Netanyahu rejects Syria buffer zone withdrawal, calls idea a joke as talks continue

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed reports Sunday that Jerusalem was prepared to relinquish its buffer zone in Syria, describing the idea as a "joke" in a recording posted on X. He framed the talks as ongoing discussions about a security arrangement in which Syria would demilitarize southwest Syria and Israel would guarantee the security of its Druze allies in Jabal al-Druze, a plan he described as beyond what was imaginable before Israel’s victory over Hezbollah.

Netanyahu's remarks come as signals from Damascus suggested progress in talks with Israel. Last week, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said ongoing security negotiations with Israel may soon yield a formal agreement. 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.

In an interview aired Sunday with CBS News’ Margaret Brennan, al-Sharaa described U.S. President Donald Trump’s lifting of sanctions on Syria as a "courageous and historic decision" and said he would welcome a meeting with Trump during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, adding, "We need to discuss a great many issues and mutual interests between Syria and the USA. We must restore relations in a good and direct way."

A companion narrative from al-Sharaa highlighted a broader push toward normalization, including the view that the international community should help reconstruct Syria and relieve civilians. "Anybody who stands against the lifting of sanctions would be complicit in killing the Syrian people once again," he said, framing sanctions relief as essential to stability and recovery.

The current moment also reflects the on-the-ground security dynamics in southern Syria. A member of Syria’s security forces stands guard at a checkpoint near the city of Quneitra, illustrating the persistent security posture in the region as negotiations unfold.

Netanyahu’s comments arrive as Israel positions itself ahead of a broader international engagement, including appearances at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He has repeatedly linked any potential agreements to broader regional interests and to the stability and security of Israeli border communities, especially in the Druze-populated areas near the Golan Heights.

Amid the diplomatic push, Syria signaled openness to a structured dialogue, with al-Sharaa noting that several security and military accords could formalize by year’s end. The duo’s exchanges occur against a backdrop of regional security concerns and continuing international interest in Syria’s post-conflict reconstruction and geopolitical alignment. The talks floor, observers say, remains delicate and subject to shifts in U.S. sanctions policy and regional alignments.

The discussions also reflect a broader narrative advanced by Syrian officials that sanctions relief and reconstruction could advance stability, while opponents argue such measures risk legitimizing a contentious regime. Al-Sharaa’s public statements emphasize a desire for direct engagement with the United States and a path toward restored relations, even as security concerns and battlefield dynamics persist across the border.

As both sides pursue a more formalized framework, Western observers caution that any agreements would require meticulous verification, transparent mechanisms, and sustained leadership commitment from Damascus and Jerusalem. The next weeks are expected to reveal whether security arrangements, demilitarization steps, and mutual interests can coalesce into a tangible, enforceable accord.

The security environment in southern Syria remains complex, with ongoing patrols, checkpoints, and limited freedom of movement shaping daily life for civilians in border towns. The international community watchers will be watching how far the security talks progress, and whether any formal deals will translate into tangible changes on the ground.