Syria seeks renewed security pact with Israel
In a significant development, Syria and Israel are engaged in advanced talks aimed at halting hostilities and improving relations, potentially leading to broader peace agreements. These discussions, which have gained momentum following changes in the Syrian government, are being mediated by the United States.
However, the fate of the Golan Heights, a territory occupied by Israel since 1967, poses a significant challenge. Israel has no intention of returning the Syrian Golan Heights it annexed in 1981, a demand that Syria has made as part of its pursuit for full normalization of relations and a gradual withdrawal from territories occupied after December 2024, including the summit of Mount Hermon.
Both Israel and Syria share security interests, particularly in countering Iranian influence. This shared concern is driving the momentum toward normalization. However, Syria's growing concern about Iran's interference attempts in Syria adds a complex layer to the negotiations.
The United Nations peacekeepers are stationed in the demilitarized buffer zone, partly occupied by Israel, and are tasked with monitoring compliance with the disengagement agreement on the Golan plateau. Unfortunately, the UN has reported that Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria since December, violating the demilitarized Golan buffer zone.
The Syrian Foreign Minister, Assaad al-Chaibani, has expressed a desire to cooperate with the United States for a return to the 1974 disengagement agreement. Meanwhile, Israel's Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, has expressed interest in normalizing relations with Syria and Lebanon.
There are unconfirmed reports suggesting a possible peace agreement by the end of 2025, though nothing is concrete yet. The Syrian government's openness to peace reflects a shift in priorities toward reintegration into the region and relief from international isolation.
Notably, the Syrian Foreign Minister received an official invitation for a visit to Washington at the earliest opportunity, and discussions regarding President Charaa's potential participation in the UN General Assembly meetings have taken place.
Amidst these negotiations, it is crucial to remember that Syria and Israel have been in a state of technical war for decades. The Syrian authorities have accused loyalists of the Bashar al-Assad regime of fomenting unrest, while the Syrian Foreign Minister and the American counterpart Marco Rubio have discussed repeated Israeli aggressions against southern Syria.
As these negotiations continue, the future of the Golan Heights will be a crucial factor in any potential agreement. While significant progress is being made, the negotiations remain fragile, and the path to peace is complex and filled with challenges.
- The ongoing talks between Syria and Israel, focused on halting hostilities and improving relations, are being influenced not only by the changes in the Syrian government but also by the politics surrounding war-and-conflicts, general-news, such as the shared security interests between the two nations in countering Iranian influence.
- The Syrian Foreign Minister's plans for potential cooperation with the United States to return to the 1974 disengagement agreement and Israel's Foreign Minister's interest in normalizing relations with Syria and Lebanon indicate that politics, including war-and-conflicts, general-news, are playing a crucial role in these negotiations, particularly in regards to the disputed territory of the Golan Heights.
