Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara recently announced that an agreement with Israel, focused on easing tensions along their shared border, could be finalized within a matter of days. This marks a crucial moment in the ongoing, U.S.-mediated diplomatic efforts.
For decades, Syria and Israel have been official adversaries. However, following the ousting of dictator Bashar al-Assad last December by forces led by Mr. al-Shara, the new Syrian leadership has adopted a noticeably more cooperative stance.
Israel has historically maintained its presence in southern Syria, citing self-defense, and has conducted numerous airstrikes within Syrian territory, even striking near President al-Shara’s official residence. For several months, Syrian and Israeli officials have engaged in U.S.-backed discussions concerning a comprehensive security agreement for the southern Syrian region.
Addressing researchers and journalists in Damascus on Wednesday evening, President al-Shara emphasized Syria’s weariness with conflict after over 13 years of civil war. He reiterated his government’s commitment to fostering peace with its neighboring countries.
“An agreement could be reached at any moment,” President al-Shara stated regarding the discussions with Israel. Yet, he underscored a key concern: whether Israel would uphold its commitments to the deal.
Analysts suggest that Syria’s severely weakened economy and military, devastated by years of civil war, limit its bargaining power in these negotiations. Israeli officials have consistently indicated their intention to maintain a presence in Syria to prevent the establishment of hostile forces near their borders, and they also seek to ensure southern Syria remains free of Syrian government military presence.
The precise objectives of both sides in the ongoing negotiations remain somewhat opaque. As of reporting, the office of Ron Dermer, Israel’s minister of strategic affairs and a key figure in these discussions, had not issued a public statement.
Officially at war since 1948, Israel and Syria’s most persistent dispute centers on the Golan Heights—a strategically vital plateau captured by Israel during the 1967 Middle East War and subsequently annexed.
A 1974 agreement established a United Nations-patrolled buffer zone, leading to decades of relative calm along the border. However, with the downfall of Mr. al-Assad, Israeli officials declared the accord null and void, pending the restoration of stability in Syria.
President al-Shara affirmed on Wednesday that his government has upheld the 1974 armistice agreement, despite what he described as repeated Israeli violations. He indicated that the current negotiations aim to establish new border arrangements, mirroring the 1974 accord with a buffer zone and international oversight.
Crucially, Mr. al-Shara clarified that the discussions do not currently involve the status of Mount Hermon or the Golan Heights, territories presently under Israeli control but disputed by Syria.