Netanyahu dismisses Syria buffer zone withdrawal as 'joke' amid security talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday dismissed reports that Jerusalem would give up its Syria buffer zone as part of any deal with the new government in Damascus, calling the idea a 'joke'. In a recording posted on X, Netanyahu said, 'I’ll tell you what we’re discussing. We’re discussing with Syria something that wasn’t even imaginable before our great victory over Hezbollah. We’re discussing a security arrangement in which they demilitarize southwest Syria, and we ensure the security of our Druze allies in Jabal al-Druze.' This prompted wide attention as regional negotiations have surfaced in recent days about security understandings between the two countries, even as static references to a longstanding front-line buffer zone persist in both public statements and security analyses.

Netanyahu's remarks came as discussions about security arrangements with Damascus continued to surface in international briefings. Last week, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said that ongoing security negotiations with Israel may soon yield a formal agreement, signaling progress in talks that officials described as potentially fruitful in the near term. Reuters reported the remarks as part of ongoing reporting on Syria's diplomacy with Israel, underscoring the high-stakes and at-times indirect diplomacy surrounding a potential rapprochement.

A Syrian Foreign Ministry official told AFP that several security and military agreements are expected to be signed with Israel by the end of the year, suggesting a broader scope than a single issue. The talks have unfolded amid a broader regional context in which Damascus has signaled a willingness to engage on security arrangements that could reduce tensions along the border and recalibrate regional influences in the southwest.

In a CBS News interview, al-Sharaa told Margaret Brennan that U.S. President Donald Trump’s lifting of sanctions on Syria was a 'courageous and historic decision.' He also suggested a willingness to meet with Trump during the United Nations General Assembly in New York to discuss broader issues and mutual interests between Syria and the United States. The remarks come as Washington and Damascus navigate a complex mix of sanctions, diplomatic signals and potential security arrangements, with observers noting that any formal agreement would hinge on gains in stability, governance and regional trust.

A photo from Sept. 21, 2025, shows a member of Syria’s security forces standing guard at a checkpoint near the city of Quneitra in southern Syria, illustrating the still-fragile security environment that underpins any discussions about demilitarization and security guarantees in the border region. The line between rhetoric and practical steps remains a focus for outside observers hoping to gauge whether negotiations will lead to tangible deals rather than temporary understandings.

Netanyahu’s comments reflect a broader pattern in which Israeli leaders publicly push back against concessions while signaling a willingness to discuss security arrangements that could address threats from militant groups and regional proxies. The idea of a demilitarized southwest Syria, with protections for Druze communities such as those in Jabal al-Druze, has appeared in several briefings and public remarks as part of a broader security architecture discussed in private channels, though Israeli officials have stressed that any agreement would be conditioned on security guarantees and durable outcomes on the ground.

The Syrian side has framed talks in terms of restoring relations with the United States and stabilizing a war-torn country, with Al-Sharaa’s public remarks signaling openness to a direct dialogue with Washington. He said, 'We must restore relations in a good and direct way' and emphasized that Syria and the United States have mutual interests that warrant renewed engagement. These statements, while aspirational, are being weighed against ongoing security concerns and the need to verify any operational commitments that would accompany sanctions relief and diplomatic normalization.

As the talks unfold, officials have stressed that any eventual agreement would require careful verification and a solid enforcement framework to prevent a relapse into hostilities and to ensure that border security and internal stability are maintained. In reiterating his stance on sanctions, al-Sharaa warned that lifting measures should not be viewed as a mere political gesture but as a lever to support reconstruction and humanitarian relief, while underscoring the international community’s role in facilitating such processes. 'Anybody who stands against the lifting of sanctions would be complicit in killing the Syrian people once again,' he said, framing sanctions relief as intertwined with broader reconstruction and stabilization efforts.

The evolving diplomacy comes amid a volatile security landscape along the Syria-Israel border, where past operations and present negotiations intersect with regional and international interests. Analysts caution that even with high-level talks and formal statements, the path to a tangible, verifiable agreement remains uncertain, requiring trust-building measures, robust verification mechanisms, and sustained international engagement. The coming weeks and months are likely to feature additional briefings and potentially new terms for any security arrangement that could change the dynamics of the border and influence the broader regional calculus.

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