The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the 4th, stating that in the context of Israel’s ongoing attacks on southern Syria, Syria is willing to cooperate with the United States to promote the restoration of the “Force Separation Agreement” signed between Syria and Israel in 1974.
The statement was made by the head of the Syrian Foreign Ministry, Hicham al-Bani, during a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The two sides also discussed lifting US sanctions against Syria, bilateral relations between Syria and the US, and counter-terrorism issues during the call.
The relationship between Syria and Israel has attracted international attention. At the end of June, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid stated that Israel is open to establishing diplomatic relations with Lebanese and Syrian authorities, but explicitly excluded the possibility of withdrawing from the Golan Heights occupied by Israel.
△ Tanks near the military buffer zone in the Golan Heights (Archive photo)
The Golan Heights is a narrow strip of land in southwestern Syria. Israel captured most of this strategic area during the Third Middle East War in 1967 and unilaterally declared its annexation of the Golan Heights in 1981 to control the area. The international community does not recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
According to the “Force Separation Agreement” signed between Syria and Israel in 1974, both sides established a military buffer zone on the eastern side of the Golan Heights, where the UN Force Separation Observers operate, continuously monitoring the ceasefire between the two sides. In December last year, Israel, for self-defense reasons, occupied the buffer zone of the Golan Heights and further invading adjacent areas, insisting that it would withdraw only after reaching a new agreement with the Syrian authorities to ensure Israel’s security.