Netanyahu Plans to Appoint a New Official to Lead Security Negotiations with Syria’s Transitional Government

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his intention to appoint a new official to lead negotiations with Syria’s transitional government, following the resignation of former minister Ron Dermer, who had been handling this file.

According to Israeli media reports, U.S. Special Envoy to Syria, Thomas Barak, informed Netanyahu of Washington’s desire to resume negotiations regarding the security agreement on the border between Israel and Syria’s transitional government, which had stalled after Dermer’s resignation.

The Israeli news website “Mako,” affiliated with Channel 12, reported that Dermer had led four rounds of negotiations on the security agreement with the Syrian transitional government’s Foreign Minister As’ad al-Shibani, before the talks were halted following his departure from the government a few weeks ago.

During a meeting between Barak and Netanyahu, the U.S. envoy emphasized the importance of resuming negotiations and inquired about the Israeli official who would lead them in the upcoming phase. A senior U.S. official conveyed that Netanyahu confirmed Dermer would not return to this file and that an alternative figure would be appointed, someone with extensive security experience, possibly holding a current position within Israel’s security apparatus. The U.S. administration is expected to be informed within a few days.

The official further noted that the meeting helped reduce tensions between the two sides, highlighting that Israel raised its concerns regarding developments in Syria and Turkey.

In the same context, Israeli channel “i24NEWS” reported that Israel and the U.S. have reached understandings regarding the continuation of Israeli activity inside Syria to confront what they describe as threats, alongside continuing negotiations with Syria’s transitional government regarding the security agreement.