Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa Proposes Phased Normalization With Israel

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa revealed on Tuesday that Syria and Israel had reached a 90% agreement on a security framework before Israel withdrew or introduced new conditions. Speaking at an Atlantic Council panel in New York during the 81st United Nations General Assembly, al-Sharaa stated that direct talks began approximately one year ago. He proposed a phased normalization process requiring Israel to first withdraw to 1974 disengagement positions before discussing security arrangements and lasting peace.

Al-Sharaa maintained that the Golan Heights remain Syrian territory under United Nations recognition and are not open to negotiation. He argued that the October 7 massacre should not dictate Israeli policy toward Syria and suggested an international committee to evaluate Israeli security concerns. During the same trip, al-Sharaa addressed his past as the leader of the Nusra Front, denying any involvement in the September 11 attacks.

While al-Sharaa sought to rebuild international ties, he was filmed scrolling through Instagram Reels during a speech by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the General Assembly. Meanwhile, U.S. Representative Joe Wilson called for Israel to end its airstrikes on Syria, aligning with U.S. special envoy Tom Barrack, who described recent strikes on the Abu al-Duhur Airbase as an unnecessary escalation.