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Ongoing Negotiations Between Israel and Syria Amid Continued Diplomatic Efforts
Amid increasing confirmations from Damascus that negotiations with Israel are still underway with the aim of reaching a near agreement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged today, Sunday, during a government session, that significant progress has been made in the ongoing talks with Syria. However, he emphasized that a final solution remains distant, considering that Israel's recent victories over Hezbollah have opened an unexpected opportunity — the possibility of achieving peace with Israel's northern neighbors, explicitly referring to Syria.
In a media statement, Netanyahu confirmed that Israel is currently in negotiations with the Syrian side, adding that there has been some progress but stressing that an agreement between the two sides has not yet been finalized. These remarks came after a meeting that brought together Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Shibani in London last week, according to official Israeli sources.
Sources indicate that the hoped-for agreement focuses on replacing the 1974 Separation of Forces and Disengagement Agreement between Syria and Israel, with details concerning remaining at the Mount Hermon observation post, expanding the buffer zone, and establishing demilitarized areas. It also includes security arrangements linked to Damascus’s authorities, providing aerial control in the south, Israeli demands for aerial passage to Iran’s borders through Iraq, and readiness to divide some areas in the Golan Heights.
In contrast, Damascus insists on activating the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and seeks Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied after the fall of the Syrian regime in 2024. Damascus also indicates willingness to sign a security agreement that considers Israel’s security and Syria’s sovereignty, related to the fate of the Golan Heights and normalization with Israel, according to statements by Syrian officials.
The state of war between Syria and Israel has persisted since 1948, despite periods of ceasefire. Israel withdrew from the 1974 ceasefire after its continued incursions into the demilitarized zone since last December, following the fall of the Syrian regime. Israel continues to target Syrian military sites, with forces now only 20 kilometers away from Damascus.
