Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani were slated to meet in Paris on Wednesday, but the meeting has been postponed to allow more time to prepare for the discussions, two sources familiar with the matter told N12 on Tuesday.
Dermer and Shaibani were originally believed to be meeting in order to discuss a humanitarian aid corridor allowing Israel to provide aid to Syria's Druze community, and are now likely to meet next week, the sources added.
The two officials, along with US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, previously held talks in Paris on July 24 during the eruption of fighting between Druze and local Bedouin tribes in the city of Sweida in southern Syria, leading to Israel striking Damascus and government forces alongside the Bedouins in an effort to protect the Druze population.
Delegations led by Dermer and Shaibani also met in Baku, Azerbaijan, on July 31 to discuss the security situation in southern Syria, including Sweida.
Dermer, who has led Israel’s negotiating team in hostage deal talks, intends to retire from politics in the coming months, senior government officials told Israel Hayom on Monday.
The officials reported that while Dermer has not set a departure date, he might stay on for a few short-term diplomatic efforts before officially resigning. It’s also possible that he could resign sooner.
Washington's position on hostage deal is 'all or nothing'
During Israel's Security Cabinet meeting on Thursday evening, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to occupy Gaza City was approved, Dermer told ministers that Washington’s position on a hostage deal, as conveyed by US special envoy Steve Witkoff to the families of hostages, was "all or nothing," Ynet reported.
Amichai Stein and Reuters contributed to this report.