Trump Key to Fast-Track Syria-Israel Peace, Says Abraham Accords Architect

The Jewish diplomat who helped lay the groundwork for the historic Abraham Accords believes President Donald Trump holds the exclusive key to fast-tracking peace between Syria and Israel, following his recent groundbreaking meetings in Damascus with Syrian leadership.

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and a veteran Middle East peacemaker, delivered this assessment after spending two hours with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa during a diplomatic mission that has raised new hopes for regional peace.

“There is one man who can speed up this process, and one man only: Donald Trump,” Cooper told Al Majalla in an exclusive interview following his Damascus talks. “Only Donald Trump has brought us to this place.”

The Man Who Made Abraham Accords Possible

Cooper brings unparalleled credibility to this assessment. His behind-the-scenes work in Bahrain and the UAE created the foundation for what became the Abraham Accords in 2020, fundamentally reshaping Middle Eastern diplomacy. Now, he sees similar potential emerging from Syria’s new leadership.

The septuagenarian rabbi’s diplomatic resume spans decades of breakthrough moments: opening the first Jewish cultural center in Moscow during the Soviet era, facilitating historic meetings between Jewish and Muslim religious leaders, and becoming the first Jewish leader to meet Sudan’s former president. His track record of opening seemingly impossible doors makes his Syria assessment particularly significant.

“When I discussed American sanctions on Syria with American diplomats, some laughed at me,” Cooper revealed. “They didn’t want to drop the sanctions. But President Trump ignored them and decided to remove sanctions on Syria.”

Trump’s Express Train to Peace

Cooper’s vision centers on Trump’s unique ability to cut through diplomatic red tape and create breakthrough moments. Drawing parallels to the Abraham Accords success, he believes Trump could orchestrate a dramatic acceleration of Syria-Israel relations.

“For the Presidents of Syria and Israel to have a meeting in his office is the best way to fast-track this,” Cooper explained. “It’s like taking the express train from London to Paris. Otherwise, it’s like taking the local trains, which take forever.”

The rabbi’s confidence stems from witnessing Trump’s unconventional diplomatic approach firsthand. While traditional diplomats expressed skepticism about Syria, Trump moved decisively to lift sanctions, creating an opening that Cooper believes could lead to historic breakthroughs.

“A collective hug from him for these two guys (Netanyahu and al-Sharaa), that’s the fast track to the Abraham Accords,” Cooper said, emphasizing Trump’s personal touch in high-stakes diplomacy.

Syria’s “Unicorn” President Impresses Peace Architect

Cooper’s optimism about Trump’s potential role is matched by his surprising assessment of Syrian President Al-Sharaa, whom he describes as a “unicorn” in Middle Eastern politics.

“Al Majalla spoke to Rabbi Cooper afterwards about the Damascus talks, his role, his perceptions of Syria’s future, and relations between Damascus and Tel Aviv. He clearly sees Trump as key to rapid progress, and left the Syrian capital impressed with Al-Sharaa, who he said ‘holds a vision for Syria that accommodates all its citizens’. Cooper said the Syrian leader, a former Islamist, ‘looks at things with a strategic and practical mindset’,” the interview revealed.

This assessment carries weight given Cooper’s extensive experience with Middle Eastern leaders. His characterization of Al-Sharaa as an “Islamist with a vision for peace regionally” and someone who embraces inclusion for Syria’s diverse population suggests the kind of pragmatic leadership that could work with Trump’s direct approach.

“He’s an Islamist whose vision for the very diverse population of Syria is one of inclusion,” Cooper explained. “I presented two books of Psalms as a gift, one to the president and one for his wife, because he includes his wife in meetings and walks in public holding hands with her. This guy is a unicorn.”

The Trump Factor: Revolutionary Change

Cooper’s emphasis on Trump’s unique role isn’t just diplomatic flattery—it’s based on concrete results. The rabbi credits Trump with creating the conditions that made his Damascus mission possible in the first place.

“The person who can make the kind of revolutionary change he made with sanctions relief is Donald Trump,” Cooper stated, highlighting how Trump’s decision to lift sanctions opened diplomatic doors that had been closed for years.

This approach aligns with Trump’s broader Middle East strategy, which has consistently favored bold, direct engagement over traditional diplomatic incrementalism. Cooper sees this as exactly what’s needed to overcome the complex barriers between Syria and Israel.

“I saw that Netanyahu, the other day, made a public request that President Trump get involved,” Cooper noted, suggesting that even Israeli leadership recognizes Trump’s crucial role in any potential breakthrough.

Beyond Politics: Humanitarian Pathways

While Cooper positions Trump as the key catalyst, he also outlined practical steps that could build momentum for presidential intervention. His proposals focus on humanitarian cooperation that could create goodwill and demonstrate the benefits of Syrian-Israeli cooperation.

The first initiative involves helping Syrian families find closure through DNA matching of human remains with grieving families. “This would let them give their loved ones a proper burial and learn the truth about where they perished,” Cooper explained, drawing on international expertise in mass grave excavation.

The second project addresses Syria’s water scarcity through Israeli technological expertise. “Flying into Damascus, you see there’s so much desert. There is expertise on water and agriculture next door,” Cooper observed, referencing Israel’s world-renowned water management innovations.

“We can bring five or six Israeli experts to Damascus, then spend a couple of days out in the field where it’s safe,” he suggested. “It doesn’t need to be public. It’s practical, it will involve human connection, and if it happens, it’ll be good for Syria.”

The Abraham Accords Playbook

Cooper’s strategy mirrors the successful approach he used in building toward the Abraham Accords. Before official agreements were signed, he spent years facilitating people-to-people connections, hosting religious leaders from Gulf states in Jerusalem, and building trust through practical cooperation.

“In Bahrain and the UAE, we used NGOs in the years leading up to the Abraham Accords,” Cooper recalled. “We invited religious leaders to be our guests in Jerusalem. It was great. It was a multiplier.”

This grassroots approach, combined with Trump’s high-level intervention, proved successful in achieving what many considered impossible—full diplomatic relations between Israel and Arab states that had never recognized Israel’s right to exist.

“The then US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo thanked us for helping with the building blocks towards peace,” Cooper noted. “I do not take credit for the Abraham Accords, but that is sort of where we see ourselves.”

Timing and Opportunity

Cooper’s assessment comes at a crucial moment in Middle Eastern politics. Syria’s new leadership appears more pragmatic and inclusive than its predecessors, while Trump’s return to office provides the kind of bold leadership that Cooper believes is essential for breakthrough progress.

“The current Secretary of State Marco Rubio is an important player. He has broad experience in foreign policy and is now in charge of USAID. He will be a major player in all of this,” Cooper observed. “But the person who can make the kind of revolutionary change he made with sanctions relief is Donald Trump.”

The rabbi’s urgency reflects both the opportunities and challenges of the current moment. “I’m an old man; I don’t have time to wait,” he said, emphasizing the need for rapid progress while conditions remain favorable.

Regional Impact and Broader Vision

Cooper’s vision extends beyond bilateral Syrian-Israeli relations to encompass broader regional transformation. He sees Syria’s potential inclusion in Abraham Accords-style agreements as part of a larger reshaping of Middle Eastern dynamics.

“The total defeat of the Ayatollahs’ tyranny will be great for the people of Iran, for the people of Israel, for Syria’s future, for greater stability, and for the future of our grandchildren,” Cooper stated, connecting Syrian peace prospects to broader regional changes.

This comprehensive approach aligns with Trump’s preference for dealing with multiple regional challenges simultaneously rather than in isolation. Cooper believes this broader vision makes Trump uniquely positioned to orchestrate the kind of comprehensive breakthrough that could reshape the region.

The Path Forward

Cooper’s Damascus mission has established the groundwork, but he’s clear that Trump’s personal involvement is essential for transforming potential into reality. His proposal for a White House summit between Syrian and Israeli leaders represents the kind of dramatic diplomatic moment that could accelerate years of traditional negotiations into breakthrough agreements.

“Without that, both sides will need confidence-building measures,” Cooper explained, contrasting the slow traditional approach with Trump’s potential for rapid breakthroughs.

The rabbi’s continued engagement—he plans to return to the region and maintain dialogue with both sides—provides the practical foundation that could support Trump’s high-level intervention when the moment is right.

“We’ll keep coming back,” Cooper promised, using his characteristic persistence to maintain momentum. “We’ll be noodges, because you know, the desert still beckons, and families are still mourning.”

A Historic Opportunity

Cooper’s assessment suggests that the stars may be aligning for a historic breakthrough in Syria-Israel relations, but only if Trump chooses to seize the moment. With Syria’s new leadership showing pragmatic promise and Israeli leaders publicly requesting Trump’s involvement, the Abraham Accords architect believes all the pieces are in place for presidential action.

“Great things are possible,” Cooper concluded, his optimism tempered by the understanding that transformative change requires the right leader at the right moment. In his view, that leader is Donald Trump, and the moment is now.

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