Netanyahu to Convene Crucial Meeting on Syria Border Agreement

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to convene a crucial discussion on Sunday evening with senior ministers and heads of the defense establishment to discuss a new border security agreement with Syria. The meeting marks a significant and sensitive step in the ongoing, U.S.-mediated negotiations between the two nations, which have been held in various international locations, including London and Paris. The purpose of the meeting is to finalize Israel’s position on a new security pact that would replace the outdated 1974 disengagement agreement.
The need for a new pact has become pressing since the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024. Israel, in response to the ensuing power vacuum and security concerns, established a buffer zone in southern Syria. The new agreement being negotiated with Syria’s transitional government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, aims to create a more stable and verifiable security arrangement.
The Israeli proposal, presented weeks ago, is reportedly based on the 1979 peace agreement with Egypt, which divided the Sinai Peninsula into different security zones. Israel is proposing a similar model for the area southwest of Damascus, dividing it into three zones with varying levels of military presence. Key elements of the Israeli proposal include a demilitarized zone near the border, an extension of the buffer zone by two kilometers into Syrian territory, and a no-fly zone for Syrian aircraft over the entire stretch from southwest Damascus to the border.
In return for these strict security limitations on the Syrian side, Israel has offered to gradually withdraw from the territories it has recently occupied in Syria. However, Israel has made it clear that it will insist on maintaining a strategic outpost on the summit of Mount Hermon, a demand that has been a sticking point in the negotiations. Another critical component of the Israeli proposal is the preservation of an aerial corridor over Syria, which would allow for potential future Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.
Syria has yet to officially respond to Israel’s proposal, and sources suggest a counterproposal is being prepared. Syrian officials have publicly stated that a new agreement must respect Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. They are also seeking to ensure that Israel halts its airstrikes in Syrian territory, a primary driver behind their willingness to engage in these talks. Syrian President al-Sharaa has said that while a security pact is a “necessity” and talks could yield results “in the coming days,” a full normalization of relations or a broader peace agreement is not on the table.
The U.S. has been actively mediating the talks, with a special envoy facilitating the trilateral meetings. Washington is reportedly keen to see a breakthrough before the United Nations General Assembly, which is taking place next week, to potentially announce a diplomatic victory. However, despite signs of progress, a final agreement remains elusive, as both sides have made what are described as “maximalist” demands.
The upcoming meeting convened by Netanyahu with his top security and political advisors is a critical step in this high-stakes diplomatic effort. The discussion will likely focus on the compromises Israel is willing to make to secure the deal and the potential risks of the agreement. The outcome of these talks will have a lasting impact on the future security of Israel’s northern border and the broader geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.