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

(Reuters) -Israel's prime minister's office said on Wednesday that negotiations were being held with Syria and the conclusions were contingent upon ensuring Israel's interests, which include the demilitarization of southwestern Syria and safeguarding the well-being and security of the Druze in Syria.

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.

The two countries have technically been at war since the creation of Israel in 1948, despite periodic armistices. Syria does not recognize the state of Israel.

Since a rebel offensive ousted then-leader Bashar al-Assad on December 8, Israel has carried out unprecedented strikes on Syrian military assets including the defense ministry, sent troops into its south and lobbied the U.S. to keep Syria weak and decentralized.

(Reporting by Yomna Ehab and Muhammed Al Gebaly; Editing by Leslie Adler and Daniel Wallis)