Media: Will Netanyahu respond to Syria’s call for troop withdrawal before meeting Al-Sharaa?

Syria appears open to a potential meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syria’s interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, said Israeli military analyst Roi Sharon.

According to Sharon, Damascus’ primary condition for engaging in dialogue with Israel is the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Syria, while the status of the occupied Golan Heights remains off the negotiating table for now, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli media outlet Kan.

A well-informed Syrian source reportedly told Sharon that Damascus has not ruled out a Netanyahu–al-Sharaa meeting at the UN. Meanwhile, preparations are underway on the Syrian side for a historic visit to Damascus by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

In a closed session of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Minister Tzachi Hanegbi confirmed that talks between Israel and Syria involve both political and security coordination. Hanegbi emphasised that he personally oversees these discussions as part of potential normalisation efforts.

“There is direct daily dialogue at all levels between Israel and the regime in Syria. I am leading it with political officials there,” Hanegbi stated.

When asked by Knesset member Amit Halevi whether normalisation might lead to an Israeli withdrawal from the buffer zone in Syria, Hanegbi replied, “If there is normalisation, we’ll examine this,” but added firmly, “We will not withdraw from the Syrian Hermon.”

Ahmad al-Sharaa—also known by his former nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Joulani when leading Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—has long been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause. His past speeches have frequently condemned any contact or negotiations with Israel.

By Khagan Isayev