DAMASCUS, Jan. 5– A Syrian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani and General Intelligence chief Hussein al-Salama from the interim Syrian government, is engaging in a new round of negotiations with Israel in Paris, state media reported on Monday.
The talks are focused on reactivating the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, specifically on securing an Israeli withdrawal to positions held before Dec. 8, 2024, the state-run SANA news agency said, citing a government source.
The discussions aim to establish a “balanced security framework” that places full Syrian sovereignty above all considerations and prevents any interference in Syria’s internal affairs.
The 1974 Disengagement Agreement, brokered after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, set out ceasefire arrangements and established a UN-monitored buffer zone between Syrian and Israeli forces on the Golan Heights.
In violation of the agreement, Israel expanded its hold over the Golan Heights after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government in late 2024, taking control of the demilitarized buffer zone.
Syrian officials have repeatedly said that reviving the accord is essential for stability and for preventing escalation along the line. (Namibia Daily News/Xinhua)
