DUBAI � Nothing captured Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's isolation more starkly this week than the image of U.S. President Donald Trump shaking hands with Syria's Islamist leader Ahmed al‑Sharaa, a man Israel has branded "an al‑Qaeda terrorist in a suit."
"He's got the potential. He's a real leader," Trump told reporters after talks with Sharaa on Wednesday in Riyadh.Ìý
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmxE H2D 2 >66E:?8 3C@<6C65 3J 9:D $2F5: pC23:2 9@DED[ H:E9 H9@> E96 &]$] AC6D:56?E 28C665 2 D=6H @7 562=D 7@C 2C>D[ 3FD:?6DD 2?5 E649?@=@8J]Ìýk^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%CF>AVD H9:C=H:?5 7@FC\52J E@FC @7 $2F5: pC23:2[ "2E2C 2?5 &?:E65 pC23 t>:C2E6D =2DE H66< H2D >@C6 E92? 2 5:A=@>2E:4 DA64E24=6 >2C<65 3J =F4C2E:G6 :?G6DE>6?ED]Ìýk^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmxE D62=65 E96 6>6C86?46 @7 2 ?6H $F??:\=65 |:55=6 t2DE @C56C \ @?6 E92E 64=:AD6D xC2?VD D92EE6C65 V2I:D @7 C6D:DE2?46V[ 2?5 =62G6D xDC26= D:56=:?65[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E9C66 C68:@?2= 2?5 EH@ (6DE6C? D@FC46D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp>:5 8C@H:?8 :CC:E2E:@? :? (2D9:?8E@? H:E9 xDC26=VD 72:=FC6 E@ C6249 2 462D67:C6 :? v2K2[ %CF>AVD E@FC H2D 2 D?F3 E@ }6E2?J29F[ 2 4=@D6 &]$] 2==J H9@ H2D E96 7:CDE 7@C6:8? =6256C E@ G:D:E (2D9:?8E@? 27E6C E96 AC6D:56?E C6EFC?65 E@ @77:46 :? y2?F2CJ[ E96 D@FC46D D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 >6DD286 H2D 4=62Ci :? %CF>AVD =6DD :56@=@8:42=[ >@C6 C6DF=ED\5C:G6? G:D:@? @7 |:55=6 t2DE 5:A=@>24J[ }6E2?J29F 4@F=5 ?@ =@?86C 4@F?E @? F?4@?5:E:@?2= &]$] DFAA@CE 7@C 9:D C:89E\H:?8 286?52[ E96 D@FC46D D2:5]Ìýk^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmQ%9:D 25>:?:DEC2E:@? :D G6CJ 7CFDEC2E65 H:E9 }6E2?J29F 2?5 E92E 7CFDEC2E:@? :D D9@H:?8[Q D2:5 s2G:5 $496?<6C[ 2 7@C>6C &]$] pDD:DE2?E $64C6E2CJ @7 $E2E6 7@C }62C t2DE6C? p772:CD F?56C 7@C>6C !C6D:56?E v6@C86 (] qFD9]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmQ%96JVC6 G6CJ[ G6CJ EC2?D24E:@?2= 2?5 }6E2?J29F :D?VE 8:G:?8 E96> 2?JE9:?8 C:89E ?@H]QÌýk^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 D@FC46D D2:5 E96 &]$] :D ?@E 23@FE E@ EFC? :ED 324< @? xDC26=[ H9:49 C6>2:?D 2 G:E2= &]$] 2==JÌýH9@D6 DFAA@CE :? (2D9:?8E@? CF?D 566A 2?5 :D 3:A2CE:D2?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmqFE E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? H2?E65 E@ 56=:G6C E96 >6DD286 E@ }6E2?J29F E92E &?:E65 $E2E6D 92D :ED @H? :?E6C6DED :? E96 |:55=6 t2DE 2?5 :E 5@6D ?@E =:<6 9:> DE2?5:?8 :? :ED H2J[ E96 D@FC46D 25565]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm&]$] A2E:6?46 92D 366? DEC2:?65 ?@E @?=J 3J E96 xDC26= AC:>6 >:?:DE6CVD C67FD2= E@ 4@F?E6?2?46 2 v2K2 462D67:C6[ 3FE 2=D@ 9:D @3;64E:@? E@ &]$] E2=<D H:E9 xC2? @G6C :ED ?F4=62C AC@8C2>[ 244@C5:?8 E@ D@FC46D 72>:=:2C H:E9 E96 >2EE6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm}6E2?J29FVD @77:46 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ C6BF6DED 7@C 4@>>6?E] xE 92D >256 ?@ AF3=:4 DE2E6>6?ED @? %CF>AVD C68:@?2= G:D:E]ÌýÌýÌýk^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C E96 (9:E6 w@FD6VD }2E:@?2= $64FC:EJ r@F?4:= 6>A92D:K65 %CF>A :D 2 7C:6?5 E@ xDC26=]Ìýk^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmQ(6 4@?E:?F6 E@ H@C< 4=@D6=J H:E9 @FC 2==J xDC26= E@ 6?DFC6 C6>2:?:?8 9@DE286D :? v2K2 2C6 7C665[ xC2? ?6G6C @3E2:?D 2 ?F4=62C H62A@?[ 2?5 E@ DEC6?8E96? C68:@?2= D64FC:EJ :? E96 |:55=6 t2DE[Q }$r DA@<6D>2? y2>6D w6H:EE D2:5]Ìýk^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm(9:=6 AF3=:4=J :?D:DE:?8 &]$]\xDC26= C6=2E:@?D C6>2:? DEC@?8[ %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? @77:4:2=D 92G6 AC:G2E6=J 6IAC6DD65 :CC:E2E:@? H:E9 }6E2?J29FVD C67FD2= E@ 72== :?E@ =:?6 H:E9 (2D9:?8E@?VD A@D:E:@?D @? v2K2 2?5 xC2?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ D@FC46D 72>:=:2C H:E9 E96 >2EE6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm$:I C68:@?2= 2?5 (6DE6C? D@FC46D D2:5 7C:4E:@? 36EH66? E96 &]$] 2?5 xDC26= H2D 3F:=5:?8 367@C6 %CF>AVD C68:@?2= EC:A]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%6?D:@? 3682? H96? }6E2?J29F 7=6H E@ (2D9:?8E@? @? 2 D64@?5 G:D:E :? pAC:= D66<:?8 %CF>AVD 324<:?8 7@C >:=:E2CJ DEC:<6D @? xC2?’D ?F4=62C D:E6D[ @?=J E@ 5:D4@G6C[ E@ 9:D D9@4<[ E92E %CF>A H2D @AE:?8 7@C 5:A=@>24J]Ìýk^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp? F?36?5:?8 25G@42E6 7@C 2 92C5=:?6 DE2?46 282:?DE %69C2?[ }6E2?J29F H2D 42F89E @77 8F2C5[ =62C?:?8 ;FDE 9@FCD 367@C6 9:D >66E:?8 E92E ?68@E:2E:@?D H6C6 23@FE E@ DE2CE]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmx? E96 7@==@H:?8 H66<D[ %CF>AVD 564=2C2E:@? @7 2 462D67:C6 H:E9 E96 w@FE9:D :? *6>6?[ C2AAC@496>6?E H:E9 $JC:2VD ?6H xD=2>:DE =6256CD9:A 2?5 3JA2DD:?8 @7 xDC26= @? 9:D vF=7 G:D:E D9@H65 9@H E96 EC25:E:@?2==J 4=@D6 C6=2E:@?D 92G6 364@>6 DEC2:?65[ E96 D@FC46D D2:5]Ìýk^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qms2G:5 |2<@GD<J[ 2 76==@H 2E (2D9:?8E@? x?DE:EFE6[ H96C6 96 5:C64ED 2 AC@;64E @? pC23\xDC26=: C6=2E:@?D[ D2:5 (2D9:?8E@? 2?5 %6= pG:G Q5@?VE D66> :? DJ?4 @? E96 3:8 BF6DE:@?D E96 H2J E96J H6C6 :? E96 7:CDE 9F?5C65 52JDQ @7 %CF>AVD AC6D:56?4J]k^DA2?mk^Am
k9c 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmkDEC@?8mv2K2 AC@G6D 5:G:D:G6k^DEC@?8mk^DA2?mk^9cm
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmsFC:?8 9:D 6=64E:@? 42>A2:8?[ %CF>A >256 4=62C 96 H2?E65 2 462D67:C6 :? v2K2 2?5 E96 9@DE286D E96C6 C6=62D65 367@C6 96 C6EFC?65 E@ E96 (9:E6 w@FD6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmqFE >@?E9D :?E@ %CF>AVD AC6D:56?4J[ }6E2?J29F 92D 4@?E:?F65 E@ 567J 462D67:C6 42==D[ 6IA2?565 E96 @776?D:G6[ 2?5 @776C65 ?@ 6?582>6 @C 2 A@DE\H2C A=2? 27E6C `h >@?E9D @7 4@?7=:4E] %96 562E9 E@== :? v2K2 92D A2DD65 da[h__ :? C646?E 52JD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ =@42= 962=E9 @77:4:2=D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmpD %CF>A 4@?4=F565 9:D G:D:E[ xDC26= =2F?4965 2 ?6H @776?D:G6 @? |2J `e :? v2K2] xDC26= DEC:<6D 92G6 <:==65 9F?5C65D @7 !2=6DE:?:2?D :? C646?E 52JD]Ìýk^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%CF>AVD @E96C <6J AC:@C:EJ[ 6IA2?5:?8 E96 p3C292> p44@C5D 6DE23=:D9:?8 5:A=@>2E:4 E:6D 36EH66? xDC26= 2?5 pC23 DE2E6D E@ :?4=F56 $2F5: pC23:2[ 92D 366? 3=@4<65 3J }6E2?J29F’D :?EC2?D:86?46]Ìýk^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm#:J259 92D >256 :E 4=62C :E H:== ?@E ?@C>2=:K6 C6=2E:@?D H:E9 xDC26= F?E:= E96 H2C 92D 462D65 2?5 E96C6 :D 2 A2E9 E@ !2=6DE:?:2? DE2E69@@5[ D@>6E9:?8 }6E2?J29F C6;64ED]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmQw6VD 8@E ?@ DEC2E68J[ ?@ 52J\27E6C A=2? @? v2K2[Q $496?<6C D2:5] Qp?5 96’D DE2?5:?8 :? E96 H2J]Qk^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm!F3=:4=J[ %CF>A 92D 5:D>:DD65 2?J E2=< @7 2 C:7E] x? 2? :?E6CG:6H H:E9 u@I }6HD[ 3C@2542DE 27E6C E96 C68:@?2= G:D:E[ %CF>A 56?:65 36:?8 7CFDEC2E65 H:E9 }6E2?J29F[ H9@ 96 D2:5 72465 Q2 E@F89 D:EF2E:@?Q @G6C E96 H2C :? v2K2]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmqFE %CF>A :D 7@C8:?8 29625 H:E9@FE }6E2?J29F] (:E9 F?2A@=@86E:4 D6=7\:?E6C6DE[ E96 AC6D:56?E :D 5C:G:?8 2 C62=:8?>6?E @7 &]$] 5:A=@>24J E@H2C5 H62=E9J $F??: DE2E6D[ 2?49@C65 3J @:=\C:49 #:J259]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm~?6 D6?:@C C68:@?2= D@FC46 D2:5 %CF>AVD G:D:E 925 4C@H?65 E96 :?7=F6?E:2= C@=6 @7 $2F5: pC23:2 2D E96 =6256C @7 E96 $F??: pC23 H@C=5] qJ 4@?EC2DE[ J62CD @7 xC2? @G6CC6249[ 2?5 xDC26=VD 962GJ >:=:E2CJ 3=@HD E@ :ED AC@I:6D w2>2D :? v2K2 2?5 w6K3@==29 :? {632?@?[ 92G6 =67E $9:V:E6 C68:@?2= A@H6C %69C2? 5:>:?:D965]ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýk^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmQxC2? 925 E96 =625:?8 C@=6j ?@H $2F5: pC23:2 92D 6?E6C65 H:E9 @E96C E@@=Di E96 64@?@>J[ >@?6J[ :?G6DE>6?E[Q E96 D@FC46 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
