An Israeli army vehicle in the demilitarized zone that separates the Golan, occupied and annexed by Israel from the rest of Syrian territory, on Dec. 14, 2024. (Credit: Jalaa Marey/AFP)
Just two months ago, Israel was still calling the new Syrian leaders “jihadists,” referring to interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa's previous roles within the ranks of al-Qaeda and then as the leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham. These new leaders “have remained so," said Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in early March, "even if they now wear suits.”After Dec. 8, when Sharaa's coalition of rebel forces toppled the Assad dictatorship, Israel launched hundreds of air strikes on military bases across its neighboring country under the guise of fighting a jihadist threat on its border, claiming to be targeting chemical weapons depots to prevent them falling into the hands of radical Islamists.But today, it these same "suited jihadists" with whom Israel is holding both indirect and direct talks in Azerbaijan,...
Just two months ago, Israel was still calling the new Syrian leaders “jihadists,” referring to interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa's previous roles within the ranks of al-Qaeda and then as the leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham. These new leaders “have remained so," said Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in early March, "even if they now wear suits.”After Dec. 8, when Sharaa's coalition of rebel forces toppled the Assad dictatorship, Israel launched hundreds of air strikes on military bases across its neighboring country under the guise of fighting a jihadist threat on its border, claiming to be targeting chemical weapons depots to prevent them falling into the hands of radical Islamists.But today, it these same "suited jihadists" with whom Israel is holding both indirect and direct talks in...
