Syria and Israel: A Fresh Start in Peace Talks

Syria and Israel are back at the negotiating table, thanks to the U. S. stepping in to help. After a few months of silence, talks have restarted, with Syria pushing for Israeli troops to leave areas they took over after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian team, led by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani and intelligence chief Hussein al-Salama, is determined to reclaim what they see as Syria's rightful land. The main goal? Reviving a 1974 agreement that set up a U. N. -monitored buffer zone between the two countries. This deal kept the peace for years after the 1973 Middle East war, even if it didn't bring full peace. But things got complicated when Israeli troops moved further into Syria after Assad was ousted. Israel says it's there to protect the Druze minority, but Syria isn't buying it.Syria wants Israel to pull back to where things were before Assad fell and to agree on a security deal that respects Syria's sovereignty. They're not willing to compromise on this, calling it a "red line. " Meanwhile, Israel is focused on its own security, wanting demilitarized zones and protections for minority groups. They haven't publicly agreed to a full withdrawal yet. Talks had stalled since October, but Syria is hopeful after a recent meeting between U. S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The U. S. is playing a big role here, trying to broker a deal that works for both sides. But can they find common ground? Only time will tell.