Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel is holding talks with Syria’s transitional president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, noting that “some progress” has been made but that it remains only “a vision for the future.”

Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Sunday, September 21, Netanyahu said that Israel’s “victories” over Hezbollah in Lebanon “opened a window for the possibility of peace with our northern neighbors,” in reference to Syria.

“We removed the threat of Iranian nuclear bombs intended to destroy us, and the threat of tens of thousands of ballistic missiles Iran planned to produce within a few years. We also struck all parts of the Iranian axis in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Gaza, and even inside Iran itself,” Netanyahu added.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that a potential security agreement between Israel and Syria would represent a major breakthrough and could pave the way for additional agreements, possibly even normalization in the future.

The agreement under negotiation would replace the 1974 Disengagement Accord, rendered obsolete after the collapse of the Assad regime and Israel’s takeover of the buffer zone, according to the channel.

Druze concerns

Mowafaq Tarif, spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel, told the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation that Netanyahu had pledged the agreement would include demilitarization in southern Syria and protection for the Druze community in the area.

Syrian-Israeli meeting in London

Channel 13 reported that Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer met in London on September 17 with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani and US Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack.

During the five-hour meeting, the Syrian side presented its response to the Israeli proposal for a new border security agreement. Both sides agreed to accelerate negotiations in hopes of reaching a deal in the coming weeks.

An Israeli official told the channel that Dermer is expected to brief Netanyahu and other cabinet members on the talks with Syria and the concessions Israel may need to make as part of the deal. The official added that progress in London was achieved thanks to Syrian “flexibility.”

Another senior Israeli official noted that reaching an agreement with Syria soon is not impossible, though Israel would not agree to withdraw from its positions on Mount Hermon.

“We do not really trust this regime, but an agreement could prevent escalation and stabilize the border,” the official said.

Al-Sharaa distrusts Israel

For his part, transitional president Ahmad al-Sharaa described Israel’s targeting of the Presidential Palace and the Ministry of Defense as an “act of war,” stressing that he does not trust Israel.

Al-Sharaa provided updates on the ongoing security agreement negotiations with Israel during a discussion with international journalists and researchers on September 19, according to Turkey’s Milliyet newspaper.

Asked about talks following Israel’s attack on Qatar, which he called “very clear,” al-Sharaa replied, “If you ask me whether I trust Israel, the answer is no.” He indicated that a deal similar to the 1974 agreement, under US mediation, was close, but emphasized, “This agreement does not mean normalization or Syria’s accession to the Abraham Accords.”

He said Israel’s attacks on the Presidential Palace and the Defense Ministry amounted to an “act of war,” yet stressed that Syria had no choice but to reach a security agreement. “Syria knows how to fight, but it no longer wants war,” he added.

In remarks to Reuters on September 18, al-Sharaa said that ongoing negotiations with Israel could yield results “in the coming days,” describing the agreement as a “necessity,” though he acknowledged talks were disrupted by the events in Suwayda (southern Syria) last July.