Tel Aviv -- According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel intends to remain in a buffer zone in southern Syria. Israel very much hopes to reach an agreement on the demilitarization of southern Syria, but wants to remain in these areas, Netanyahu said at a meeting with Israeli ambassadors, according to Israeli media reports.

Earlier on Saturday in Doha, Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa accused Israel of exporting crises to other countries and "fighting ghosts", as reported by the US television station CNN. Al-Sharaa was referring to ongoing attacks and air strikes by Israeli forces in southern Syria. Al-Sharaa once again called for the 1974 de-escalation agreement to be reinstated. This agreement regulated the separation of Israeli and Syrian armed forces after the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Netanyahu had already stated on Tuesday that he expected Syria to establish a "demilitarized buffer zone", which would extend from the capital Damascus to the Golan Heights annexed by Israel.

Background: The buffer zone and its significance
Following the fall of the former long-term ruler Bashar al-Assad, Israel deployed soldiers to the UN-controlled buffer zone between the Golan Heights annexed by Israel and Syrian-controlled territory, including the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.

According to Netanyahu, the presence of the Israeli army in the region is necessary to ensure the security of the Israeli population and prevent attacks from areas close to the border. Israel also wants to protect the Druze religious minority in Syria, who are considered allies of Israel.