Here’s the best of the bad news: the Arab protests amount to a much-needed reminder to the Israelis that their region is filled with Islamists, and that paying off dictators cannot solve Israel’s problems in the long term.
But here’s real bad news: the Arab protests are a distraction from the threat of a nuclear Iran. The regime in Tehran continues to inch closer to the nuclear threshold, but the Israeli response is still fuzzy. Will the Israelis neutralize it with force? Has the Obama administration given them a green light? Judging from the heated debate inside Israel, and the outward disagreements with Washington, Israel’s way forward is far from settled.
India says it won't participate in Iran oil embargo
India, the world's fourth-largest oil consumer, said it would not take steps to cut petroleum imports from Iran despite US and European sanctions against Tehran Sunday night.
Iran ground force commander: U.S. wouldn't dare attack us
Pourdastan said that despite the fact that the U.S. dispatched the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf, and despite the advanced weaponry in America's possession, fears of an Iranian retaliation would deter any kind of attack by the U.S.
Russia says Syria authorities agree to talks, but opposition refuses
A senior member of the Syrian opposition said on Monday that the Syrian National Council had not received any formal invitation to attend talks with Syria's authorities in Russia, and would decline if one arrived.
Britain warns Russia not to block UN over Syria
Foreign Secretary William Hague was on Monday flying to New York to lend Britain's support to an Arab-backed draft resolution calling on the country's authoritarian leader Bashar al-Assad to step down and pave the way for a transfer of power.
How to get Russia on board in Syria? Hint: Think of the sea
Moscow has so far refused to support international action against al-Assad, frustrating other major powers’ desire for a U.N.-supported call for his regime to end. Moscow’s obstructionism is not so much because it likes the al-Assad regime, which it has supported since the 1970s. Rather, Russia fears that by losing influence over Damascus, it will also lose its only Mediterranean maritime base, located in the Syrian coastal town of Tartus. For Moscow, this would usher in a catastrophic lockout of the Mediterranean and the “warm” seas.
Zvi Bar'el: When it comes to the UN, Assad has nothing to fear
Bashar Assad isn't going anywhere yet. On Friday, Russia made it clear that any draft resolution that would make its way to the UN's agenda and that would include the demand to oust Assad would be vetoed. By doing so, Russia gave the Arab-French initiative a resounding slap in the face for demanding just that: a transfer of power from Assad to his deputy, the formation of a unity cabinet with opposition movements, preparing for free elections, and an interrogation of all involved in the murdering of civilians in the country.
Syrian forces tighten grip on Damascus suburb
Syrian forces tightened their grip on Damascus’ outskirts on Monday, as the Arab League pushed a UN resolution drawn up with Western powers condemning President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Syrian regime 'importing snipers' for protests
Even as the government was blaming the uprising on plots by its Arab neighbours and "foreign elements", it was turning to its regional allies to help to suppress the protests.
Regime executes Free Syrian Army colonel: NGO
The report could not be immediately confirmed.
In June, Harmush became the first Syrian military officer to publicly declare his opposition to the regime's deadly crackdown on protesters while speaking to AFP in the Turkish village of Guvecci.
Assad is taking notes from Israel
The list can go on and on. But the issue remains: this is a regime holding on to power in the name of resisting Israel. This is a regime that still receives the support of many in Lebanon because it backs Hezbollah and its “sacred” resistance. This is a regime that Hezbollah supporters defend because they cannot forget the pain caused by Israel’s crimes in Lebanon. And yet, this is a regime inflicting the same pain on its own people.
Rami Khouri: A terrifying menu for Syria’s endgame
In the last few months, I have heard dozens of scenarios for how things might play out in Syria. Some are plausible, others are fantastic, but all are suggested seriously by usually knowledgeable observers and analysts. They go something like this.
Syria uprising: Religion overshadowing the democratic push
The sectarian fault line in Syria is growing more apparent as the conflict steadily intensifies between the Alawite-dominated regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the mainly Sunni rebel Free Syrian Army.
Barry Rubin: Why Syria’s regime is surviving a revolution
Despite what is now the longest-running revolution in Middle Eastern history, the Syrian regime will probably be in power on December 31, 2012. I don’t say that because it’s what I want to happen — Syria’s revolution is more democratic-minded than those in Libya or Egypt; the government is far more repressive than the former dictatorships in Tunisia or Egypt — but because it seems inevitable.
'Egypt's military considering early power transfer'
Originally scheduled to turn control to the newly-elected president after elections in June, the military has come under tremendous popular pressure to relinquish power sooner.
King receives Hamas chief in presence of Qatar crown prince
His Majesty also stressed Jordan’s support for the Palestinian people’s right to establish their own independent state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital through negotiations that should be based on the two-state solution and international resolutions, which, he said, is a top priority for Jordan.
Hamas leader Haniyeh sets out for Iran, Gulf states
Hamas spokesman Taher al-Nono said Haniyeh, who travels via Egypt since Israel bars other exits from Gaza, was going to Tehran at the invitation of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But he gave no details of the agenda for talks in Tehran.
'Turkey denies promise of $300m. aid to Hamas'
According to the newspaper, Turkish officials said reports of Turkish aid to the Islamist group were fabricated, saying "there is no cash to Hamas, but Turkey is, of course, engaged in projects to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza."
Peres, at Davos, blasts Turkey for funding terrorist Hamas
President Shimon Peres lashed out against Hamas' financial backers on Saturday, claiming at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that foreign benefactors have handed the Islamist terror group that rules the Gaza Strip more than $900 million annually – and said that Turkish support of terror groups is on the rise.
As Hamas looks to leave its long-standing offices in Damascus, where the Assad regime now teeters, Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul is neither confirming nor denying reports that the group may relocate its offices to Turkey. According to Hurriyet Daily News:
Elliott Abrams: Turkey and Hamas
One recent report says “a high-ranking Hamas official told the Al-Sharq newspaper on Thursday” that “Turkey has agreed to carry out a project to support Hamas and rebuild Gaza. According to the official, Hamas will open an official office in Turkey in the coming weeks.” I have seen other reports suggesting that Turkey has replaced Iran as the largest donor to Hamas, pledging $300 million over the coming year.
Palestinian TV airs show praising Fogel family murderer
Palestinian television aired an interview with the relatives of the Fogel family murderers earlier this month, praising the two cousins convicted with the brutal attack as "heroes."
Palestinian TV celebrates mass murderer
At times, it seems for those who wish to blame Israel for the lack of peace in the Middle East, there is nothing the Palestinians could do to reassess their thinking. But surely even the most dedicated finder of fault with Israel would have to be shocked by the latest outrage promoted by the official television station of the Palestinian Authority. PA TV runs a show titled “For You,” which is dedicated to stories about Arab prisoners being held in Israeli jails. But last week’s edition broke new ground when it comes to promoting contempt for the value of Jewish life among Palestinians.
'PA incitement is confidence destroying measure'
Later, during the meeting with Gilmore, Netanyahu said that while many ask Israel to take confidence building measures toward the Palestinians, the type of incitement being aired in the PA was destroying Israel’s confidence.
So, you think the Palestinians are actually interested in negotiating?
As I noted earlier, one area in which Palestinians need no help from anyone is finding excuses to shun negotiations. Currently, of course, they are claiming Israel’s position on borders leaves no room for progress. But if you want to see the real reason talks are stalemated, take a look at what happened last week, when Israel tried to present its position on security arrangements at a negotiating session in Amman: Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat refused to even let the Israeli official speak, saying he had no “mandate to negotiate security arrangements” until Israel presented “detailed documents” with its position on borders.
When I first read Jonathan’s post yesterday, I thought he was blaming President Barack Obama unfairly: The Palestinians don’t need Obama to produce excuses for shunning negotiations; they’ve produced plenty all by themselves (about which more in a separate post). But when I read the New York Times article he referenced, I was shocked – not by the Palestinians’ position, but by reporter Ethan Bronner’s. For when a Palestinian official asserted that Israel’s demand to retain the major settlement blocs “abandons … the framework we have been focused on for the past 20 years,” Bronner, who as a veteran Israeli correspondent should surely have known better, parroted this without a word of demurral – thereby erasing 20 years of history in which every single proposal ever discussed had Israel keeping the settlement blocs.
Obama’s ’67 borders mistake haunts talks
The Palestinian reaction to Israel’s position about West Bank settlement blocs once again demonstrates that rather seeking an agreement that will lead to a Palestinian state, what they are doing is looking for an excuse to avoid ever having to sign a peace deal. Even worse, it is evidence that President Obama’s misguided intervention into the question of future borders last May is still having a harmful effect on the effort to revive negotiations.
IAF commander: Israel's aerial superiority is in danger
Israel Air Force chief Ido Nehushtan said Sunday that Israel's aerial superiority in the Middle East is in danger, since neighboring countries are being equipped with increasingly advanced weaponry which could end up in the hands of terrorists.
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