The Syrian Israeli talks in Paris produced what were described as “positive” results toward signing a security agreement between the two sides, according to the US outlet Axios on Tuesday, 6 January.
Axios, citing Israeli and US officials directly familiar with the matter who were not named, reported that Syria and Israel agreed to accelerate negotiations in order to reach a new security agreement between the two countries.
A senior Israeli official told Axios that Syria and Israel agreed during the meeting to increase the pace of negotiations, hold meetings more frequently, and take confidence building measures between the two countries.
According to the Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post, Syria, Israel, and the United States agreed to establish a joint “integration mechanism” to serve as a liaison cell for exchanging intelligence information, de escalating military tensions, diplomatic communication, and trade issues.
A US official told Axios that during the Paris meeting, the United States proposed creating a joint Syrian US Israeli “integration cell” in the Jordanian capital Amman, to oversee the security situation in southern Syria and host more talks on disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
The unnamed US official said the American plan would freeze all military activity on both sides at their current positions until the details are worked out within the integration cell.
A US official also told the outlet that each side would send representatives to the integration cell to focus on diplomatic, military, intelligence, and trade talks.
Economic zone
Damascus and Tel Aviv also agreed to begin talks in civilian areas, including medicine, energy, and agriculture, according to The Jerusalem Post, which noted that officials did not specify a timeline for implementation.
Axios reported in a separate story that the United States presented a new proposal for a security agreement that includes establishing a shared economic zone on both sides of the border.
This economic zone would include wind farms, an agricultural sector, and a ski resort, described as the best in the Middle East, as well as the Druze community, “known for its hospitality,” according to the report.
The US official said regional partners had already committed to funding the project, but declined to name the countries, Axios reported.
The Syrian delegation included Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani and General Intelligence Directorate chief Hussein al-Salama.
The US delegation included Syria envoy Thomas Barrack, along with Steve Witkoff, the special envoy to the Middle East, and Jared Kushner, the American diplomat and son-in-law of President Donald Trump.
The Israeli side included Israel’s ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter, the prime minister’s military secretary Roman Gofman, and acting National Security Council head Gil Reich, according to Axios and The Jerusalem Post.
According to the Israeli newspaper, this team would serve as a permanent channel for managing sensitive exchanges between Syria and Israel. The mechanism would coordinate security messaging, facilitate diplomatic follow up, and explore trade opportunities under US supervision, with the stated aim of reducing friction and preventing misunderstandings.
Washington welcomed these steps, describing them as “positive,” and pledged to support their implementation as part of a broader regional diplomacy linked to US President Trump’s regional plan, The Jerusalem Post reported .
Meetings in Paris
Axios reported on 4 January that senior Syrian and Israeli officials would meet in the French capital, Paris.
The outlet said, citing an Israeli official and another source familiar with the matter, that the meeting would discuss resuming negotiations over the security agreement between the two sides.
It added that the meeting comes under mediation and pressure from the US administration to reach an agreement that would help stabilize the security situation along the Syria Israel border.
Axios noted it is possible that the Paris meeting could be a first step toward diplomatic normalization between the two sides in the future.
Syria’s state news agency SANA cited a government source on Monday, 5 January, as saying that talks with the Israeli side in Paris are primarily focused on reactivating the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, in a way that would ensure Israeli forces withdraw to positions held before the 8 December 2024 lines.
The government source said resuming negotiations reflects “Syria’s firm commitment to restoring its non negotiable national rights.”
This comes days after US President Donald Trump said that Syria and Israel would reach an agreement, expressing readiness to do everything he can to achieve it.
During a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 29 December 2025, Trump said he was confident the Syrian and Israeli leaders would reach an agreement, according to Reuters. He added that he had reached an “understanding” with Netanyahu regarding Syria, without specifying the nature of that understanding.
For his part, Netanyahu said Israel is keen to ensure peaceful borders with Syria, noting that it is “in Israel’s interest to establish these peaceful borders,” as he put it.
Meanwhile, Israel continues to occupy Syrian territory adjacent to its border in Quneitra Governorate (southwestern Syria) and Daraa Governorate (southern Syria), despite reports of security arrangements.
Syrian, Israeli talks discuss reactivating 1974 Disengagement Agreement
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