Posted on Mon, March 21, 2011 at 23:57 pm CET
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Middle East on Fire: March 21, 2011

Events are happening so fast that I can only summarize, trying to add some analytical depth to each development. So here goes… Continue reading

Topics: Egyptian Revolution • Iranian Protests • Libya War • Syria • The Middle East • U.S. Middle East Policy 
Posted on Sat, March 19, 2011 at 18:58 pm CET
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Hamas Backed Now by Egyptian Government Strikes Israel with Mortars

Israeli civilians living around the Gaza border woke up Saturday, March 19, to the most massive mortar attack in years… Continue reading

Topics: Anti-Israelism • Arab-Israeli Conflict • Egypt • Hamas • Islamism • Israeli–Palestinian Conflict • Syria 
Posted on Tue, March 15, 2011 at 21:53 pm CET
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A Weapons-Laden Ship for Gaza Marks A Big Transformation of the Middle East

The story of the Liberian-flag ship Victoria is dramatic enough but few will understand, at least immediately, that it opens a new era… Continue reading

Topics: Egypt • Hamas • Iran • Israel • Israel Defense Forces • Israeli–Palestinian Conflict • Syria 
Posted on Tue, March 15, 2011 at 20:33 pm CET
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Israeli Navy Intercepts “Victoria” Carrying Arms Delivered by Iranian Warships

The Israeli Navy’s elite Shayetet 13 commandos intercepted the German-owned A.S. Victoria Tuesday, March 15 about 320 kilometers off… Continue reading

Topics: Egypt • Global Jihad • Hamas • Iran • Israel • Israel Defense Forces • Israeli–Palestinian Conflict • Syria • Turkey 
Posted on Mon, March 14, 2011 at 21:13 pm CET
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Foreign Troops go into Bahrain

Saudi and United Arab Emirates troops crossed into Bahrain Monday, March 14 to support the king against escalating anti-throne demonstrations… Continue reading

Topics: Arab Spring • Bahrain • Egypt • Jordan • Kuwait • Saudi Arabia • Syria • U.S. Middle East Policy • United Arab Emirates • Yemen 
Posted on Mon, March 14, 2011 at 20:25 pm CET
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Syria sends Gaddafi arms

As Washington commended the Arab League for approving a proposed no-fly zone over Libya and European powers drew up plans for… Continue reading

Topics: Arab Spring • Islamic Countries • Libya War • Syria • United Nations 
Posted on Mon, March 7, 2011 at 00:45 am CET
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Iranian Warships Ignored Israel’s Radio Contact

The two Iranian warships ignored Israel’s radio contact calling on them to introduce themselves, Navy Commander Habibollah Sayyari said… Continue reading

Topics: Iran • Israel • Syria • The Middle East 
Posted on Thu, March 3, 2011 at 01:30 am CET
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Obama Administration is loosing the Competition in the Middle East

In testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “We are in a competition. I just stress over and over again… Continue reading

Topics: Egypt • Iran • Islamism • Lebanon • Syria • The Middle East • United States of America 
Posted on Tue, March 1, 2011 at 21:25 pm CET
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Iran to Build Permanent Naval Base in Syria

Just two days after two Iranian warships reached the Syrian port of Latakia via the Suez Canal, an Iranian-Syrian naval cooperation accord was signed… Continue reading

Topics: Anti-Israelism • Arab-Israeli Conflict • Iran • Russian Federation • Syria • The Middle East 
Posted on Mon, February 21, 2011 at 00:17 am CET
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Egypt: Escaped Hezbollah Terrorist Participated in Hezbollah Rally in Beirut

Sami Shihab, a Hezbollah operative who escaped from an Egyptian prison, participated in a Hezbollah rally in Beirut. His network infiltrated… Continue reading

Topics: Anti-Israelism • Egypt • Global Jihad • Hezbollah • Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center • Islamic Terrorism • Islamism • Lebanon • Sudan • Syria 
Posted on Sat, February 19, 2011 at 01:09 am CET
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Israel on High Alert for Iranian Warships’ Suez Transit Carrying Missiles for Hizballah

Cairo’s approval Friday, Feb. 18 for two Iranian warships to transit the Suez Canal on their way to the Mediterranean has brought Israel and Iran… Continue reading

Topics: Arab-Israeli Conflict • Egypt • Hezbollah • Iran • Israel • Saudi Arabia • Syria • United States of America 
Posted on Fri, February 11, 2011 at 10:29 am CET
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WikiLeaks: Schizophrenic Nature of Syrian Foreign Policy

The schizophrenic nature of Syrian foreign policy once again reared its ugly face… Continue reading

Topics: Jordan • Palestinian Authority • Syria • United States of America • WikiLeaks 
Posted on Fri, February 11, 2011 at 09:55 am CET
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WikiLeaks: “Syria is not in the pocket of anybody”

Summing up a lengthy presentation on Syria’s 30-year relationship with Iran, Muallim [Syria’s foreign minister] asserted Syria’s position was motivated by… Continue reading

Topics: Syria • United States of America • WikiLeaks 
Posted on Fri, February 11, 2011 at 09:23 am CET
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WikiLeaks: U.S. Ongoing Concerns about Syrian Behavior

Even as the U.S. take specific steps the U.S. will continue to have ongoing concerns about Syrian behavior that have not gone away because of a change in administrations… Continue reading

Topics: Syria • United States of America • WikiLeaks 
Posted on Fri, February 11, 2011 at 08:50 am CET
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WikiLeaks: Syria Continues to Support Hamas and Hizbullah

Syria has not responded positively (nor, in the near term, is it likely to do so) to U.S. concerns about Syrian arms supplies to Hizballah, Syria’s continuing support… Continue reading

Topics: Syria • United States of America • WikiLeaks 
Posted on Tue, February 8, 2011 at 00:09 am CET
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WikiLeaks: The Egyptian View of the Middle East

WikiLeaks cable about Egyptian foreign policy: Cairo-Baghdad Relations, Iranian ‘devils’, Syria and Turkey… Continue reading

Topics: Arab League • Egypt • Iran • Iraq • Syria • The Middle East • Turkey • United States of America • WikiLeaks 
Posted on Mon, February 7, 2011 at 20:12 pm CET
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Egypt and the Egyptian Revolt: Old Myths and New Myths

Nothing is more fashionable than hindsight. Here are some myths forming this week… Continue reading

Topics: Egypt • Islamism • Israel • Syria • The Middle East • United States of America 
Posted on Sun, February 6, 2011 at 03:43 am CET
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Turkey to Train Syria’s Army

While we are being told constantly how well things are going in the Middle East, still another dangerous development has been ignored by the Western media. Turkey and Syria have agreed on training of Syrian army by Turkish military… Continue reading

Topics: NATO • Syria • The Middle East • Turkey • United States of America 
Posted on Fri, February 4, 2011 at 03:11 am CET
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Syrian Authorities Break Up Protest

Why are moderate Arab regimes — even if dictatorships — shaken by protest while hardline ones aren’t? Because at the least sign of trouble the radical governments… Continue reading

Topics: Syria • The Middle East 
Posted on Mon, January 31, 2011 at 15:07 pm CET
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Assad: anti-US and anti-Israel Stance will Save Him from an Uprising

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad believes he has more time for reforms, because of his anti-US and anti-Israel policy. He believes Egypt is suffering for its connection with the U.S. and Israel… Continue reading

Topics: Algeria • Anti-Israelism • Egyptian Revolution • Jasmine Revolution • Jordan • Syria • The Middle East • Tunisia • Yemen 
Posted on Mon, January 24, 2011 at 01:47 am CET
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Iran’s Conservative Press Blames West for Political Crisis in Lebanon

Iran’s conservative press blamed Western countries for the political crisis in Lebanon, saying they derailed the Syrian-Saudi initiative which attempted to find a solution to… Continue reading

Topics: France • Hezbollah • Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center • Iran • Lebanon • Saudi Arabia • Syria • The Middle East • United States of America 
Posted on Thu, January 13, 2011 at 03:02 am CET
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Hizbullah Resignation Only Demonstrate Their Fear

Members of the powerful Hezbollah movement and its allies brought down Lebanon’s unity government Wednesday after resigning from Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s Cabinet. Minister of State… Continue reading

Topics: France • Hezbollah • Lebanon • Syria • United States of America 
Posted on Wed, December 29, 2010 at 22:03 pm CET
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The Asian Convoy Waits at Latakia for Permission to Enter Egypt

As of December 28, the members of the Asian convoy, which left India on December 5, are still in the Syrian port of Latakia. The convoy now has 160 activists, of whom 15 are Lebanese and 35 Jordanian. It is carrying 200 tons of humanitarian assistance and food, including… Continue reading

Topics: Anti-Israelism • Anti-Semitism • Egypt • Gaza Flotillas and Convoys • Humanitarian Aid • Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center • Syria 
Posted on Sat, December 25, 2010 at 17:01 pm CET
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WikiLeaks: Syrië Verdacht Israël van Moordaanslag

De Syrische autoriteiten verdachten Israël van de moordaanslag op Mohammed Suleiman, de top veiligheidsadviseur van de Syrische president Bashar al-Assad. Het was laat in de avond op 1 augustus 2008 in de Syrische kuststad Tartus toen een scherpschutter… Lees verder

Topics: Israel • Nederlands • Syria • United States of America • WikiLeaks 
Posted on Fri, December 24, 2010 at 15:28 pm CET
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WikiLeaks: Israël Achter Bombardement Op Syrische Kernreactor

Volgens een nog te publiceren Amerikaanse memo, onderdeel van de naar WikiLeaks gelekte documenten, heeft Israël in september 2007 een kernreactor in Syrië gebombardeerd… Lees verder

Topics: Israel • Nederlands • Syria • United States of America • WikiLeaks