The Hebrew Kan channel published today, Sunday, a revealing image of Ahmad al-Shar'a, Abu Muhammad al-Julani: from a secular childhood in Damascus, through al-Qaeda and ISIS, to the new ruler of Syria; the evil man.
Ahmad al-Shar'a, known by his alias Abu Muhammad al-Julani, is considered one of the most dangerous and complex figures in the new Middle East. On one hand, he appears today in elegant suits, radiating pragmatism, and strives to gain international legitimacy. On the other hand, he is enveloped by a long past of terrorism and violence, and an openly declared desire to conquer Jerusalem.
A comprehensive investigation broadcast by "Kan" reveals the life of the man who transformed from a prominent terrorist leader to the de facto ruler of Syria. Al-Shar'a was born in Saudi Arabia to a cultured Syrian family from the Golan Heights, hence his nickname "al-Julani." His family later returned to Damascus, where he grew up in a secular bourgeois environment, far removed from the world of extremism that he would later enter.
The turning point came after the Second Intifada in the Palestinian territories and the September 11 attacks. He abandoned his medical studies, traveled to Iraq, and joined al-Qaeda under the leadership of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. He was later captured by Americans and imprisoned at the "Bucca" camp, which is considered a breeding ground for many leaders of global terrorism, including Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
When the Syrian civil war broke out, al-Julani was sent to establish Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda. The organization carried out suicide operations and committed massacres against minorities, quickly becoming one of the most effective forces on the ground. At one point, al-Julani refused to join ISIS, not because he was abandoning terrorism, but because he wanted to focus on Syria instead of establishing a "global caliphate."
One story that embodies the complexity of the situation relates to a request sent to "Israel": according to investigation testimonies, al-Julani requested treatment for his sister at Rambam Hospital in "Israel." "Israel" agreed to consider it, but stipulated that he would not come with a suicide belt. Al-Julani rejected this condition. Pragmatism collided with an ideological wall.
After that, al-Julani underwent a process of rebranding: separating from al-Qaeda, establishing Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, appearing in an organized manner before cameras, and attempting to present himself as a Syrian national leader. Nevertheless, "Israel" and the West still debate whether this is a real change or just an elaborate disguise.
After Hezbollah weakened, and Russian influence in Syria decreased, and "Israeli" pressure on the Iranian axis, al-Julani saw a favorable opportunity. In just a few days, his forces succeeded in overthrowing the Assad regime and taking control of Damascus. But even after gaining power, fear did not dissipate: terrorist militias active around him in Syria, some of which do not fully obey him, and the Druze massacre brought back to the forefront the question of who actually controls the region.
The conclusion reached by the Hebrew investigation is troubling: al-Julani may have learned to speak the language of the West, but "Israel" views him with extreme suspicion. He is an adaptive, intelligent, and dangerous man - a man who knows how to change his style as needed, but his ideological roots are still far removed from those of a moderate leader.