BULLETIN No.101

Outside View: The rising power of Shiites By Barry Rubin
Analysis: Drawing the borders of Israel
Al-Ahram
Converging on Abbas Ehud Olmert appears to be near forming his government -- Mahmoud Abbas may be near dissolving his, writes Graham Usher in Jerusalem
A greater Palestine? Perhaps "Palestine" should be declared to include Israel, the West Bank, Gaza and Jordan, writes Sharif Elmusa
In Focus: Alienating support The political discourse espoused by Khaled Meshaal, argues Galal Nassar, is politic in no meaningful way
A message to Ehud Olmert The state of Israel must give up on its colonial dreams and negotiate peace now, writes Amin Howeidi
Jerusalem Post Analysis: Olmert must avoid 10 plagues
New government in Israel ready to clear dozens of settlements
The Economist Israel's new government Farewell to the generals
Haaretz And thank you to Hamas By Aluf Benn - Finally, there is a disciplined, hierarchical body on the Palestinian side that can observe a cease-fire - even if it is a fragile and imperfect one - and gradually enforce "one law and one weapon," rather than Fatah's institutionalized anarchy
Olmert strikes first deal in bid to form coalition Israel's interim prime minister closer to parliamentary majority needed for his plan to draw Israel's final borders by 2010.
BBC Israel drops militant trial plan
Israel will not try Palestinian militant Ahmed Saadat over the 2001 assassination of an Israeli minister. Profile: Ahmed Saadat
Mossad behind Dahab attacks?
Gulf News
Hamas on a tightrope
It is the tradition in the US that any new government is given a grace period of 100 days before a judgment is voiced about its direction and effectiveness. But this has not been the case with the Hamas-led Palestinian National Authority.
Can Israel learn a new language?
For the first time in its history, Israel is to have a defence minister with no military background. This is a welcome development in an otherwise sombre Middle East scene.
Abbas to approach Israeli leaders with peace plan
Abbas to approach Israeli leaders with peace plan
Independent - Robert Fisk The United States of Israel?
Mithat Bereket Mahmud Abbas ziyaretinin perde arkası

Deepening split between Lebanon and Syria is a senseless waste As the Lebanese embark on their second year since Syria's withdrawal, excitement about Lebanon's sovereignty has dwindled. The one-year anniversary of the withdrawal passed with little fanfare, and optimism has been replaced with concern that relations between the two states have deteriorated beyond repair. This is not to say that there have never been problems between the two states in the past.
No one can afford to let Brammertz go By Michael Young Here's an idea for the participants in the national dialogue set to resume this Friday: let them issue a statement, based on their declared support for a presumably fair investigation of Rafik Hariri's assassination, ordering Emile Lahoud to stop requesting the release of the four imprisoned generals.
CFR Assad Bruised but Resilient
CFR Landis: Syria Eagerly Seeking to Improve Relations with Iraqi Leaders
CFR Syria: Has Assad Dodged a Bullet?
Analysis: Syria faces new U.N. resolution
Bush blocks assets related to Hariri killing Reuters - Determined to have been involved in Hariri's assassination and that additional steps were being taken "concerning certain actions of the government of Syria.".
Syria Comment Spreading Democracy? Why the U.S. must tell the truth, By EHSANI2
Syria: The new tide New Anatolian – I was in Syria for the second time to give a conference about "Dialogue of Civilizations" arranged by local authorities, and I had a chance to meet all kinds
Ha’aretz - MI: Syria poised to spend petrodollars on arms IDF intelligence believes Damascus will aim to refit its air force; Iran, Saudi Arabia also eye arms deals
Editorial Watering Lebanon's cedar revolution
Daily Star Syria still acting like Lebanon's caretaker By Philip Abi akl. One year after the withdrawal of Syrian troops, Lebanese politicians are asking themselves just what exactly Syria wants from Lebanon.
Gulf News Lebanon plans to ask for Hariri probe extension
Lebanon plans to ask the United Nations to extend an ongoing inquiry into the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Al Hariri, Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said.
Gulf News Hezbollah leader acknowledges giving financial aid to Palestinians
The leader of Hezbollah acknowledged giving militant Palestinian factions financial and political support but denied arming them, in an interview published yesterday.

The Times Read my lips – no attacks on Iran Gerard Baker Three months ago world leaders were heading for agreement on action. Not any more
Al-Ahram Iran is Bush's bogeyman The continuing crisis with Iran is a welcome distraction and blessing in disguise for the beleaguered Bush administration, writes Firas Al-Atraqchi
Ha’aretz – Iran procures missiles capable of hitting Europe IDF Intelligence chief: Tehran bought
th Korea with 2,500-km. range.
Christian Science Monitor A defiant Iran banks on divisions at UN UN's split means sanctions will likely be imposed by the US and its allies.
Moving Beyond the Stalemate: Addressing the Nuclear Challenge by Supranational Means Netherlands Institute of International Relations
UPI Analysis: How to deal with Iran's nuclear ambitions
Boston Globe Bush's misbegotten Iran plan
(By Sarah Chayes and Amir Soltani Sheikholeslami)
Is openness key to the Iran problem?
The New Republic The Iran question hawks won't answer by Peter Beinart
Rice: U.S. Committed to Diplomacy With Iran
US should call for direct talks with Iran Communication could help alleviate tension from historical grievances. By John K. Cooley
Bush Administration Expresses Concern on Iranian Intention to Share Nuclear Technology
Why we fear Iran By Abdul Rahman Al Rashed Asharq Al Awsat, The columnist says, "Most of the Arabs outside of the Gulf region believe that Iran's possession of a nuclear weapon is a positive development that achieves a balance of power with Israel. The Gulf Arabs, however, believe that the power of Iranian nuclear deterrence represents the biggest danger of a military threat." He says that, given Israel's capacity to strike Iran and the possible devastation that a nuclear launch by Iran would reign on Palestinians, "This means that the only possible target... would be the Arab Gulf." He concludes by saying that this "fear is justified, particularly after Iran's new escalation through the development of its forces, weapons, and purchases, as well as the enrichment of uranium."Link to full text in primary source.
BBC Complex Iran Iranian views on the growing nuclear crisis are far from monolithic
CFR Azerbaijani President Stresses Military Cooperation with US in Afghanistan, Iraq—but not Iran
Ha’aretz – Iran procures missiles capable of hitting Europe IDF Intelligence chief: Tehran bought ground-to-ground missiles from North Korea with 2,500-km. range.
Financial Times COMMENT: The risk of a transatlantic rift over Iran By Guillaume Parmentier ‘Selective strikes’ against nuclear installations would only ensure development of nuclear weapons

CSIS Iraq's Evolving Insurgency and the Risk of Civil War -Anthony H. Cordesman, with the assistance of Eric M. Brewer and Sara Bjerg Moller
New York Times Editorial The Iraqi Oil Pipeline Fiasco American taxpayers got a particularly raw deal on the project to repair a crucial oil pipeline in Iraq.
NRO Jonah Goldberg: Iraqis should vote on whether we should stay
Iraqis faking their IDs to hide religious affiliations
Washington Post Projected Iraq War Costs Soar Total Spending Is Likely to More Than Double, Analysis Finds
Iraq: Maliki's first days
BBC Sistani calls for disarmament

The Kurds: A People in Search of Their Homeland Los Angles Times - By Alissa J. Rubin
The Islamist challenge To be an alternative, Arab Islamists must ensure that their rise to power is founded on the guarantee that democratic principles will be respected, writes Ammar Ali Hassan
Washington Post Misreading the Enemy What We Don't Grasp About Militant Islam By David Ignatius - It's a truism that all conflicts end eventually. But how do you resolve a confrontation with an adversary that appears unable or unwilling to negotiate a settlement? That's a common problem that runs through the West's battles with militant Islam.
PBS News Media Flourishes in the Middle East
The first chapter from Being Modern in the Middle East: Revolution, Nationalism, Colonialism, and the Arab Middle Class

The New Republic Determining Factor by John B. Judis Why does America fight? Oil. It's not fashionable to say this, but the Iraq war was about oil. Not entirely, but certainly more than it was about weapons of mass destruction or a link to Al Qaeda. The 1991 war with Iraq was also about oil, and if the United States goes to war in the future with Iran or with China, it will likely be about oil.
Preventative War and its Alternatives: The Lessons of History Strategic Studies Institute