Syrian-Israeli negotiations: First breakthrough

The fifth round of negotiations between Syria and Israel concluded on January 7 in the French capital, Paris, after a break of nearly two months.

The negotiations witnessed a preliminary agreement between the two sides to accelerate the pace of the upcoming meetings, increase their number, and take steps aimed at building mutual trust.

According to reports, it was agreed to establish a joint communication mechanism to exchange intelligence information between the two sides, in parallel with reaching an understanding to stop Israeli military activities in southern Syria.

In a joint trilateral statement issued on the same day, officials from the United States, Israel and Syria confirmed that the Paris meeting brought together high-level figures from both the Syrian and Israeli sides, where they affirmed the commitment to seek permanent arrangements that guarantee the security and stability of the two countries.

During the Paris meeting, Washington put forward a proposal to form a joint integration cell that includes Syria, the United States and Israel, based in the Jordanian capital Amman, to monitor the security situation in southern Syria and serve as a platform to host additional talks related to disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

According to the joint statement, this cell is supposed to contribute to addressing any tensions or disagreements quickly, while the Paris meeting was considered an indication of the intention of the two parties to open a new path in their relationship.

Israeli officials, on the other hand, reiterated their no intention of withdrawing from the strategic points they controlled in Mount Hermon following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.

The most recent of these statements was by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who said on January 9 that Israel controls the summit of Mount Hermon and a safe zone inside Syria, as part of protecting the Golan and Galilee from any threats.

These positions are part of the new Israeli defense doctrine that crystallized after the Hamas October 7 attack, where Israel seeks to impose buffer zones on its borders, whether in Gaza, southern Lebanon, or on the border with Syria, under the pretext of protecting the security of its citizens.

On the other hand, the Syrian government rejects any understandings before Israel withdraws from the areas it controlled after the fall of the former regime, which Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al Shaibani referred to as the December 8 line.

Damascus won’t move to discussing broader strategic issues with Israel unless there is a clear and binding timetable for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Syrian territory they entered after December 2024.

In this context, the concept of economic peace emerges as one of the propositions, as this theory assumes addressing political crises through the portal of development and investment.

The United States is reportedly seeking to apply this model in southern Syria by turning the buffer zone into a demilitarized economic zone.

According to media reports, the proposed projects include the construction of a ski resort, wind power plants, crude oil transmission lines, as well as data centers and pharmaceutical facilities.

It’s estimated that these projects could add about $4 billion to the Syrian economy, raise GDP by nearly 20%, provide 800 megawatts of energy and create about 15,000 jobs.

One of the most controversial points was the agreement on a mechanism for the exchange of intelligence information between Syria and Israel, with the aim of immediate coordination and preventing security misunderstandings, without revealing additional details.

Despite the announcement of the cessation of Israeli military activities in southern Syria, the area has witnessed notable incidents on the ground, including the Israeli army’s bombing of the “Old Golan” hospital inside the city on January 6, a site of historical value.

Local sources also reported that Israeli soldiers stationed at the Hamidiya base in the countryside of Quneitra fired directly at civilian houses, in addition to detaining four young men on the Jabata al Khashab-Ain al Bayda road for about 16 hours on the 8th of the same month.

Incursions, inspections and checkpoints between villages continue, raising questions about Israel’s commitment to the announced understandings and the future of the entire negotiation process.