U.S. Intensifies Push for Israel-Syria Security Agreement Ahead of UN General Assembly
Washington is reportedly increasing diplomatic pressure on both Israel adn Syria to finalize a security agreement, or at minimum a non-attack pact, by September. Sources indicate the Trump management aims to achieve this milestone before the United Nations General Assembly convenes in the second half of the month, seeking a critically important political win in the Middle East.
The effort centers on establishing a framework for security between the two nations,though significant obstacles remain. While the U.S. hopes for a deal encompassing disarmament in southern Syria, prevention of Turkish military base expansion, and even a humanitarian corridor from Israel to the Druze community in As-Suwayda – bolstering Israeli security interests – negotiations are stalled by conflicting demands.
Israel is reportedly unwilling to withdraw from its position on the Jabal Al-Sheikh summit and relinquish control of the expanded buffer zone established following the weakening of bashar al-Assad‘s regime. Conversely, Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara is demanding Israel’s full withdrawal from all territories occupied after the decline of the Assad government and a return to the 1974 “separation agreement.”
U.S. officials view Shara as holding a precarious position,balancing control over segments of the Sunni Syrian population with the challenges of governing a financially devastated nation reliant on foreign investment. his strength with the Sunni public could be undermined by major concessions to Israel, while economic hardship may compel him toward compromise.
A senior political source anticipates an intensified U.S. diplomatic effort in the remaining weeks to bridge the gap between Israeli and Syrian positions before the UN General Assembly.
