Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa said negotiations with Israel are underway to re-establish security arrangements tied to the 1974 disengagement lines, insisting “Syria’s borders before the liberation must be reinstated,” a signal that Damascus is testing diplomacy even as the Golan front remains volatile.

What Damascus Says It Wants

Al-Sharaa stated “there are ongoing negotiations with Israel to restore the 1974 agreement, and Syria’s borders before the liberation must be reinstated,” adding that Israel was “surprised” by the fall of the previous regime, which he called an “intelligence failure,” and that Israel “wanted Syria to remain a battlefield with Iran.” His remarks frame the talks around security lines and sovereignty rather than a broader peace track.

Why The 1974 File Matters Now

The 1974 disengagement deal created a UN-patrolled buffer separating Syrian and Israeli forces on the Golan; the UN Security Council most recently extended the UNDOF mandate to December 31, 2025, reflecting the accord’s continued centrality to border stability. Any attempt to “restore” arrangements would unfold against long-standing disputes over the Golan’s status under international law.

A Negotiation Amid Escalation Risks

Tensions have spiked in recent months, including the first rockets fired from Syria toward the Golan in over a year and retaliatory Israeli strikes, while cross-border incidents in southern Syria persist—factors that could both pressure and imperil any channel now described as “ongoing.” The history of past indirect contacts shows talks are possible, but breakthroughs are rare.