Syria seeks year-end agreement with Israel, sticks to 1974 framework

Syria expects to reach an agreement with Israel by the end of the year, closely following the framework established in the 1974 disengagement accord, according to Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani.

In an interview with Al Majalla, al-Shaibani clarified that the anticipated deal would feature minor adjustments but would not deviate from the original 1974 structure, which was endorsed by the United Nations Security Council.

Addressing questions about potential security arrangements, al-Shaibani stated that the agreement would not create three permanent buffer zones. Instead, it would establish temporary areas of limitation, designed as confidence-building measures.

“The 1974 agreement included zones where military forces were absent, areas where only police and observation posts were permitted, and regions where a military presence was maintained at a defined distance. The new deal would follow this structure, with slight amendments,” he said.

Al-Shaibani firmly rejected proposals to replace the 1974 framework with an entirely new agreement. “Why should we now pursue a new deal in 2025 and seek fresh UN validation? There is no justification. Any attempt to exploit our current situation to seize additional territory is unacceptable,” he stressed.

The statements signal Syria’s intention to maintain the historical basis of disengagement while accommodating minor updates to address evolving security concerns, leaving open the possibility of renewed dialogue with Israel under established international frameworks.

By Aghakazim Guliyev