Syria and Israel Near Security Agreement and 25-Year Lease of the Golan Heights, i24News Reports

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Israel, Syria to finalize U.S.-brokered security deal 'soon,' as ‘developments accelerate noticeably’, Syrian source tells i24NEWS

Syrian and Israeli officials are expected to meet soon under U.S. mediation, perhaps in Paris, to finalize a security agreement between Damascus and Jerusalem, i24NEWS said in a report on Saturday.  

The i24News quoted a source close to Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa as saying that the talks will also focus on various potential joint strategic and economic projects in the buffer zones between the two countries. 

“There is very optimistic talk suggesting the possibility of even opening an Israeli embassy in Damascus before the end of this year, given the significant progress in the prospect of Syria joining the Abraham Accords,” the source said. 

According to the i24News report, the original Syrian plan was limited to a security agreement and the opening of an Israeli liaison office in Damascus without diplomatic status, the source tells me. 

“But developments are accelerating noticeably under pressure from the United States, and specifically by President Trump, and amid growing Syrian openness,” the report said.

According to the report, if Damascus manages to reach an integration agreement with the Druze in southern Syria, and Israel commits to respecting Syria’s unity and territorial integrity, then al-Sharaa would be open to elevate the status of the agreement with Israel to more than just a security agreement, to also include diplomatic relations and an Israeli embassy in Damascus. 

“Al-Sharaa government believes that a viable compromise to advance a peace process with Israel would include a 25-year lease for the Golan Heights, similar to the one Jordan previously signed with Israel over the border enclaves, turning it into a ‘Garden of Peace” of joint economic ventures,” the source told i24News. 

The source close to al-Sharaa also said that U.S. President Trump is seeking to bring Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and al-Sharaa together for a peace agreement signing ceremony.

It should be noted that Israel has repeatedly rejected returning any part of the Golan Heights, let alone the entire territory.

On another front, the source stated that Damascus intends to adopt a new local administration system based on expanded administrative decentralisation to enhance participation in local communities across all Syrian governorates. 

According to the source, this solution would resolve persisting disputes with the Druze, Kurds, Alawites, and other minorities. A new Syrian government is expected to be formed within the next three months, the source added.

Source: i24News



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