Syrian recognition of Israeli sovereignty? Official Syrian maps exclude Israel's Golan Heights

The Syrian government has published maps through official regime channels that notably exclude the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, territory captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War and placed under Israeli law in 1981.

Such a map appeared for the first time in an article published last night in the Syrian state newspaper Al-Thawra – its 14th issue since the fall of the Assad regime. The map depicts only portions of the Quneitra Governorate entered by Israel’s military following the regime’s collapse, omitting the Golan Heights.

Similar maps omitting the area have also appeared in official publications issued by the Syrian Foreign Ministry.

In August, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa signaled in a conversation with journalists that his country would not join the Abraham Accords as long as the Golan Heights remain under Israeli occupation.

At the same time, Kan News reported that dramatic behind-the-scenes negotiations were taking place between Jerusalem and Damascus, in which Israel positively considered transferring the Mount Dov (Shebaa Farms) area to Syria in exchange for Syria dropping its claim to sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

However, these negotiations were halted following the massacre in As-Suwayda.