The Turkish government seeks to resume facilitating an Israeli-Syrian peace process, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today after meeting with Syrian President Basher al-Assad. Resumption of the peace process could result from increased overtures from the United States towards Syria, most notably the appointment of an ambassador to Damascus alongside various trips from high-ranking U.S. officials.
Turkey previously served as a mediator between Israeli and Syrian officials in order to end the decades-long hostility between the two countries. Due to the Israeli offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip in December and January, the Syrian government halted the peace process in protest.
However, Syrian ties with Iran and certain terror groups could pose a threat if Israel decides to use military force against Iran in order to halt the nuclear program. In the event of a strike, many analysts believe that terror activity from groups allegedly sanctioned by Syria could pose significant security concerns for Israel.