Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said that US-mediated negotiations with Israel are close to reaching an agreement that could be signed soon, similar to the 1974 accord. He stressed, however, that this “by no means implies normalization of relations with Tel Aviv.”

In remarks to the Turkish daily Milliyet, carried by Syrian Television on Friday, al-Sharaa said Syria knows how to fight but no longer wants war. He added that the recent unrest in Sweida was a “deliberately staged trap” at a time when talks with Israel were nearing completion.

Speaking about the negotiations following the recent attack on Qatar, al-Sharaa said: “If the question is whether I trust Israel, the answer is: I do not trust it.”

Declaration of war
Al-Sharaa said that Israel’s strike on the presidential palace and the Syrian Ministry of Defense amounts to a declaration of war. At the same time, he stressed that reaching a security agreement with Israel is unavoidable, though Israel’s commitment to such an accord remains in doubt.

Al-Sharaa noted that his expected participation in the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meetings represents a historic precedent, as it will be the first time in sixty years that a Syrian president takes part in the sessions.

He emphasized that this marks “a new turning point,” adding that Syria has now become part of the international system and is no longer a state known for exporting drugs, refugees, or terrorism.