The separation of forces negotiations between Syria and Israel

publisher: وزارة الدفاع للجمهورية العربية السورية Ministry of Defense of the Syrian Arab Republic

Publishing date: 1974-05-31

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp

Syria and Israel were compelled to engage in negotiations through the United States as an intermediary to arrange the separation of warring forces in the Golan Heights after the Israeli army faced significant depletion due to the war. The United States, seeking to enhance its image before Arab and Syrian public opinion, was willing to mediate between the parties, considering the international context where the Soviet Union held significant influence.

The Syrian negotiating team, led by President Hafez al-Assad, included Abdel Halim Khaddam, the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Adib Al-Dawoudi, Advisor at the Presidential Palace; Dr. Iskander Luke, responsible for recording the talks; translator Asaad Kamel Elias; and on the American side, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Richard Murphy, and Tom Scotts, the charge d’affaires of the American Embassy in Damascus. The Palestinian-origin translator Issa Al-Sabbagh, born in Haifa, was also present.

The first meeting between the two parties commenced at 6 p.m. and lasted for eight hours. These deliberations served as a prelude to the negotiations on the separation of forces. General Tlass, in his memoirs, admits his concerns about Henry Kissinger’s tactics, his biased approach, and his initial position as the Foreign Minister of a major power, as well as the media attention that accompanied his appointment as National Security Advisor and later as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Tlass emphasizes the role of global Zionism in these events. However, President Assad demonstrated exceptional negotiation skills and effectively cornered Kissinger, making it difficult for him to maneuver.

President Assad had instructed General Mustafa to collaborate with the General Staff in preparing three military maps, each measuring 50,000/1, presenting three options for the separation of Syrian-Israeli forces in the Golan Heights. The objective was to ensure full control over the territory, considering key points, governing bodies, and operational axes. The required maps, along with proposed solutions, were provided.

Following extensive discussions, during which President Assad displayed great acumen, a memorandum of agreement on the separation of forces was signed. The agreement stipulated the withdrawal of the Israeli enemy behind the city of Quneitra (Tell Abu Al-Nada) and the withdrawal from the Rafid triangle in the southern sector. Kissinger attempted to include a provision in the agreement that Syrian forces would prevent Palestinian guerrilla activities from the Golan Heights. President Assad firmly rejected this demand, stating, “We can never deploy our forces to safeguard Israeli security.”

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp

Recent Articles


Khaddam’s memoirs… “letters of love and threats” between Reagan and Assad… America withdraws from Lebanon, Israel retreats, and Syria “is isolated”

2024-10-28

Damascus releases the American pilot amidst shuttle tours of White House envoy Rumsfeld…and Washington foils a secret visit by Hikmat Al-Shihabi In the midst of the U.S.-Syrian military exchanges in Lebanon, President Hafez al-Assad’s illness, Colonel Rifaat’s ambitions for power, and the intensifying Iran-Iraq war, Syrian Foreign Minister Abdel Halim Khaddam met with U.S. Ambassador […]

Khaddam’s memoirs…an American-Syrian clash in Lebanon…and Reagan’s envoy requests a meeting with Rifaat al-Assad after “Mr. President” fell ill

2024-10-27

Khaddam threatens Washington’s ambassador with “immediate expulsion”… and exchange of Syrian-American bombing President Ronald Reagan attempted to contain the crisis with President Hafez al-Assad following the bombing of the “Marines” and the shelling, sending his special envoy, Donald Rumsfeld, to Damascus on November 20, 1983. Rumsfeld, a former Secretary of Defense under President Gerald Ford, […]

Khaddam’s memoirs…the Marine bombing before the Lebanese Geneva dialogue…and America accuses Iran of working “behind the lines” of Syria

2024-10-26

Washington accuses Tehran of being behind the Beirut attacks and criticizes Damascus for “facilitating the Iranian role” Robert McFarlane, Deputy National Security Advisor in the United States, returned to Damascus on September 7, reiterating previous statements about the necessity of a Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon to coincide with the Israeli withdrawal. On the 22nd of […]