Syria Claims 90% Agreement with Israel on Security Deal Before Talks Collapsed
Former Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara claimed that Syria and Israel had reached approximately 90% agreement on security arrangements during negotiations, but Israel subsequently withdrew. If this figure reflects the status of draft agreements, the two nations made significant progress in the past year. However, in security negotiations, the number of agreed-upon clauses is less important than the weight of the unresolved issues.
Al-Shara specified that the talks focused on a security arrangement, not a comprehensive peace treaty. The initial phase, according to him, would involve an Israeli withdrawal from territories captured in southern Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, coupled with new security understandings. Peace could only be discussed if this initial phase proved successful. Regarding the Golan Heights, al-Shara was firm, stating that Syrian sovereignty there is non-negotiable.
While al-Shara expressed interest in the Abraham Accords in the spring, the path to a full agreement remains long. The remaining 10% of the negotiations, which prevented an agreement, centered on Israeli presence in Syrian territory. Damascus demanded a return to pre-December 2024 lines and the full restoration of the 1974 disengagement agreement. Israel, conversely, sought a largely demilitarized southern Syria with the ability to prevent the entry of hostile forces, asserting in the summer that its military presence would persist as long as threats remained.
Key sticking points included Mount Hermon, where Israel occupies positions on the Syrian side and views the elevation as a critical intelligence asset, while Syria considers it occupied territory. Another major issue was demilitarization, with an Israeli proposal from 2025 outlining zones with varying levels of Syrian military presence and air restrictions south of Damascus. The US later suggested a demilitarized zone and a joint monitoring mechanism. The involvement of the Druze population in Sweida was also a point of contention, with Israel requesting the ability to assist them, including a humanitarian corridor, which Damascus feared would undermine its control.
The article notes that al-Shara's account is the Syrian version, and a previous report from late 2025 suggested a written draft was near signing before Israel backed out. The Prime Minister's office denied reaching such understandings at that level, a claim echoed by the Syrian Foreign Minister in August. The presence of Turkey in Syria also looms as a background concern for Israel, which seeks to prevent any Turkish military presence as part of a potential agreement. Despite the disagreements, the progress itself is undeniable, with Israel having requested US mediation in mid-2025, renewed talks in Paris in January 2026, and the Syrian Foreign Minister meeting with Mossad chief Roman Gofman in August, indicating a sustained dialogue involving detailed maps and drafts.
