Syria Signals Readiness for Diplomacy with Israel, Urging Seizure of Historic Opportunity

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani announced that the door for diplomacy with Israel remains open, calling on the nation to seize a “historic opportunity” during a news conference in Moscow, Russia. Speaking in an interview with the Reuters news agency, al-Shaibani stated he expects negotiations over a security deal—which would result in Israel’s withdrawal from Syrian territory—to resume shortly.

Negotiations for the security agreement were previously frozen following the outbreak of the US-Israel war on Iran, with no official date currently scheduled for their resumption. Al-Shaibani emphasized that Damascus views halting Israeli attacks as its primary objective, stressing the necessity of immediate confidence-building measures.

For over a year, the United States has attempted to mediate a security arrangement between Israel and the administration of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a recent US ally in the Middle East. However, reaching an agreement has proven difficult as Israel continues to deploy troops into Syrian territory and target government infrastructure, citing ongoing security concerns.

“We believe there should be contact, especially with a party that constantly threatens the security of Syria. But if this contact doesn’t bring results, then we don’t need it,” remarked al-Shaibani. “We do not trust Israel currently.”

President Ahmed al-Sharaa has maintained that Syria presents no threat to other nations, focusing instead on national reconstruction following 14 years of civil war. Meanwhile, Israeli officials have voiced various concerns regarding potential risks in Syria, with several figures criticizing the new government even as al-Sharaa seeks closer ties with Washington.

Following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in 2024, Israel established a presence in southwest Syria to protect its citizens from potential threats, alongside launching airstrikes against numerous Syrian military sites. “Israel has tried to maintain its security through brute force, and it hasn’t succeeded” anywhere, stated al-Shaibani. He expressed confidence that negotiations will soon restart due to US pressure on Israel to return to dialogue.

Regarding the likelihood of resumed talks, al-Shaibani noted, “It’s very hard to bet on Israel.” Nevertheless, Syria retains “very great hope” for establishing stable relations with its neighbors, noting that “Syria is extending its hand for understandings, for peace, for diplomacy” and regional stability.

Tensions intensified recently after Israel bombed the Abu al-Duhur airbase under the assertion that Damascus intended to permit Turkish forces to deploy there—a claim explicitly denied by both Syria and Turkiye. Al-Shaibani stated that while Syria respects Israel’s security concerns, Israel must likewise respect Damascus instead of violating Syrian airspace and conducting raids and arrests in the southern region.

Earlier this year, al-Shaibani noted, both governments had “agreed on paper to almost everything” concerning a security framework. This framework hinged on Israel halting its attacks on Syria and withdrawing from areas seized after the fall of al-Assad. The proposed accord involved establishing several security zones near the Israeli border, including a UN-monitored buffer zone and designated areas for Syrian forces. However, implementation stalled because Israel sought to evade the terms, with al-Shaibani noting, “We did not see they had the real will to reach an agreement.”

Having been in a technical state of war since 1948, Syria and Israel have long contested the Golan Heights, which Israel captured during the Six-Day War of 1967. Al-Shaibani underscored that the immediate priority is to “stop Israeli aggression even before reaching a security agreement” before addressing broader topics like peace and the Golan.

Israeli leadership has signaled an unwillingness to return the Golan Heights to the al-Sharaa administration. US special envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, stated that Washington is currently developing a conflict-prevention mechanism involving Israel, Turkiye, and Syria, though al-Shaibani confirmed no final agreement has been reached yet on this framework. The US Department of State did not immediately provide a comment.

Al-Shaibani concluded by reiterating that Syria appreciates the military training and support provided by Turkiye, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and others for its rebuilding efforts, affirming that Damascus will not forgo such assistance.