New Middle East? Netanyahu seeks peace treaty with Syria!

New Middle East? Netanyahu seeks peace treaty with Syria!

Prof. Dr. Gencer Özcan worked as an Aziz Nesin visiting professor at Viadrina in the summer semester of 2025. He taught the Current Issues in the Middle East course, which examines political developments in this conflict-ridden region. Özcan, who studied at the Faculty of Political Science at Ankara University and received his doctorate at Boğaziçi University, has been a member of the Faculty of International Relations at Istanbul Bilgi University since 2009. His expertise includes Turkey's political history, foreign and security policy decision-making processes, as well as Turkish policy towards the Middle East and relations with Israel, such as europa-uni.de reported.

The course attracts a diverse group of international students and promotes a motivating seminar atmosphere. A central goal is to anchor current developments in the Middle East in a historical context. Topics such as the Arab Spring, the rise of the Islamic State and the events since October 7, 2023 in Gaza and Israel are covered. Özcan highlights the importance of a humanitarian perspective when discussing sensitive issues and analyzes the legacy of the Arab uprisings. According to Özcan, these uprisings created an environment for international intervention and did not lead to a democratic transformation of the region.

The role of the Abraham Accords

A central element in Özcan’s discussion is the “Pax Abrahamica,” the new regional order that emerged from the 2020 Abraham Accords. These agreements have contributed to Israel's hopes of expanding cooperation with Arab states, especially after the end of the war against Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed conciliatory tones and emphasized that the time for peace had come. Media are reporting a possible major Middle East peace plan that could be agreed soon, with a deal with Syria close to being signed, such as nzz.ch reported.

In Tel Aviv, posters with the slogan “It's time for a new Middle East” promote the expansion of these agreements. Netanyahu plans to negotiate the reconstruction of Syria with former Syrian rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. In Lebanon, however, there is resistance to a dictated peace, while Saudi Arabia under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expresses interest in normalization but demands a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders in return.

Criticism of political rhetoric

Özcan observes that European students are often more critical and better informed than the mainstream media when discussing Middle East issues. While Netanyahu rejects the demand for a Palestinian state, his coalition partners have a two-state solution on their agenda. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich emphasizes that a peace agreement is only possible with countries that do not support a Palestinian state. These political dynamics raise questions about the future actions of the Israeli government and the potential for peace in the Middle East.

Overall, Özcan's teaching approach and developments in the Middle East illustrate the complex geopolitical tensions and the need to understand them in the context of history. The current events surrounding the Abraham Accords could be crucial for future stability in the region.