YnetNews.com reports: “Israel and Syria are set to resume U.S.-mediated negotiations in Paris on Monday and Tuesday aimed at a security arrangement, after talks stalled for more than two months amid wide gaps that previously prevented an agreement despite American pressure.
Officials on both sides stress the discussions are focused on a security framework, not normalization of relations, which they say could be addressed later, if at all.
Israel currently maintains positions at several strategic points inside Syria, including in the Mount Hermon area. Damascus is demanding a full Israeli withdrawal to the border line. Israel, citing security concerns, is unwilling to withdraw immediately and is seeking a phased process, along with the demilitarization of southern Syria extending nearly to Damascus — a demand widely seen as unacceptable to the Syrian leadership.
Jerusalem is also pressing Damascus to prevent a Turkish military buildup in Syria. While Syrian officials are unlikely to formally commit to such a provision, there is some expectation that informal understandings could be reached…”
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