Syria Expects Israel Security Talks to Resume Soon

"We believe there should be contact, especially with a party that constantly threatens the security of Syria. But if this contact doesn't bring results, then we don't need it," Shaibani said. "We do not trust Israel currently."

He was blunt about the odds: "It's very hard to bet on Israel." But he said Syria had "very great hope" of building stable relationships with its neighbors, and that "Syria is extending its hand for understandings, for peace, for diplomacy."

On the stalled deal, Shaibani said Israel had sought to evade implementation: "We did not see they had the real will to reach an agreement." He also said Israel had tried "to maintain its security through brute force, and it hasn't succeeded" anywhere, adding: "I believe negotiations will resume soon."

He said the United States "is trying continuously to put pressure on Israel to return to the dialogue table."

The Israeli prime minister's office did not respond to a request for comment. The US State Department did not immediately respond to one either.

Sharaa has said Syria poses no threat to other countries, with Damascus focused on rebuilding from 14 years of war. Israeli officials have pointed to a range of potential dangers in Syria since Assad was toppled, with some last year describing the country's new rulers as barely disguised jihadists — even as Sharaa built close ties with Washington.