Netanyahu tells US envoy he’ll appoint new Israeli negotiator for Syria talks — report

Nava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) hosts US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria and Lebanon Tom Barrack (left), in Jerusalem on December 15, 2025. (Maayan Toaf / GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) hosts US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria and Lebanon Tom Barrack (left), in Jerusalem on December 15, 2025. (Maayan Toaf / GPO)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack during their meeting on Monday that he would appoint a new Israeli representative in the coming days to negotiations with Damascus on a security arrangement, Channel 12 reports, citing US officials.

The talks, which have been mediated by the US for months, have effectively frozen since the resignation of Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who previously led the effort on Israel’s behalf, leading Barrack to urge Netanyahu to appoint a new representative, two senior American officials told the network.

Netanyahu made clear in the meeting that Dermer would not continue handling the Syria file, even as a special envoy, and told Barrack he would update Washington within days on who would represent Israel, the report says.

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