Scoop: Israel-Syria talks planned in Paris with U.S. mediating

Senior Syrian and Israeli officials will convene in Paris this Monday to restart negotiations for a new security agreement. The Trump administration is pushing for this deal to stabilize the border and pave the way for potential normalization. Tom Barrack, the US Syria envoy, will mediate the two-day talks, involving Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and a new Israeli negotiating team. This meeting marks the fifth round of talks, following a two-month hiatus due to prior disagreements and the resignation of Israel's lead negotiator. The primary goal is a security pact focusing on demilitarization in southern Syria and Israeli withdrawal from occupied Syrian territories. President Trump directly requested the resumption of talks during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Netanyahu agreed to continue negotiations while emphasizing Israel's red lines in any potential agreement. The talks are seen as a way to ensure a peaceful border and protect the Druze minority. Israel has appointed a new negotiating team led by Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, a close confidant of Netanyahu.