Israel has confirmed that it is holding advanced negotiations with Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, on a deal that could end decades of hostilities and fully normalise relations by the end of 2025. A senior Israeli official told The Times of Israel that more than a dozen clandestine meetings have taken place in recent weeks, with Washington participating through undisclosed channels. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel aims to bring both Syria and Lebanon into the expanding Abraham Accords but stressed that “the Golan will remain part of the State of Israel.” His stance clashes with leaks from Damascus. Syrian officials quoted by Israel’s Channel 12 and Ynet insist any agreement must include a phased Israeli withdrawal from land captured after 8 Dec 2024 and ultimately from the Golan Heights, which they propose turning into a demilitarised “peace garden.” Negotiators are reportedly focusing first on a limited security arrangement that would update the 1974 disengagement lines, curb Iranian presence and keep the northern border quiet. The Trump White House, which recently lifted some sanctions on Syria, is pressing for a broader accord that would see Damascus formally join the Abraham Accords. Diplomats and analysts say last year’s collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government and Iran’s weakened regional position have created rare momentum for a breakthrough. Yet resistance within al-Sharaa’s inner circle to full diplomatic ties without territorial concessions, and Israel’s refusal to discuss sovereignty over the Golan, remain major obstacles. Whether those red lines can be bridged will decide if the neighbours can reach their first peace treaty since the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.