Israel and Syria are engaged in "advanced talks" aimed at reaching a bilateral security agreement, according to a senior Israeli official who briefed reporters on Monday.
The discussions are currently focused on improving coordination around security matters, though the official declined to provide a timeline for when or if these talks might evolve into full diplomatic normalization.
"Could it develop into something beyond [security arrangements]? We will wait and see. For now, there isn't anything concrete," the official stated.
Potential Expansion of Abraham Accords
The talks are being viewed within the broader context of the Abraham Accords, the U.S.-brokered normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states that began in 2020.
"There is absolutely an aspiration to expand the Abraham Accords, and it's no secret that we want to see Syria in this," the official added. "And there may be an opportunity."
Despite the ongoing dialogue, the Israeli official emphasized that Israel has no intention of withdrawing from territories it considers strategically important.
"We will not withdraw from the Syrian Hermon, nor from the Golan Heights," the official stated firmly, referring to territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War.
Regional Diplomatic Activity
The revelation comes amid increased diplomatic activity in the region, including a recent visit by Saudi Arabia's foreign minister to Damascus, where he met with Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The Israeli official cautiously acknowledged al-Sharaa's efforts, saying, "He seems that he is on the right path to try to establish some kind of government that benefits from the economy and investments, but you never know. We are very careful, very careful."
These developments signal a potential shift in regional dynamics, though officials remain guarded about the prospects for immediate breakthroughs in the historically tense relationship between Israel and Syria.
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