Syria says talks with Israel on security deal frozen, but should resume soon

Syria expects negotiations to resume talks with Israel soon over a security deal it hopes will lead to Israel’s withdrawal from Syrian land, the country’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani says, urging Israel to seize a “historic opportunity” as the door for diplomacy is open.

Washington has been seeking to forge a security deal between Israel and the government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a new US ally in the Middle East, for over a year. But it has proven elusive as Israel has sent troops into Syrian territory and attacked government assets, citing threats to its security.

Shaibani says negotiations over the security agreement have been frozen since the start of the Iran war, but he expected them to restart. Contact between Syria and Israel was cut after a strike on an airbase in northern Syria earlier this month, he says.

“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,” Shaibani says from Damascus. “We do not trust Israel currently.”

The interview took place Saturday, but is published today.

Israeli officials have talked about a range of potential dangers in Syria since Bashar al-Assad was toppled, with some describing the new rulers as barely disguised jihadists last year, even as Sharaa forged close US ties.

“Israel has tried to maintain its security through brute force and it hasn’t succeeded” anywhere, Shaibani says. “I believe negotiations will resume soon.”

“The US is trying continuously to put pressure on Israel to return to the dialogue table,” he adds.

Asked how optimistic he is, Shaibani says: “It’s very hard to bet on Israel.” But Syria has “very great hope” of building stable relationships with its neighbors.

“Syria is extending its hand for understandings, for peace, for diplomacy” and regional stability.

He says Syria respects Israel’s security concerns but that Israel must respect those of Syria, including Israel’s use of its airspace, Israeli raids and arrests in the south.

The sides had agreed “on paper” regarding a security deal tied to Israel’s withdrawal from territory seized after Assad fell, but Israel tried to evade implementation, he charges.

“We did not see they had the real will to reach an agreement,” he says.

The priority now is to “stop Israeli aggression even before reaching a security agreement,” Shaibani says. “Then perhaps we can open the topics of peace and the Golan.”

Damascus is thankful for Turkey’s support in rebuilding its military “and we won’t forgo support,” he adds.