ISLAMABAD: Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced Monday that Syria and Israel have entered "advanced stages" of discussions concerning a return to the 1974 armistice line, calling it a non-negotiable first step before any broader peace agreement can be considered.
Al-Sharaa made the statement during the 2025 Concordia Annual Summit in New York, coinciding with his official visit to the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, held from September 23 to 29.
The Syrian leader firmly ruled out Syria joining the Abraham Accords, citing key differences between Syria and the current signatory nations. “There is a big difference between Syria and the countries that joined the Abraham Accords,” he stated.
Appointed president on January 29, 2025, by the Syrian General Command during the Syrian Revolution Victory Conference, al-Sharaa was formerly affiliated with Al-Qaeda in Iraq in the early 2000s.
He presented three primary reasons for Syria’s stance:
- Israel’s continued occupation of the Golan Heights, which he described as Syrian land under international law.
- The fact that Abraham Accords members do not have land occupied by Israel.
- The lack of shared borders between Israel and those signatory states.
Despite expressing willingness to de-escalate tensions, al-Sharaa accused Israel of repeated aggression since his administration took power, claiming nearly 1,000 airstrikes and 400 ground incursions, including two bombings of the presidential palace.
Still, he confirmed Syria is engaged in a multi-phase negotiation process. The first phase centers on a security agreement that would see Israel return to the 1974 disengagement lines established after the Yom Kippur War.
“If this succeeds,” al-Sharaa said, “perhaps this scene will evolve to discuss other issues related to the occupied Golan and the future of the relationship.”
He concluded, “Discussions are underway regarding the 1974 security or armistice agreement, and I believe we have reached advanced stages.”
