Trump Rejects Israel’s Plea on Syria Sanctions, Promises "Compensation" in Return

In a major diplomatic shift, the Trump administration has officially rejected a request from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to maintain select sanctions on Syria. According to the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan), Tel Aviv hoped to retain these measures as leverage for future negotiations. However, President Donald Trump opted for a definitive repeal of the "Caesar Act," signaling a new era for post-Assad Syria.

High-Level Lobbying and the Caesar Act Repeal Israeli officials reportedly exerted significant pressure on Trump’s inner circle, reaching out to Jared Kushner, Tom Barrack, and Steve Witkoff. Despite these efforts, Trump signed the final repeal of the 2019 Caesar Act as part of the annual defense spending bill. The move follows the ousting of Bashar al-Assad last December, with Washington arguing that sanctions now hinder vital international investment and reconstruction of Syria’s devastated infrastructure.

Secret "Compensation" and Diplomatic Goals While rejecting the Israeli proposal, the Trump administration reportedly promised Israel an undisclosed "compensation" to mitigate security concerns. Damascus has welcomed the move, expressing gratitude to Washington for facilitating economic recovery. President Trump is reportedly aiming for a comprehensive diplomatic settlement between Israel and Syria, seeking to halt the persistent Israeli military strikes that have characterized the past year.