Paris: Israel and Syria have agreed to accelerate negotiations to reach a new security agreement, under American mediation and pressure, according to Israeli and American officials familiar with the talks. An Israeli official said, “During talks that lasted several hours in Paris, the two sides reached an understanding to increase the pace of negotiations, hold more frequent meetings, and take confidence-building measures.”

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the discussions are part of US President Donald Trump’s vision for the Middle East. The US envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, participated in the meeting, along with President Trump’s advisors, Steve Wittkopf and Jared Kushner, who acted as mediators between the two sides. This is the fifth round of US-mediated talks, but the first in two months, following a period of stalemate marked by significant disagreements and gaps.

Informed sources revealed that Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to return to the negotiating table during their meeting last week in Florida, as part of US efforts to reduce tensions on the shared border and pave the way for a broader political process. The Israeli delegation included Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Yehiel Leiter, Netanyahu’s military secretary, Roman Gofman, and acting national security advisor, Gil Reich. The Syrian delegation included Foreign Minister Asaad al-Sheibani and intelligence chief Hussein Salameh.

Officials indicated that any potential agreement might include the demilitarization of southern Syria in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from areas within Syrian territory that it had previously controlled. The details would be finalized in subsequent rounds of negotiations.