Negotiations between Israel and Syria aimed at reaching a security agreement have reportedly stalled, according to Israeli media outlets. The sticking point appears to be Israel’s insistence on a comprehensive peace treaty as a precondition for withdrawing its forces from territories seized following the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024.
According to sources within the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation, Syria’s President Ahmed al-Share’s demand for a complete Israeli withdrawal from all areas occupied after the regime change has been met with resistance. Israel is reportedly unwilling to cede control of these territories without a formal and comprehensive peace agreement with Syria, something that currently seems unlikely.
Earlier expectations of a US-brokered security agreement during the UN General Assembly meetings in September ultimately failed to materialize. Reports indicated that talks faltered at the last minute due to disagreements over Damascus’s demands. Specifically, Syria sought a full Israeli withdrawal to the 1974 disengagement line, an end to violations of Syrian airspace, and a return to the status quo ante.
Reuters also reported that discussions broke down over Israel’s demand to establish a “humanitarian corridor” into the southern Syrian province of Suwayda.
Since 1967, Israel has occupied a significant portion of the Syrian Golan Heights. Following the ousting of the Assad regime, Israel expanded its presence in the buffer zone, seizing the strategic Mount Hermon peak and effectively nullifying the 1974 disengagement agreement. Furthermore, Israel has conducted airstrikes within Syria, resulting in civilian casualties and the destruction of Syrian military infrastructure, equipment, and weapons caches.
DZWatch Analysis: The current impasse highlights the deep-seated mistrust and complex geopolitical realities hindering any potential resolution between Israel and Syria. The demand for a comprehensive peace agreement signals Israel’s intent to secure long-term stability and recognition before relinquishing control of strategically important territories. Whether a breakthrough can be achieved remains uncertain.
