Syrian-Israeli Meeting in Paris Sponsored by the US to Enhance Security and Stability in Southern Syria

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani met with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer yesterday, Thursday, in the French capital Paris, under the auspices of US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barak, in a step aimed at enhancing dialogue and building security understandings regarding southern Syria.

Barak tweeted on the "Axios" platform that "the meeting achieved its goal of de-escalation", noting that he "met with Syrian and Israeli officials in Paris", and that "all parties affirmed their commitment to continue these efforts".

The American site "Axios" quoted Israeli officials as saying that the meeting, which lasted for four hours, aims to "reach security understandings regarding southern Syria to maintain the ceasefire between Israel and Syria, and prevent the recurrence of crises like those that occurred last week".

A senior Israeli official expressed hope that this meeting, in addition to discussing security arrangements on the borders, would lead to "further Syrian openness to advance in diplomatic steps with Israel".

This meeting is considered the highest official meeting between the two sides in over 25 years, when former US President Bill Clinton sponsored a meeting between the then Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa and his Israeli counterpart Ehud Barak in 2000 as part of peace talks.

American and Israeli officials described the Paris meeting as a "first step", emphasizing the "importance of taking measures to build trust between the parties to push the process forward".

Tom Barak is scheduled to meet with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barou this morning, Friday, in the presence of the Syrian Foreign Minister, to discuss the latest developments in the Syrian file, according to sources in the French Foreign Ministry.