Israeli official says security talks with Syria remain unresolved

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – An Israeli official on Wednesday said efforts to reach a security agreement with Syria have so far failed, adding that discussions on security arrangements in southern Syria are still ongoing.

The Israeli official told Hebrew-language Walla that the main dispute centered on the buffer zone, saying Israel was unwilling to reach a security agreement that would require it to withdraw from the area.

Israel considers the zone an important security gain, the official said, adding that any security arrangements should not include an Israeli withdrawal from it.

Despite the failure to reach an agreement, communication channels with Damascus remain open, the official said.

The official said Israel maintains communication channels with the Syrian side and that dialogue is taking place at several levels on a range of issues, including security arrangements in southern Syria.

The official did not go into all the details, but he said there are dialogue channels through which they are trying to safeguard Israel’s security interests.

By Abdulsalam Khoja