Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Friday, April 17, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Friday, April 17, 2026
Sharaa: Syria-Israel talks haven’t reached dead end, serious about making a deal
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleNurit Yohanan is The Times of Israel's Palestinian and Arab world correspondent
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during the opening day of the Doha Forum, an annual diplomatic conference, in Doha on December 6, 2025. (Mahmud HAMS / AFP)
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa says in an interview with the Turkish news agency Anadolu that negotiations between Syria and Israel have not reached a dead end, but are facing significant difficulties due to what he described as Israel’s insistence on remaining in Syrian territory.
He says Israel has treated Syria with “great brutality,” referring to Israeli strikes on Syrian bases and troops holding parts of the country.
He adds that Syria is serious about reaching a security agreement with Israel in order to maintain regional stability.
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
The Times of Israel Community.
JOIN THE TOI COMMUNITY
Already a member? Log in here