The 1974 Syria-Israel Disengagement Agreement: Its Clauses, Collapse, and the New Syrian Position

 I. The Agreement's Clauses and Security Arrangements

Full Text of the Main Clauses

Article (A): Ceasefire

"Israel and Syria shall scrupulously observe the ceasefire on land, sea, and air, and shall refrain from all military actions against each other from the time of signing this document, in implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 338 dated October 22, 1973."

Article (B): Separation of Forces (Alpha and Bravo Lines)

-Line (A) - Alpha: All Israeli forces shall be deployed west of this line, except for the Quneitra area, where they shall be west of line (A-1).

-Line (B) - Bravo: All Syrian forces shall be deployed east of this line.

-Area of Separation: The area between lines (A) and (B) shall constitute a buffer zone under the supervision of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).

-Syrian Administration: All territory east of line (A) shall be under Syrian administration, and Syrian civilians shall return to it.

- Armament Limitation Areas: Two equal areas for arms limitation shall be established, one west of line (A) and one east of line (B).

Article (C): Mechanism of the UN Force

The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) shall supervise the area of separation and the arms limitation areas, conduct periodic inspections every 15 days, and submit reports to the parties and the Secretary-General.

Article (D): Implementation Timeline

- Signing no later than May 31, 1974.

- The military working group shall be formed within 24 hours and complete its mission within 5 days.

- The separation of forces shall begin within 24 hours of the group completing its mission.

- The separation process shall be completed within no more than 20 days.

Article (E): Buffer Zone Arrangements

The buffer zone extends approximately 80 kilometers in length, with a width ranging between 500 meters and 10 kilometers, covering a total area of up to 235 square kilometers. It is completely devoid of any military presence except for UN forces.

Article (F): Exchange of Prisoners and Wounded

All wounded prisoners of war shall be repatriated within 24 hours of signing, under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The remaining prisoners shall be repatriated on the morning following the completion of the military working group's mission.

Article (G): Repatriation of Remains

The remains of all fallen soldiers shall be repatriated within 10 days of signing the agreement.

Article (H): Nature of the Agreement

The article explicitly states that "this agreement is not a peace agreement, but rather a step towards a just and durable peace based on Security Council Resolution 338."

Areas of Force and Armament Limitation (According to Protocols and Exchanged Letters)

- Light Forces Area: Extends 10 kilometers on both sides of the separation lines.

- Limited Forces Area: Extends up to 20 kilometers, with heavy weapons reduced.

- Missile-Free Area: Extends up to 30 kilometers, banning surface-to-air missiles.

- Air forces are permitted to operate up to their respective lines without interference from the other side.

United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)

The force was established by Security Council Resolution 350, issued on May 31, 1974. Its strength is approximately 1,200 personnel from non-permanent member states of the Security Council, with its mandate renewed every 6 months. It enjoys freedom of movement and communication, carries individual defensive weapons, and uses them only in self-defense.

 II. The Practical Collapse of the Agreement

Previous Violations

Over the decades, the agreement witnessed sporadic violations, most notably limited Israeli incursions and the downing of a Syrian aircraft in July 2018 under the pretext of violating airspace. In December 2018, the Security Council expressed its "grave concern" over the violations.

Total Collapse in 2024

On December 8, 2024, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Disengagement Agreement had "collapsed" with the collapse of the Syrian signatory party (the regime of Bashar al-Assad), justifying this by stating that "the Syrian soldiers abandoned their positions." He ordered the Israeli military to take control of the buffer zone and the summit of Mount Hermon.

Israeli forces penetrated the buffer zone, seized strategic positions, and established new outposts. Israel described its presence as "temporary" to protect its borders, which later shifted to "indefinite" according to statements by the Israeli Defense Minister.

III. The New Syrian Position

The new Syrian administration, led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, has declared its adherence to the 1974 agreement and called on the Security Council to intervene to deter Israel and force it to withdraw from the areas it has penetrated.

Syria is conducting indirect talks with Israel, mediated by the US and Europe, to contain the situation, aiming to reactivate the agreement or reach new security understandings that preserve stability in the buffer zone.

 Historical Background and Conclusion (Merged)

The Disengagement Agreement resulted from intense diplomatic efforts led by US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger through "shuttle diplomacy" between Damascus and Tel Aviv, following the October 1973 War launched by Egypt and Syria to recover territories occupied since 1967. The fighting continued until October 24, when Security Council Resolution 338 called for a ceasefire, leaving both sides in complex field situations after an additional Israeli advance that included parts of Quneitra and Mount Hermon.

The arduous negotiations continued for several months until President Hafez al-Assad and Kissinger announced the agreement on May 28, 1974. Thus, this document formed a unique model for temporary security arrangements in international conflicts and remained a cornerstone of stability on the Syrian-Israeli front for fifty years, through clear mechanisms for separating forces and precise international monitoring.

Today, despite the radical changes the region has witnessed and the practical collapse of the agreement, this document remains the primary reference for any future security arrangements, whether through its reactivation or by drawing on its spirit in formulating new understandings. The question remains open as to whether the buffer zone will return to being a separation area under UN supervision or transform into a new battleground in the complex Middle East conflict.

sources: Jazeera.net, Wikipedia & others.

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