A strong central government in Damascus appeals to Trump but not to his allies in Israel. Once again, images of horrifying violence are pouring out of Syria: dead bodies piled up in a hospital corridor. Gunmen calling out insults as they drive their cars over the corpses of murdered civilians.

Deadly sectarian clashes in Syria had seemingly eased on Thursday, after a ceasefire was announced between groups fighting in Suwayda and government forces started to withdraw from the Druze-majority southern province.