Mideast security lobby calls to 'take advantage of window' for regional security

"Opportunities like this come once in a century in the Middle East, but the window won't always be open," Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said.

Shadi Martini, a Syrian businessman and political activist, visited the Knesset to participate in the annual conference of a newly formed lobby promoting a regional security arrangement on Wednesday.

Martini shared that he met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa about two weeks ago and had an extensive discussion about Israel, where the president remarked, "Opportunities like this come once in a century in the Middle East, but the window won't always be open. Let’s take advantage of this window; let’s not miss it. I want Israeli, Syrian, Saudi, Palestinian, and Jordanian children to grow up with hope."

The conference, which marked the launch of the lobby, addressed regional opportunities that emerged after the Israel-Hamas war and Operation Rising Lion.

Among the speakers was Saudi journalist Abd al-Aziz al-Khamis, based in the United Arab Emirates, who stated the important message was not about who won the war, but about the next steps.

"There is exhaustion in the Gulf from wars and emergencies. There is a deep desire for stability and partnership. We are asking whether Israel can transition from a posture of military strength to one of partnership, utilizing its military deterrence not just for defense, but for diplomatic success."

Al-Khamis emphasized that the Palestinian issue and the resolution of the Gaza conflict remain core concerns for Saudi Arabia.

"It’s impossible to accept a situation where people are imprisoned in Gaza. Saudi Arabia's vision is not limited to local concerns but is regional. A Palestinian state must be established, with clear Israeli commitments not only to security but also to coexistence," he said.

"These are not excessive demands, but rather minimal and humane requests. If Israel uses this moment to deepen the occupation and humiliate Gaza, it will lose not only Saudi Arabia but the entire Arab world. Let’s turn the advantages of the Iron Square into a bridge of hope."

The lobby was founded by MKs Gilad Kariv, Ram Ben Barak, and Alon Schuster

The lobby, promoting a regional security arrangement, was co-founded by Knesset members Gilad Kariv, Ram Ben Barak, and Alon Schuster. At the conference’s opening, Ben Barak noted, "One of the primary reasons for the October 7 attack was the growing prospects of normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Now is the time to turn the IDF's military victories into diplomatic successes, paving the way for new agreements that will shape a new Middle East and bring more nations into the Abraham Accords. This is the moment for courageous leadership."

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu takes great pride in the changes within the Middle East over the past year. The critical question now is: What will we do with these changes?" Kariv said.

"A comprehensive agreement to end the war and bring back all hostages must be the starting point, but it must continue with bold agreements that will reshape the region, form an alliance of moderates against the Iran axis, and bring hope to both peoples here and to all the peoples of Abraham."

Schuster thanks the courage of Israel's fighters, which "allows us to translate these achievements into political change. There are historical opportunities before us, and any political arrangement must be based on security, broad agreements, and leadership willing to choose a better future, even when it requires courage."

"The moderate countries in the region admire us for the military power that has brought achievements against Iran and the radical axis, but they are concerned that we are acting with a military foot only and without a diplomatic one," Brigadier General (Res.) Udi Dekel, one of the founders of the Coalition for Regional Security, said.

"If we do not act quickly, we will miss the opportunity to establish an axis of moderate countries that want to block the radical axis led by Iran."