Israel Requires Recognition of Its Sovereignty over the Golan Heights for Any Agreement with Syria

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi affirmed during a press conference on Monday, June 30, his country's interest in establishing official diplomatic relations with Syria and Lebanon, while emphasizing Israel's rejection of negotiations regarding the sovereignty of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

This came after statements made by Ashkenazi last Saturday to "i24 News," in which he indicated that Israel's presence in the Golan Heights is a "fundamental condition for any normalization process with Syria," considering that "Damascus' recognition of Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights is the key to any future agreement with Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara."

Ashkenazi added: "If Israel is given the opportunity to reach a peace agreement or normalization with Syria, while maintaining sovereignty over the Golan Heights, this is a positive development for the future of Israelis."

In a related context, an Israeli channel quoted a knowledgeable Syrian source as saying that "Israel and Syria will sign a peace agreement before the end of 2025," indicating that the agreement includes a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the Syrian territories it occupied after the incursion into the demilitarized zone on December 8, 2024, including Mount Hermon, with the Golan Heights turning into a "peace park," without a clear determination of the final sovereignty over the area.

On the other hand, Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara confirmed in a statement issued by the presidency office last week that his administration is working to "stop the ongoing Israeli attacks on the safe areas in Quneitra province southwest of the country" through "indirect negotiations via international mediators." The statement also mentioned that Shara met with dignitaries and elders from Quneitra and the Golan.

It is worth noting that Israel has intensified its military operations in Syria since December 2024, after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime, launching dozens of airstrikes on Syrian military bases, as well as infiltrating the demilitarized zone and expanding its influence in the occupied Golan Heights, Mount Hermon, and other areas in southern Syria.