From Hope to Havoc: The Syrian Setback
What a difference a week makes. Last week, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington, there was great optimism over the prospects of some type of formal agreement between Israel and the new government of Syria. Despite the jihadist and ISIS past of new Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, both Israel and the Trump administration were working to both strengthen Syria's new government and forge a new era, removing a historically significant strategic threat from Israel's northern border. A stable Syria, cooperating with Israel, and improving ties with the United States would be a significant setback for Iran, and Russia. To help achieve these goals, the Trump administration recently dismantled American sanctions against Syria, despite significant misgivings over the new government and its actual control over Syrian territory. There was even talk of Syria joining the Abraham Accords. But that was last week. Earlier this week, fighting erupted between local...