Diaspora Affairs Minister Gila Gamliel said Friday that Israel does not trust Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa (al-Julani), describing him as 'a terrorist who put on a suit,' and stated unequivocally that Hezbollah will be disarmed, according to a report by Channel 14.
Diaspora Affairs Minister Gila Gamliel made the remarks on Friday afternoon in comments reported by Channel 14. Her statement aligns with her earlier position: as The Zioneer reported earlier Friday, Gamliel had said Israel and Lebanon are 'joining forces' on talks and that President Trump shares the interest of disarming Hezbollah. The minister's latest comments sharpen Israel's stance toward al-Julani's Syria, rejecting the notion that the former al-Qaeda-linked commander has moderated. This comes as The Zioneer previously reported Israeli security assessments that Hezbollah fears Syrian intervention in Lebanon more than the IDF, and that Israel itself opposes such a development. Gamliel's framing suggests the government views al-Julani's forces as an untrustworthy actor, not a potential partner.
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