Syria’s New President Isn’t Ready for Peace with Israel, but He Has Cracked Down on Palestinian Terrorists

While the prospect of a former member of Islamic State and al-Qaeda being welcomed to the White House is disconcerting, to say the least, and while Ahmad al-Sharaa has shown indications of sticking to old habits since coming to power in Syria, it does not necessarily follow that the Trump administration is being naïve. The new regime in Damascus shares Israel’s desire to counter Iranian power and is eager to curry favor in the West. Bringing it into the American orbit can also help get Russia out of Syria, as Moscow still wants to maintain a foothold in the country. Even Sharaa’s ambivalent response to the question about Israel sets him apart from Syrian rulers since 1948.