in West Asia can only be preserved through active resistance—not through weakness or appeasement.

Conclusion

The U.S. strategy for West Asia is to reactivate the Abraham Accords to bolster Israeli security. Arab countries are expected to adjust their policies according to Israeli demands, as Syria has done under its transitional government post-Assad. Yet, despite taking passive and conciliatory positions, this Syrian government has still come under Israeli military attack.
Syria’s current predicament may lead to its disintegration—or, at best, a federal model with autonomous provinces similar to Iraq. The Syrian experience should serve as a clear warning to all Arab states in West Asia: appeasement leads not to peace, but to vulnerability and potential collapse.

*Translated by Ashraf Hemmati from the original Persian article written byAmirali Yeganeh