Mount Hermon dispute halts Israel-Syria negotiations
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – A source from the Israeli Ministry of Defense stated on Wednesday that negotiations with Syria have made no progress due to disputes over Mount Hermon and external interventions. The source confirmed that the Israeli army will not withdraw from the highest area of the mountain.
The source told al-Arabiya TV that Syria insists on delivering aid to Suwayda through Damascus, while calls from the Druze community for separation complicate security arrangements and hinder any potential future agreement with Israel.
He emphasized that the United States opposes a humanitarian corridor to Suwayda as well as the separation proposals, noting that the Israeli army has informed Druze leaders that such a corridor is unfeasible.
The source added that current security arrangements with the Syrian government require complete disarmament in southern Syria, while negotiations continue despite setbacks, focusing only on security-related issues.
Finally, the Israeli defense official noted that Turkish intervention in Syria remains a concern for Israel.