Israel-Syria security agreement talks fail over buffer zone dispute

Efforts to reach a security agreement between Israel and Syria have failed, according to high-ranking Israeli diplomatic sources. A primary point of contention is the status of the buffer zone established under the 1974 disengagement agreement. Israeli officials stated they would not accept any arrangement that requires a withdrawal from this zone, which they consider a vital security pillar.

Reports suggest that Syrian interest in pursuing an agreement diminished following the easing of certain sanctions against Damascus. While negotiations involving US-mediated meetings in Jordan failed to produce a deal, Israeli sources indicated that communication channels between the two sides remain open.

This diplomatic friction follows recent tensions, including condemnation from the Syrian Foreign Ministry regarding the entry of Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz into Syrian territory, which Damascus described as a hostile and provocative violation of international law.