Israel says conclusion of talks with Syria contingent on demilitarisation, safeguarding Druze

Under U.S. pressure, Syria is accelerating talks with Israel for a security pact that Damascus hopes will reverse Israel's recent seizures of its land but that would fall far short of a full peace treaty, sources briefed on the talks said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that there has been progress on a security deal with Syria, but an agreement was not imminent.