Damascus, Syria. An Israeli official revealed on Wednesday that negotiations toward reaching a security agreement with Syria are nearing completion.
Speaking to the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya channel, the official stated that the planned agreement with Syria resembles the Agreement on Disengagement of 1974, with only minor adjustments.
According to the official, the deal would include a joint Israeli, Syrian, and American presence at certain locations, including Mount Hermon in southern Syria.
The two sides have also agreed to establish a joint security committee composed of Syrian, American, and Israeli representatives to monitor developments along the shared border, the Israeli official said.
The source added that “Washington has informed Tel Aviv that it must resolve the southern Syria issue and normalize its relations with Damascus before the start of next year.” He noted that “Israel has told both the United States and the Syrian side that it does not support separatist movements in Syria.”
He also pointed out that “the Israeli side assured Washington it is not backing the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Syria, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, or any other figure in Sweida, following American displeasure with recent events there.”
The official emphasized that “the idea of a humanitarian corridor from Israel to Sweida is not under consideration, as the planned route will originate from Damascus in accordance with the U.S. proposal.”
He further stated that “the Syrian interim government has pledged to the Americans that it will not harm the Druze population and will provide Sweida with the necessary resources, employment opportunities, and salaries.”
In late September, U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack confirmed that Syria and Israel were close to signing a “de-escalation agreement.”
Barrack told reporters on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly session in New York that “under the de-escalation agreement, Israel would halt its strikes in Syria, while Syria would agree not to move heavy military equipment near the border.”
The U.S. envoy added that “the agreement would serve as a first step toward the broader security accord currently being negotiated between Syria and Israel.”
Shortly afterward, Reuters reported, citing Israeli sources, that “the signing of a security agreement between Syria and Israel collapsed at the last minute due to Tel Aviv’s insistence on including a humanitarian corridor to Sweida.”
Syria and Israel have held several rounds of talks regarding the proposed security arrangement in Azerbaijan and France. The highest-level meeting reportedly took place in Paris between Syria’s interim foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaybani, and Israel’s Minister for Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer.
