Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa Calls for Israeli Withdrawal to 1974 Armistice Lines in Phased Peace Deal

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa calls for a return to 1974 borders as a first step in long-term negotiations over the occupied Golan Heights.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 17, 2026, 8:01 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Türkiye Today and Anadolu Agency.

The Diplomatic Pursuit of Post War Stability

In his second major international appearance since the fall of the previous regime, President Ahmed al-Sharaa utilized the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey to articulate a new Syrian foreign policy centered on territorial integrity. Al-Sharaa emphasized that Syria has moved from a state of chronic crisis to a "historic opportunity" for regional stability. The President detailed a phased diplomatic initiative aimed at de-escalating tensions with Israel through a commitment to long-standing international agreements. He asserted that no country would ever voluntarily relinquish part of its land, framing the restoration of Syrian sovereignty as an inalienable right rather than a negotiable concession.

Reaffirming the 1974 Disengagement Accord

The cornerstone of the proposed deal is a return to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, which served as a stable military demarcation for fifty years. Al-Sharaa accused the Israeli government of violating this decades-old accord by seizing the demilitarized buffer zone in southwestern Syria following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad administration on December 8, 2024. The transitional leader argued that restoring these armistice boundaries is a necessary prerequisite for regional security. By insisting on a return to the "Purple Line," Damascus seeks to compel Israeli armored units to retreat from positions they occupied to prevent perceived threats during the Syrian political upheaval.

A Phased Roadmap for the Golan Heights

The proposed security arrangement is designed to function in two distinct stages. The initial phase focuses exclusively on a security-driven protocol that would secure an Israeli withdrawal from areas captured since late 2024, leaving the core Golan Heights under existing Israeli administrative control for the immediate term. Al-Sharaa indicated that once these preliminary security measures are successfully implemented and trust is established, Syria would then enter long-term negotiations regarding the final status and sovereignty of the occupied Golan Heights. This pragmatic approach reflects an attempt to stabilize the border immediately while maintaining the long-term national goal of full territorial restoration.