TEL AVIV — Israel is moving to de-escalate tensions with Turkey and Syria following its Aug. 18 bombing of the Abu al-Duhur air base in northern Syria, which Israel said was being prepared to host Turkish forces, an Israeli political source told Al-Monitor. Mossad chief Roman Gofman has been tasked with spearheading the effort.

The apparent shift from Israel’s hard-line stance may reflect a desire to appease US President Donald Trump, who has been pushing for an Israel-Syria agreement, in hopes of securing Trump's endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reelection bid, the Israeli political source said.

Still, the apparent shift is not yet reflected in the official rhetoric. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday that the Israeli military will not withdraw from Mount Hermon or other positions it seized following the fall of the Assad regime “as long as Israel faces jihadist threats.” On a visit to Israeli troops in southern Syria, Katz said the military had “acted against a Turkish attempt to establish a foothold in Syria, which jeopardizes Israel’s security interests. We have made our position clear and will continue to stand by it in the future.”

Gofman meets Shibani