Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel on Tuesday issued a strong warning against Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, leader of the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and new strongman in Syria. Eller called him a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem, Sharren Haskel stressed the need not to be misled by the new image that Jolani seeks to give itself.
The Israeli official showed photos of the HTS leader from his jihadist past, when he campaigned for Al-Qaeda and other radical groups. “It is important to avoid succumbing to the temptation to whitewash jihadist groups in Syria,” she said.
A past inseparable from jihadist actions
This statement comes as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, now known by his real name, Ahmad al-Chareh, presents himself in a new light, adopting a civilian costume and increasing his meetings with foreign delegations.
Despite this transformation in appearance, Sharren Haskel recalled that her past remains inseparable from jihadist actions. A former Al-Qaeda fighter in Iraq after the 2003 American invasion, Jolani founded the Al-Nusra Front, a branch of Al-Qaeda in Syria, before transforming it into HTS.
Still a threat to the West and Israel
Sharren Haskel insisted that, despite these changes in appearance, these groups continue to pose a serious threat to the West and Israel. “We know who they are and their true nature,” she insisted, accusing Jolani of trying to deceive the international community.
Regarding the military situation in Syria, Sharren Haskel affirmed that the presence of Israeli troops beyond the occupied Golan was “temporary” and dictated by security imperatives, given the activities of jihadist groups near the border.
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