BULLETIN No. 199

Asia Times The strange story of MiG-31s for Syria A Moscow business daily claims that Russia wants to sell top-of-the-line MiG-31 jet fighters to Syria. Previous reports of arms sales from this publication have to be taken with some skepticism, but the MiG-31 story has a ring of truth. The aircraft has special capabilities that make it ideal for countries worried about a US air assault - countries like Syria and Iran
What Will Syria Do in Lebanon? (15 June 2007)
UN report: Lebanon-Syria border open to weapons smuggling
Russian FM says weapons sales to Syria are strictly controlled
Iraqi Refugees in the Syrian Arab Republic: A Field-Based Snapshot Read the full report

UPI Analysis: UN new target in Lebanon?
Spain voices resolve to fulfill UNIFIL mission
Daily Star Time for Hizbullah to remove any doubts about its priorities
Center for Strategic & International Studies + Summer Wars in Lebanon?
UN force to stay in Lebanon Lebanon appeals to peacekeepers after attack that killed six.
WORLD NEWS: UN stands its ground in Lebanon
Banning Hizballah in Europe

Don't expect Palestinian-Israeli peace anytime soon By Yossi Alpher
Yedioth Ahronoth Exclusive interview with Mubarak
Abbas wants Jordanian help

Palestinian president asks Israel for permission to deploy Jordanian troops in West Bank
'Gaza a microcosm of Iraq'
Washington Institute In the Wake of the Hamas Coup: Rethinking America's 'Grand Strategy' for the New Palestinian Authority Hamas's military takeover of Gaza is a clarifying act of violence that should trigger a careful reassessment of U.S. relations with the Palestinians. Robert Satloff writes.
Who Killed Palestine? By: Bret Stephens The Wall Street Journal Bill Clinton did it. Yasser Arafat did it. So did George W. Bush, Yitzhak Rabin, Hosni Mubarak, Ariel Sharon, Al-Jazeera and the BBC. The list of culprits in the whodunit called "Who Killed Palestine?" is neither short nor mutually exclusive.
Asia Times Finding lessons in Gaza's bloodshed The Fatah-Hamas strife is a decades-old tragedy. But it need not be endlessly replayed if ordinary Palestinians are given a free voice - not one dictated by the US and Israel. - Ramzy Baroud
An interview with Hamas co-founder Mahmoud Zahar: "We will try to form an Islamic society", and an article on how to deal with Hamas.
Al Awsat Should Hamas be Left Alone? : Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed
The real roots of the crisis in GazaAnalysis: Olmert steals back the thunder at Sharm summit
Israel agrees to release 250 Fatah prisoners
Akiva Eldar: Bush, one of the worst U.S. presidents for Israel
Danny Rubinstein: The only chance to defeat Hamas
Is there an alternative to a Palestinian state?
Christian Science Monitor Competing visions for Palestinians
While the Israelis and US want to isolate Hamas, some Arab states see need for Palestinian unity.
BBC Hamas is 'ready to talk' to Fatah A leader of the Palestinian faction Hamas says he is ready for talks with Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah.
Hamas airs 'first Shalit message'
Al-Qaeda seeks unity with Hamas
Daily Star Olmert's summit gesture to Abbas was more insult than overture
Leverage in Hamastan - David Horovitz (Jerusalem Post)
Getting Up Close and Personal with Hamas - Joel Brinkley
Palestinian labyrinth
Claude Salhani Hamas now rules Gaza, but as the saying goes, be careful what you wish for.
The Palestinians Chose Nationalist Suicide - Fouad Ajami, US News & W
Yedioth Ahronoth 'Fatah defeat an opportunity' Olmert pledges release of 250 Fatah prisoners at Sharm el-Sheik summit, calls on regional leaders to strengthen Abbas, aid in renewing peace process. Returning to Israel Olmert's aides say ball is now in Abbas' court
Does the Hamas takeover of Gaza portend the end of Palestine? by Martin PeretzJerusalem Post The Region: The fall of the house of Yasser BARRY RUBIN
Analysis: Pawns in a Palestinian power play
Leader The danger of division Palestine: To expect that Mr Abbas will return from Sharm el-Sheikh when the summit ends later this week with a stack of concessions from Israel that might increase his standing among Palestinians is to be unduly optimistic.
University Channel The View From Palestine A conversation with Sari Nusseibeh, President, Al-Quds University
The Strategic Implications of the Palestinian Crisis

Brookings The Case for Soft Partition in Iraq Edward P. Joseph and Michael E. O'Hanlon, Saban Center Analysis View Full Paper (PDF—638kb).
Where Is Iraq Heading? Lessons from Basra International Crisis Group
Washington Post GOP Skepticism On Iraq Growing Key Senators Urge Reduction in Troops
Beyond Politics on Iraq The following is adapted from a speech given Monday night on the floor of the Senate by Richard G. Lugar of Indiana, the ranking Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee.
An Exit to Disaster By Michael Gerson, Entering Iraq without an exit strategy was a mistake. Leaving without regard for the consequesnces would be a larger mistake.
CFR What Model Should Iraq Follow after US Forces Withdraw?
Brookings A Diplomatic Offensive for Iraq Carlos Pascual and Larry Diamond, Brookings Policy Brief
Washington Post General: Iraqi Forces Far From Self-Sufficiency

The Sun Iranian forces 'crossed Iraqi border'...