Israeli sources say talks with Syria reveal wide gap in positions
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Israeli political sources stated on Monday that recent talks with Syria exposed significant differences between the two sides, particularly regarding the status of the occupied Golan Heights.
According to the sources, Israel remains unenthusiastic about pursuing normalization with Damascus under current conditions.
The Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat cited Israeli officials saying that Israel opposes any normalization process so long as Syria insists on a full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights.
Damascus had reportedly proposed a limited normalization agreement that would involve Israel pulling back from areas it occupied following the collapse of the previous Syrian regime, but this was flatly rejected by Tel Aviv.
Israeli sources explained that Israel is instead seeking a “deep normalization” arrangement in exchange for retaining large portions of the disputed territory, including the strategic Mount Hermon (Jabal al-Sheikh) peaks and nine additional sites in eastern Golan.
According to the report, the Syrian Transitional Government is currently prioritizing a security understanding with Israel based on a principle of mutual non-aggression. This would build upon the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, which established ceasefire lines and demilitarized zones following the Yom Kippur War. Damascus reportedly wants any future arrangement to reflect a return to those lines.
The revelation comes just two days after an Israeli television channel reported on secret meetings held in Azerbaijan between Israeli and Syrian officials, marking a rare moment of direct engagement between the two historically hostile states.
In a related statement made in late June, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar declared that the Golan Heights would remain under Israeli control in any future agreement, firmly rejecting the idea of territorial concessions.
Sa’ar says that Israel “is interested in expanding the Abraham Accords circle of peace and normalization,” naming Lebanon and Syria.”