BULLETIN No.59

THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN The Weapon of Democracy Hamas wins in the Palestinian legislative elections and confusion reigns.
In the Aftermath of the Palestinian Parliamentary Elections: How to Deal with Hamas? German Institute for International Politics and Security
Debka Pinning Dubious Hopes for a Hamas Ouster on Sanctions and Abu Mazen
MEMRI Feb 15 SD# 1092 - The Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement – Hamas
New York Times Editorial The Right Way to Pressure Hamas A Hamas that could explain continued Palestinian misery by a deliberate American-Israeli plan to reverse the democratic verdict of the polls would be likely to become only stronger.
U.S. and Israel Deny Plans to Drive Hamas From Power
US and Israel 'trying to destabilise Hamas' · Report claims west plans to block Palestinian funds · Islamist group defiant as government takes shape
Ha’aretz – Mubarak: Hamas' threats to destroy Israel insignificant Says Egypt will not tell Hamas to recognize Israel; believes peace with Hamas possible in future
Jerusalem Post Yishai: 'Greater Israel' outdated Shas chairman tells 'Post' that territorial compromises are inevitable.
BBC Israel issues Hamas warning
President Moshe Katsav, on a landmark visit to Greece, says Israel will not tolerate violence by Hamas.
A review of The Bomb in the Basement: How Israel Went Nuclear and What That Means for the World
COMMENT: Join the dots for a collective strategyon Iran The US must enlist help in the Persian Gulf By John Newhouse and Thomas Pickering
OpenDemocracy Iran vs the United States (again) The Bush administration's confrontational rhetoric and wishful thinking is fuelling Tehran's own hardline rulers, says Fred Halliday
New Statesman Iran: the next war John Pilger Bush and Blair are gearing up for it, and they are preparing us, too - just as they did before attacking Iraq. But where is the threat? [read article]
Iran Before the Security Council? German Perspectives and Goals German Institute for International Politics and Security
OpenDemocracy The next Iranian revolution Behind the nuclear theatrics, Nazenin Ansari of Kayhan finds Iranians ready to embrace freedom Plus: The fissures inside Iran create a space for "regime change" from within, argues Nasrin Alavi
Christian Science Monitor Why enrichment in Iran rattles the West Once it masters the difficult technique, building a nuclear bomb is not far away.
A Strategic Choice American Chronicle, Alon Ben-Meir - Hamas’ rise to power provides the United States and Israel with a strategic opportunity to shift their attention to Israel’s northern front with Syria.
Lebanon remembers Hariri A year after the prime minister's death, the country remains divided.
Analysis: The Hariri killing one year on
Half a million mark Hariri's death Reuters
Lebanese mark PM's death with anti-Syria demo
Syria Switches From Dollars to Euros