Damascus, Syria – Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa explained that “the security agreement with Israel is completely different from normalization.”
This came after Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani confirmed that Israeli raids on Syrian regions had made normalizing relations “difficult.”
Al-Mustafa pointed out that the Syrian side held 3 rounds of negotiations with the Israelis, but the Israeli strikes complicated matters.
He also added that Israel “considered the 1974 disengagement agreement null and void.”
Al-Hijri’s positions are “stubborn”
As for the situation in As-Suwayda Governorate, in the south of the country, he said that Sheikh Akl Al-Druze, “Hikmat Al-Hijri, is still taking stubborn positions”.
But at the same time, he pointed out that the Syrian government is working to compensate those affected by the conflict between tribes and Druze in Sweida.
He stressed that the relationship with America is good and positive after decades of disharmony.
In addition, he stressed that the Syrian government and people appreciate the great Saudi support for the country.
stumbled in the last moments
Four informed sources revealed last week that efforts to reach this security agreement between Syria and Israel faltered at the last minute, due to Israeli demands to open a corridor to Suwayda Governorate.
This came after the two sides were able, over the past few weeks, to agree on the broad outlines of the agreement.
Following months-long talks in Baku, Paris and London, brokered by the United States, the pace accelerated ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week.
The agreement aimed to establish a demilitarized zone that would include Suwayda Governorate, which last July witnessed clashes between armed groups of Bedouins and Druze.
It is noteworthy that the transitional Syrian President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, had previously made it clear that talks with Israel were continuing in order to reach a security agreement.
Syria’s representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Ali, also confirmed that the talks between the two countries are in advanced stages.
