Politics and Society Institute Holds Session on the Shift in Israel’s Approach toward Syria

The Politics and Society Institute will hold a dialogue session titled “Beyond the Axis: Israel’s Approach in Syria from Threat Management to Reshaping the Security Environment,” featuring Dr. Ammar Kahf, on Monday, May 4, 2026, to discuss the evolution of Israel’s approach toward Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, and the implications of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran for Israel’s security calculations in Syria.

The session will examine whether Israel still views Syria primarily through the lens of the Iran-Hezbollah axis, or whether its approach has shifted toward reshaping the security environment in southern Syria through expanded military activity, diplomatic pressure, and the exploitation of local divisions.

It will also shed light on Israeli movements in Quneitra, western Daraa, and the UN-monitored buffer zone established under the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, in addition to the stalled “Paris Track” between Syria and Israel, the Suwayda file, and Israel’s recurring discourse on protecting the Druze community.

The session will further discuss how the new Syrian government is responding to these pressures while attempting to pursue what may be described as “active neutrality” — avoiding direct involvement in regional escalation while seeking to preserve Syria’s sovereignty and territorial unity.

It will also address the implications of these developments for Jordan, southern Syria, and regional stability, including possible future scenarios ranging from containment and negotiated security arrangements to prolonged Israeli pressure on Syria.

The session comes as part of the Politics and Society Institute’s ongoing efforts to study regional transformations and their implications for Jordan and the wider Middle East. It also reflects PSI’s strategic partnership with the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, particularly through the Institute’s dedicated Syrian Studies Unit, which focuses on developments in Syria and their regional and geopolitical implications.

Dr. Ammar Kahf is the Executive Director of the Omran Center for Strategic Studies and a founding board member of the Syrian Forum. He is a researcher specializing in Syrian affairs and political and security transformations in the region.