BULLETIN No. 196

Suddenly, Syria is Hot Topic in Israel By: Ken Ellingwood Los Angeles Times For months, Israel and Syria have sent signals that have alternated between bellicose and calming, leaving Israelis to speculate about the possibility of another summertime war and debate the merits of renewing negotiations with Damascus after a lull of seven years.
Syrian and Iranian Generals in Intensive War Consultations
Brookings Iraqi Refugees in Syria
Iraqi Refugees in the Syrian Arab Republic: A Field-Based Snapshot
Greece denies delivering peace message to Syria Report: PM sent new message to Assad, in which 'interesting nuances' included through Greek
Exiled Syrian reformer urges return of Golan Farid Ghadry, Syria's opposition party head, wants Israel to return Golan, but not to Assad.
Yedioth Ahronoth The Golan liquidation sale Deal with Syria has huge price tag; international forces won't protect us, Elyakim Haetzni says
Plocker Suddenly Syria
Olmert 'in secret offer to return Golan Heights to Syria' Paper says message sent via Turks and Germans.
Washington Institute The Future of Syria: Challenges and Prospects Barry Rubin and Ambassador Theodore Kattouf
Bar’el Does Syrian President Bashar Assad mean business, or is he still a 42-year-old kid? Syrian war games Best indeed to prepare for war For those who claim Assad is preparing for war cannot seriously go on to argue that the Syrian leader needs peace to prepare Syria for that war. He is well prepared as it is
The US – Iran – Syria triangle
Israel Offers Golan to Syria in Exchange for Cutting Iran Ties
Assad ignored Israeli message; PM's aides divided over whether Syria wants talks
Syrian opposition member: Make peace with people, not Assad 17:57
State Dept. Spokesman: US Opposes Renewed Israel-Syria Talks
Reports: Olmert sent peace messages to Syria via Turkey
BBC Syria's war silence "Dialogue with Syria Is Essential", Robert Malley and Peter Harling (published in French) in Le Monde
On Spy Hill, Old Enemies Could Be Looking at a New Peace By: Ian Black The Guardian Strong leadership and negotiation may see deal between Syria and Israel.
This Summer's War With Syria - Peace Deal Rumors Are Suspiciously Incoherent
Israel, Offering Golan, Awaits Syria Proposals
Daily Telegraph Israel offers the Golan Heights to Syria Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister has offered to return the Golan Heights to Syria so long as it dissolves its alliances with Iran, Hezbollah and Palestinian militant factions
Is Turkey Smuggling Iranian Weapons To Syria? Umm... Maybe?
Solutions and problems Brian Brivati Jun 11 07, 05:45pm: Week two of the Iraq commission: private security firms, Syria, and a plan for a regional conference.

Lebanon's Agony By Max Rodenbeck
Hezbollah's dilemma If Lebanon's army tackles the refugee camps, maybe it can defend against Israel too.
Analysis: Lebanon's political tsunami
High cost of militancy for Lebanon’s poor In many ways the three elements – economic hardship, Sunni sentiment and the outward display of Islamism – help describe the climate in Tripoli, where the militant Fatah al-Islam group has been able to establish cells
Sporadic Fighting Continues in Lebanon Refugee Camp
A review of Killing Mr. Lebanon: The Assassination of Rafik Hariri and Its Impact on the Middle East by Nicholas Blanford; Hezbollah: A Short History by Augustus Richard Norton; Hizbullah: The Story from Within by Naim Qassem; Everyday Jihad: The Rise of Militant Islam Among Palestinians in Lebanon by Bernard Rougier. Here's an open letter by 139 writers, including scholars of Iran and the Middle East, protesting the detention of Halef Esfandiari by the Iraninan government.
'Escape is impossible' Ghaith Abdul-Ahad visits Lebanon's biggest refugee camp.
Daily Star Sarkozy can help Lebanon by focusing on the interests of the people
In the name of Islam? The Gaza Strip is going in the direction of the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon where the Muslim extremists have situated themselves: there is no government presence and no law and order.