Judging Freedom Kevork Almassian: Trump Pushes Peace: Netanyahu to Accept a Gaza Plan
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Jan 15, 2025 Kevork Almassian, an expert on Syrian and Middle Eastern affairs, offers a deep dive into the complexities shaping modern geopolitics. He discusses the implications of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's historical ties to al-Qaeda and the pressing concerns for minority communities in Syria. Almassian unpacks a significant agreement between Hamas and Israel, scrutinizing the potential roles of Trump and Saudi Arabia. He also raises critical ethical questions about surveillance technologies like Pegasus and Trump’s diplomatic efforts to stabilize Gaza.
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Syrian Governance
- Different groups control different areas in Syria, like HTS in Damascus and the Syrian National Army near Aleppo.
- HTS, rebranded from Al-Nusra Front (al-Qaeda), incorporates multinational fighters.
HTS Origins
- HTS, or Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, is the rebranded Al-Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda offshoot in Syria.
- Al-Jolani, HTS leader, fought in Iraq and was imprisoned with other al-Qaeda leaders.
HTS Legitimacy
- Despite being on terrorist lists, HTS leader Jolani is treated as a de facto leader.
- Reopening embassies and making diplomatic deals with HTS effectively acknowledges its legitimacy.