Trump rejected 'Israeli' request to maintain some sanctions on Syria: Hebrew media

• KAN News reported that the US rejected an official ‘Israeli’ request to keep parts of the sanctions on Syria, offering Tel Aviv an undisclosed form of “compensation” instead.
• ‘Israeli’ lobbying efforts failed, despite pressure on senior Trump administration figures to retain sanctions as leverage in future talks with Syria.
• The decision follows the final repeal of the Caesar Act, a move Washington hopes could open the door to Syria’s recovery and a potential ‘Israeli’-Syrian diplomatic breakthrough.

'Israeli' public broadcaster KAN News revealed on Saturday evening behind-the-scenes diplomatic tensions between the United States and 'Israel' after the US administration rejected an official 'Israeli' request to keep parts of the sanctions imposed on Syria.

In return, Washington reportedly offered Tel Aviv an unspecified form of “compensation,” the nature and details of which remain undisclosed.

'Israeli' pressure fails to shift US position

According to 'Israel’s' public broadcaster Kan, aides to 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made intensive efforts in recent days to persuade the administration of President Donald Trump to preserve certain US sanctions as a political “pressure card” for any potential future negotiations with Syria. However, American officials firmly declined the request.

The reports said 'Israeli' officials exerted significant pressure on key figures involved in the Syria file within the Trump administration. Contacts reportedly included US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law.

Despite these efforts, Washington maintained its position, offering an alternative form of compensation instead.

Caesar Act developments after Assad’s ouster

The dispute comes amid major developments surrounding the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, enacted in 2019 to punish the regime of Bashar al-Assad for human rights violations during Syria’s nearly 14-year war. Following Assad’s ouster in December last year, international calls intensified to lift the sanctions to remove barriers for foreign investors and enable Syria’s economic recovery and infrastructure reconstruction.

Trump signs final repeal of sanctions law

Culminating this shift, President Trump signed the final repeal of the Caesar Act on Thursday after Congress approved it as part of the annual defense spending bill. The move followed an earlier temporary suspension issued through an executive order.

In a swift response, Syria’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the decision on Saturday, expressing gratitude for what it described as a step that would ease the suffering of the Syrian people and pave the way for a new phase of recovery and stability.

Hopes for 'Israeli'-Syrian diplomatic breakthrough

Related sources said President Trump hopes the easing of sanctions will help facilitate a diplomatic agreement between 'Israel' and Syria, potentially ending the military escalation 'Israel' has pursued since the fall of the former Syrian regime nearly a year ago.