Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani says Damascus is ready to resume diplomatic talks with Israel, urging the country to seize what he described as a “historic opportunity” to achieve peace and regional stability.
In an interview with Reuters published on Sunday, al-Shaibani said negotiations over a proposed security agreement could resume soon. The talks, which were frozen at the start of the US-Israel war with Iran, are aimed at establishing security arrangements and paving the way for Israel’s withdrawal from Syrian territory.
However, al-Shaibani stressed that Syria’s immediate priority is to stop Israeli attacks. He said confidence-building measures were necessary before broader discussions on peace could move forward.
“We do not trust Israel currently,” the Syrian foreign minister said, while acknowledging the need for communication with a country that Damascus considers a security threat.
The United States has been attempting to broker an agreement between Israel and the government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa for more than a year. Progress has remained difficult amid Israeli military operations inside Syria.
Al-Shaibani said Syria believes negotiations could still succeed, despite its concerns over Israeli actions. He accused Israel of relying on military force to protect its security and said Damascus was extending its hand for “understandings, peace, diplomacy and regional stability.”
Disagreement Over Israeli Military Actions
Tensions increased last week after Israel carried out air strikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase. Israel said the strikes were linked to concerns that Damascus could allow Turkish forces to deploy at the facility, a claim rejected by both Syria and Türkiye.
Al-Shaibani said Syria respects Israel’s security concerns but expects Israel to respect Syria’s sovereignty, including its airspace. He also accused Israel of carrying out raids and arrests in southern Syria.
According to the minister, the two sides had earlier reached agreement on most elements of a proposed security arrangement. The plan would require Israel to halt attacks on Syria and withdraw from territory captured after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad.
The proposed agreement would also establish several security zones near the Israeli border, including a buffer zone where only United Nations personnel would be present, alongside other areas where Syrian forces would have varying levels of deployment.
Al-Shaibani, however, said Syria had not seen sufficient willingness from Israel to implement the agreement.
Golan Heights Remains Major Dispute
Another major obstacle is the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed in a move not internationally recognised.
Al-Shaibani said Damascus wants Israeli attacks to stop before negotiations over broader peace issues, including the status of the Golan Heights, can begin.
Israeli officials have indicated that they are not prepared to return the territory to the Syrian government led by al-Sharaa.
US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said Washington is working on a mechanism designed to prevent further conflict involving Israel, Syria and Türkiye.
Al-Shaibani said no final agreement had yet been reached on the mechanism, insisting that it should prevent attacks and facilitate a security agreement rather than strengthen what he described as Israeli occupation.
The Syrian minister also defended Damascus’s military cooperation with Türkiye, saying Syria was grateful for Turkish assistance in rebuilding its armed forces and would continue to accept such support.
Despite the ongoing tensions, al-Shaibani said Syria remained hopeful of establishing stable relations with its neighbours and achieving a diplomatic resolution with Israel.
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