NEW YORK – As Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Shara prepares for a significant speech to the UN General Assembly, it appears that Israel is stalling progress on a peace agreement between the two nations.
Al-Shara’s comments marked a shift from a statement made less than a day prior, where Syria claimed they were nearing a “high-level stage” in negotiations with Israel regarding a security agreement.
“Israel is determined to stall these negotiations while continuing to violate our airspace and encroach upon our territory,” he stated.
He added, “We’ve said that Syria is not a threat to any nation, including Israel. It’s actually the other way around—we’re worried about Israel.”
Scheduled to speak to world leaders on Wednesday, Al-Shara will be the first Syrian head of state to address the UN in 58 years. The last time a Syrian leader participated in the General Assembly was in 1967, during a period of international and diplomatic isolation for the Assad regime, which ruled Syria from 1970 until 2024.
Al-Shara, who was designated a terrorist by the US, had ousted Bashar al-Assad in December. After a meeting with his leader in Saudi Arabia last May, President Trump expressed support for Al-Shara and sent senior officials to facilitate talks between Israel and Syria.
Since Assad’s ousting, Israel has taken control of a long-standing buffer zone between the two countries, established after the 1973 war to halt hostilities.
A senior US official mentioned that the agreement with Syria is “99% complete,” raising hopes for a presentation at the UN General Assembly.
However, following a security cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted that “there’s still a way to go” in discussions with Syria.
During a panel at MEI, Al-Shara suggested that the 1974 ceasefire agreement could be a basis for a new deal with Israel, implying that Israeli military withdrawals should be part of the security arrangement. This agreement would also need to address the ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Syria that began after Assad’s removal.
Al-Shara claimed that Israel has executed over 1,000 airstrikes and incursions into Syrian territory from the Golan Heights.
He asserted that reaching a security arrangement with Israel would not only serve Israel’s interests in reducing regional instability but would also enhance Syria’s stability and economic growth, potentially facilitating the return of refugees from neighboring countries and Europe.
“If stability is essential, some form of security arrangement with Israel is needed. Successful negotiations could lead to broader agreements that promote peace in the region,” he said.
“Yet, achieving peace seems difficult given Israel’s aggressive policies. This heavy-handed approach has tested relationships with other nations.”
