Al-Shaibani: Resumption of negotiations with Israel "soon"
Washington, Beirut, Ankara – Agencies: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani announced that Damascus expects to resume negotiations with Israel soon regarding a security agreement that it hopes will lead to an Israeli withdrawal from Syrian territories, and urged Israel to seize a “historic opportunity,” emphasizing that the door remains open for diplomacy. In an interview in Damascus with Reuters, days after Israel bombed the Abu al-Dhaher air base in Syria, al-Shaybani also affirmed that Damascus’s priority is to halt Israeli attacks, stating that it is necessary to take steps to build confidence in this direction.
Al-Shaybani said, “Following the Iran-Israel war, negotiations were frozen… We hope these negotiations will resume in the near future so we can complete this matter.” He added, “We currently do not trust Israel,” noting that communications had been severed after the airstrike targeting the air base.
He stated, “There must be communication… especially with an entity that constantly threatens Syria’s security, but if this communication yields no results, we do not want it at all.” He further said, “The door is open, and I believe negotiations will soon resume. Syria today extends its hand toward understanding, peace, and diplomacy, and wants to be part of a stable region.”
Al-Shaybani said, “Israel asks that its security concerns be taken into account. We have no problem with that; we are aware of these concerns, but Israel must also respect Syria’s security concerns and respect its sovereignty.”
Regarding the security agreement, he clarified that early this year, “we had agreed on almost everything, on paper.” However, he said Israel sought to evade finalizing the deal, adding, “We found no genuine motive or will on their part to reach an agreement.” He continued, “Our current focus is on stopping the aggression above all else, even before the security agreement. The peace issue and the Golan Heights topic can be reopened later. For now, we have taken a step backward.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s broadcasting authority said yesterday that secret Israeli communications are being held with Turkey to prevent clashes, days after Tel Aviv launched airstrikes on the Abu al-Dhaher base in northern Syria, located 70 kilometers from the Turkish border.
Earlier, U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack confirmed reports that Israel had informed the United States of its intention to carry out the airstrikes. Barrack, who also serves as the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, said the attack on Abu al-Dhaher may have been an attempt by Israel to “provoke the Turks,” describing this aspect as “the dangerous and troubling part.”
