Israeli Official Cites Sanctions Relief as Hurdle in Syria Security Talks

A senior Israeli official revealed on Wednesday that efforts to reach a security agreement with Syria have so far been unsuccessful, though discussions regarding security arrangements in southern Syria are ongoing. Israel believes that the US and other countries' initiative to lift some sanctions on Syria has negatively impacted the communications between the two sides, reducing Syria's incentive to reach a settlement, according to the newspaper Maariv.

The core of the disagreement, according to the Israeli official, centers on a buffer zone. Israel was unwilling to agree to a security arrangement that would require its withdrawal from this zone, which it considers a significant security gain. Despite the failure to reach an agreement, channels of communication with Damascus remain open.

The Hebrew outlet Walla quoted the official stating that "Israel has communication channels with the Syrian regime." The dialogue, he explained, is occurring on multiple levels and addresses various issues, including security arrangements in southern Syria. "I cannot go into all the details, but there are dialogue tracks through which we are trying to preserve Israel's security interests," the official concluded.