Damascus and Jerusalem may soon share a new security agreement, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa told the Arab press on Sunday.
Sharaa had met with a delegation consisting of Arab media figures, including directors of media institutions, newspaper editors, and former ministers of information, Syria’s official news agency, SANA, reported Sunday night.
One of the members of the delegation was the CEO of the Arabic-language Sky News channel, Nadim Koteich, a Lebanese national.
Regarding Israel, Koteich reported Sharaa had said Syria was at an advanced stage in reaching a security agreement, and the chance that such an agreement will be reached is greater than not being reached.
Sharaa further claimed that such an agreement would be based on the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria, meaning Syria’s sovereignty would be protected, and this would open the door to confidence-building measures and perhaps reaching a peace agreement.
Sharaa also said he did not see the current conditions as being suitable for a peace agreement with Israel. Nevertheless, he said if he saw that a peace agreement with Israel would serve Syria and the region, then he would not hesitate to reach such an agreement publicly.
Relations with Lebanon
Regarding Lebanon, Sharaa made it clear to the Arab media delegation that he wants to turn a new page with Lebanon in the hope that Lebanon will benefit from the expected economic growth in Syria. He also said he wanted the relationship with Lebanon to be one of state versus state, adding that he does not want to be dragged into battles within Lebanon, despite international and local factors encouraging him to do so.
Regarding the situation in Sweida province, Sharaa stressed two important things: the need for Syria to be united; and opposition to the possession of weapons outside the control of the state, Koteich told Sky News.
Sharaa also said these two principles would form the basis of any arrangement with the Kurds, Druze, or Alawites, Koteich said.
Regarding the disputes with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Sharaa said it was possible to build on the agreement he signed on March 10 with the organization’s leader, Mazloum Abdi, according to Koteich.
Sharaa emphasized that the area controlled by the SDF in northeastern Syria has agricultural resources, oil resources, and a significant amount of land, and therefore he was not willing to turn it into a conflict zone between the government and the Kurds, whom he sees as part of the Syrian government, Koteich said.