World
January 10, 2025 11:30
tel aviv - Israel issues a stern warning to the West about the new Syrian leader, Al-Sharaa, urging caution and highlighting potential risks.
A significant number of Western diplomats recently traveled to Damascus to meet with Abu Mohammed Al-Jolani, the rebel leader who is now going by his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in an attempt to portray himself as no longer the Al-Qaeda leader of the past.
According to a high-ranking Israeli official, the West is deliberately turning a blind eye to the dealings with 'some of the most dangerous people in the world'. He believes that a large part of the international community is falling into a jihadist trap.
Israel immediately sent troops across the border after the fall of Assad to create a buffer zone, claiming it is to prevent the rebels from posing a direct threat.
Security officials argue that Israel should expand this zone, so the army controls a strip 15 kilometers deep in Syria. They also advocate establishing an influence zone of 60 kilometers to anticipate and quash potential threats.
Germany's Foreign Minister, together with her French counterpart, recently visited Damascus, where they met Al-Sharaa. He refused to shake hands. Foreign officials are currently frequenting the Syrian capital to influence the country's future.
The United States is holding back for now, as President Biden leaves the decision on lifting sanctions against Al-Sharaa and his group Hayat Tahir al-Sham to his successor, Trump.
Critics argue that Al-Sharaa and his followers are showing a moderate face only to evade international sanctions. HTS, a reincarnation of Al-Qaeda, is still listed as a terrorist organization in many countries, but several capitals are considering removing it.
Israel's Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa'ar, also cautioned against taking the 'rebranding' of HTS at face value, emphasizing that it is a terrorist group.
There was considerable controversy surrounding the Justice Minister of the new interim government in Damascus this week. Videos surfaced of Shadi al-Waisi, who oversaw the brutal execution of two women in 2015 for prostitution and adultery offenses, while being part of the Al-Nusra front, the precursor to HTS.
Israel is taking precautious measures, setting up a buffer zone and conducting hundreds of airstrikes in Syria since Assad's downfall to prevent certain weapons from falling into rebel hands. Al-Sharaa claims not to seek conflict with Israel, but Israel remains wary.
Israel aims to maintain control in Syria in the long run, despite Al-Sharaa's current focus on lifting sanctions for foreign aid.