BULLETIN No.121

BBC Risky strategy Palestinian leader takes on Hamas in game of brinkmanship
Daily Star Dismantle the dangerous Hamas boycott, conditionally By Richard W. Murphy
Israel negotiates oil purchase with Azerbaijan
Debka DEBKAfile Exclusive: Hamas-Damascus snatches initiative, picks Yemen for talks with Fatah - after Abu Mazen falters on his referendum ultimatum More...
Forward Risky Gambit by Abbas Raises American Hopes, Israeli Worries
Israel's checkpoint witnesses
A group of Israeli women is keeping watch in the West Bank to ensure safe passage for Palestinian civilians.
A vote for Palestinian unity
The Times Leader Abbas or the abyss The Palestinian President must insist on a peace referendum
Hamas given more time on referendum Mahmoud Abbas has extended a deadline for the Hamas-led Palestinian Government to accept a two-state solution or face a referendum
Hamas given extra time to decide on Israeli recognition
Slate Fences: What America can learn from Israel's West Bank security barrier. Shmuel Rosner

Jerusalem Post Syrian writer jailed for insulting President Assad Syria's detention of more than 10 well-known writers and human rights activists in recent months has been met with a chorus of international disapproval.
Washington Post Lebanon 'Mass Grave' Said to Be a Cemetery A burial site in eastern Lebanon originally believed to be a mass grave for victims of Syria's military presence is actually a graveyard
United Press International UN: Syria should not extradite refugees The UN refugee agency is calling on Syria not to extradite a group of Iranian Arabs to Iran, saying their lives might be
Middle East Newsline US OIL FIRM SEEKS PULLOUT FROM SYRIA Industry sources said Marathon Oil, based in Houston, Texas, was seeking to sell virtually all of its interests in Syria by 2007.
Arutz Sheva Marathon Leaving Syria, Fears US Sanctions The Marathon Oil Company, which recently was awarded a 25-year- lease to explore for oil and gas in Syria, is pulling out because of fears of US
Syria Comment
Dardari Speaks to Tabler about 5-Year Plan
Neocons and Honor Killings
Students and Politics

Independent Analysis: How Europe persuaded the US to temper its hostility to Tehran
Daily Star Now, how about some Iranian reciprocity? By Rami G. Khouri
Asia Times US caught in Iran policy squeeze The spin that the US is putting on its Iran "initiative" and the growing misconceptions this is causing has been subjected to a detailed clarification by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. In essence, he has exposed the hollowness of the US policy and Washington's lack of options in the face of its increasing isolation. - M K BhadrakumarSoft power How the war in Iraq has changed the US approach to Iran
Washington Institute Iranian Azeris: A Giant Minority By Ali M. Koknar Mass demonstrations and other recent developments indicate brewing discontent among Iran’s large Azeri minority and are symptomatic of rising ethnic tensions inside the Islamic Republic.

Financial Times COMMENT: How Iraq's neighbours can steer it away from destruction By David Aaron
Washington Post Salvaging Iraq
By David Ignatius
Ehsan Ahrari The Talibanization of Iraq
Christian Science Monitor Iraq's tougher stance toward United States The prime minister has taken a hard line on the Haditha case – which may complicate US relations.
Counterinsurgency strategy: stay put US forces in western Iraq are keeping out insurgents by remaining in cleared towns.
Bush's victory in Iraq Brian Whitaker Cheer up, George: there is one person at least who understands the nature of your triumph.
The Lesson of Iraq: In Hostile Environments, Personal Security is ...Stratfor -

BULLETIN No.120

Ha’aretz – Top Hamas leaders vow to boycott referendum
Analysis: Fatah and Hamas still have 40 days to reach a deal Even though Abbas' deadline on the prisoner plan has passed, there is still time before the referendum
Jerusalem Post Analysis: Hamas down but not out By YAAKOV KATZ Senior officer: Hamas made almost every possible mistake trying to solidify its power base.
Washington Times Backward reels the news By Arnaud de Borchgrave Israel's unspoken ulterior motive is to make Jordan the Palestinian state.
Al Hayat Ayoon wa Azan (The Israeli Apartheid Policy) Jihad el-Khazen - Israel was once stronger than the Arab countries, separately and combined. However, I believe that we have entered the countdown phase to its end as an apartheid state.
BBC Abbas pushes for statehood poll Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is to call a referendum on a two-state plan after Hamas talks fail.
Daily Star Hamas leaders are proving to be no better than their predecessors
Israeli unilateralism is healthy, not a 'land grab' By Yossi Alpher
Abbas Will Call for Palestinian Vote on Two-State Plan
Abbas to go ahead with poll on two-state deal with Israel
Palestinian stand-off over Abbas ultimatum
Hamas' Tight Spot
Daily Telegraph Hamas defies soft stance The Hamas-led Palestinian government looks certain to defy the moderate leader Mahmoud Abbas and reject his demand to soften its stance towards Israel.
Washington Times Backward reels the news By Arnaud de Borchgrave Israel's unspoken ulterior motive is to make Jordan the Palestinian state.
National Interest Unrealists by Dimitri K. Simes: The Israel lobby controversy shows how some substitute character assasination for serious debate. American national interests suffer.

Financial Times Exiled Syrian opposition pledges to protect Alawite minority Syria’s largely Sunni-based exile opposition sought to reassure the Alawite minority that it would be protected in any struggle to oust a regime dominated by members of the community
Growing Shi'ite Presence a Dilemma for Syrians
Washington Post Syrian Opposition Urges Regime's Ouster Describing Assay's regime as oppressive and corrupt, the leaders pledged to bring democracy to Syria, which has been ruled by Assay since the death of his ...
Russian Military Denies Seeking Mediterranean Naval Base in Syria
Christian Science Monitor Flouting Syria's martial law, bold students advocate democracy Unofficial political actions land some activists in jail, but many are undeterred.
Syria Comment
"Meeting the National Salvation Front" by Sophia Hoffmann
Day One of National Salvation Front Meeting

New York Times U.S. Is Offering Deals on Trade to Entice Iran The incentives include a proposal to allow Iran to upgrade its aging civilian air fleet by purchasing parts from Boeing.
Washington Post A Legal Case Against Iran By David B. Rivkin Jr. and Lee A. Casey
Debka Gulf sources suspect US_Iran sparring masks quite dialogue - Khamenei Spoke of Jeopardizing Oil Shipments - Not a Blockade Full article
Washington Post A Legal Case Against Iran By David B. Rivkin Jr. and Lee A. Casey,
Asia Times – Spengler - Military destiny and madness in IranBoth US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki sincerely believe that a compromise is in their mutual interest. Nonetheless, they will fail - for Iran is driven by strategic mysticism, and when there is no retreat, nothing to which to return, the army leaves its trenches and flies forward into the cannons.
RCP Are There Limits to Iranian Leadership's Resolve? - Ian Bremmer
Cengiz Çandar The New Anatolian-Turkey's constructive role in the US-Iran situation and its domestic impact
Stratfor Geopolitical Diary: Awaiting Next Moves by Iraq and Iran
Iraq: The face of the enemy Robert Fisk penetrates the world of the Palestinian 'martyrs' flooding into Iraq to fuel the insurgency
Newsweek Nation Building: Not for the Fainthearted Michael E. O'Hanlon
Putin and Russia's Middle East Policy Middle East Review of International Affairs
Guardian False prophets The US loves listening to its Arab/Muslim 'reformers'. And they love telling the US just what it wants to hear. By Brian Whitaker
Is political Islam on the march?
Moderate Western Muslims, speak up!

BULLETIN No.119

UPI Analysis: What about Israel and Iran?
Oren Taking the offensive The lDF is ready to risk a more offensive approach in order to regain the initiative on both the northern and southern fronts. The successes are tempting; it would be easy to become addicted to them.
Arab states should compel Hamas to endorse peace By Raghida Dergham
Daily Star Olmert says he wants talks with Abbas Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert insisted negotiations with the Palestinians were his top priority after a first meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who urged Fatah and Hamas to resolve their differences. As Egypt launched diplomatic efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian contacts, the Palestinians were heading toward.
Israel Says It Wants to Hold Talks With Abbas
Jerusalem Post US intel.: Hizbullah could become threat alongside Iran
Critical Currents: The fortieth yearBy NAOMI CHAZANForty years after the Six Day War, Israel needs to get past the road map and out of the desert
Ha’aretz – Akiva Eldar Ha’aretz – Akiva Eldar Is America a strategic liability? Fortunately, on the issue that is considered critical to Israel's existence - Iran's nuclear capabilities - the United States is likely to be an asset to Israel, but that is an exception. It is an exception that does not prove the rule
Where Hamas and Fatah meet Without the principle of the 1967 borders, without East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state, and without recognition and some form of compromise on the issue of the refugees, there is no chance for a settlement, and probably also not for calm.
Schiff On the origins of targeted assassination The original list of candidates for assassination included 23 Arab leaders and high-ranking officers from all over the country.
Five dead in Hamas-Fatah clashes as deadline nears
Mubarak: If negotiations fail, we will find other solutions
BBC Osirak anniversary Israeli pilots recall how they bombed Iraq's reactor in 1981
Democracy Arsenal Abbas' GambleJerusalem Post Bary Rubin The Region: The missing Mideast moral compass
New York Review of Books What Does Olmert Want?By Amos Elon

New Statesman The secret state Authoritarian and anti-western, Syria stands alongside Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas in defying US ambitions for the Middle East. But a UN report on the assassination of Rafiq Hariri, due out this month, could bring the regime to its knees. Patrick Seale on the linchpin to the battle for a region in turmoil [read article - free to view]
Syria's top ten political power-brokers. Research [read article]
Yedioth Ahronoth Exiles: Syrian regime doomed
The Weekly Standard Assad State of Affairs WHEN HAFEZ AL-ASSAD was president-for-life of Syria, Washington overlooked the misdeeds of his Baathist dictatorship because it always seemed the brass ring of
Times Exiles plan overthrow Syria's Baathist regime and Commonwealth Office insisted was not co-ordinated with any British officials, was led by Abdel Halim Khaddam, who predicted that Syria’s increasingly
Yedioth Ahronoth 'Russia seeking base in Syria' Russia begins work on deepening Syrian port of Tartus, which it plans to use as alternative accommodation for Black Sea fleet, based in Ukrainian port, Russian paper says; Base would be protected by a long-range air defense system Full Story . . .
UPI Russia may be building a naval base in Syria Russia is dredging the Syrian port of Tartus, where a Russian Navy maintenance station is located, according to Kommersant, a Russian business journal.
Is Russia building a naval base in Syria? The paper says that "may be evidence that Russia is considering Syria as a base from which to expand its influence in the Middle East."
Five die as Syria thwarts attack Four gunmen and a security guard die during a "terrorist" attack in the Syrian capital, officials say.
Al-Manar US companies are seeking to invest in the oil sector in Syria between Washington and Damascus have dramatically worsened in the past year, with the Bush administration leading a tough campaign against Syria mainly over
Detroit Free Press Syria warms up to Islamists as political winds change of gross domestic product. DAMASCUS, Syria -- The regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad has found religion.
Syria Comment
National Salvation Front Meeting in London
Could Syria's GDP Growth be 5.5%?!
News Round UP (June 2, 2006)
Ha’aretz – U.S. intelligence: Iran could guide Hezbollah to attack U.S. Officials: Hezbollah has well-embedded operatives who could provide logistical help to terror groups

Washington Post Bush's Gamble On Iran Jim Hoagland
Iran Guardedly Considers Offer : Despite Fiery Rhetoric, Officials Make No Definitive...
Guardian A giant awakes Reza Aslan: The major powers yesterday ruled out military action against Iran, but in truth it has never been an option against the Middle East's most influential force.
IHT Iran's volatile ethnic mix By BRENDA SHAFFER Western policy makers need to know that half of Iran's population is non-Persian
New York Times Editorial What Counts on Iran Whether or not Iran ultimately agrees to talk, the United States has already strengthened its hand with European allies, Russia and China.
CNS Ethnic Upheaval Boosts Calls to Oust Iranian Regime
Who Will Lose the War in Iran? - Brian Doherty, Reason
Al Hayat US-Iran: Possible Deal, Possible Confrontation Raghida Dergham
Cengiz Çandar Radical US shift on Iran is good news for Turkey

The Atlantic Monthly July/August 2006 War in Iraq The Atlantic recently asked a group of foreign-policy authorities about the conflict in Iraq
NYT Insurgency Out, Anarchy In By Thomas L. Friedman here - Iraqi insurgency is in its last throes in Iraq, soon to be replaced by an anarchy of sectarian militias, criminal gangs, and Al Qaeda cells. American public will not support US troops involved in an anarchic situation for the rest of the Bush Administration, and the government needs to talk about deadlines for withdrawal to force political compromise in Iraq. The situation in Iraq will be resolved only when Iraqis support a common future.
Pentagon - Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq - Quarterly Reports .
UPI Analysis: Sunni strategy succeeding By Martin Sieff
CSIS Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq: "Fact, Fallacy, and an Overall Grade of "F"-Anthony H. Cordesman
Outside View: Iraq's hard truths By Anthony H. Cordesman
Sustainment of Army Forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom: Battlefield Logistics and Effects on Operations Rand Corporation
Iraq Is Europe's Business, Too
George Robertson
Der Spiegel INTERVIEW WITH MADELEINE ALBRIGHT "Iraq Was a Really Badly Planned Operation"
A plan for Iraq and a way out for US By Richard Parr Three autonomous regions would seem to be the best answer for now, at least until things cool down and reason prevails

Turkey in Europe:Changes and Challenges - Report from the Conference organized by the Joint Center's Turkey Initiative in cooperation with the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs
How to Boost Middle East Democracy - Dennis Ross, Miami Herald
Newsweek How Long Will America Lead the World? - Fareed Zakaria

BULLETIN No.118

Ha’aretz – Schiff To fulfill the American promise The question now facing Israel is what Jerusalem is doing to fill with content the promises made by Bush, Cheney and Rice to defend Israelm in case of an attack from Iran.
Hamas' contradictory voices The political texts of Hamas indicate that at present the organization is not fundamentalist.
Arab League blasts terms set by West for ties with Palestinians
UPI Commentary: Israel's unilateral peace plan By Arnaud de Borchgrave
New Republic Why Ehud Olmert didn't need American political consultantsby Brian Goldsmith
The Economist The Palestinian territories
A high-wire act
Daily Star Is a Palestinian civil war the best the US can do? By David Hirst
Decoding Hizbullah's bombing of Safad By Nicholas Blanford
Yedioth Ahronoth Bush briefs Olmert on Iran
British anti-Semitism/ Gilboa
Foreign Policy Seven Questions: The State of Palestine - Since Hamas’s victory in January, the economy in the West Bank and Gaza has plummeted, and tensions are rising between the new ruling party and President Mahmoud Abbas. Ziad Abu Zayyad, former legislator and Palestinian Authority minister of state, spoke to FP about Hamas’s leaders, why they came to power, and the prospects for peace.
JINSA Israel’s Navy Steps Up to Security Challenge in Wake of Gaza. Pull-Out
Ha’aretz Bush alerted Olmert on U.S. decision to talk with Iran
Analysis: How to deal with Iran, Hamas?
Hamas has Israel linkIsmail Haniyeh, the Palestinian Hamas prime minister, does not recognise Israel. But three of his sisters enjoy full Israeli citizenship.

Facing Iran through Syria first By Sarkis Naoum An Nahar, 5/25/2006US will confront it indirectly through Syria because it knows that the Syrian regime has become an indispensable part of the Iranian strategy and its danger to the surrounding area has become very large. Link to full text in primary source.
Asia Times Feeling comfortable in Damascus So far, 2006 has been a pleasant year for Syria. Bogged down in Iraq and obsessed with Iran, the US no longer snipes at Damascus or makes veiled threats about regime change. Syria's influence in Palestine was enhanced by the victory of Hamas, and a new UN prosecutor takes a more balanced look at the Hariri affair. - Sami Moubayed
Gulf News Is Syria's eastward drift viable? News. After three years of sustained Western pressure that almost shocked the regime, Syria seems to have decided to head eastward.
Jerusalem Post Syria: 5 dead when army forces, operatives clash Security forces killed four militants, wounded two and arrested four, Fayez Sayegh, director-general of Syria's state-run radio and television said.
IRINnews.SYRIA: Secular Syria allows Islam to flourish - “We like to study the Qu’ran,” explains the third Muhammad, also a resident of Syria’s second city, “because it’s our religion.”.
Kurdish state is ’red line’ for Syria, too (KurdishMedia.com)
Syria Comment
France Offers Syria a Deal
More Economic Pressure on Syria (May 31, 2006)
Lebanon Seeks Way to Disarm Palestinian Militia Groups

New York Times Bush's Realization on Iran: No Good Choice Left Except Talks
Some questioned whether President Bush's bid to join talks with Iran over its nuclear program was an offer intended to fail.
Washington Post Six Powers Reach Accord On Iran Plan U.S. Supports Combination Of Incentives, 'Disincentives'
UPI Turning point in Iran crisis?
Reaching Out to Iran Research on Gas Victims May Offer a Bridge By David Ignatius
Slate Diplomatic Overtures: What the latest U.S. and Iranian statements really mean. Fred Kaplan
WSJ Condi's Iran Gambit Ahmadinejad gets the direct talks he wanted.
Heritage Foundation Giving Iran One Last Chance by James Phillips
U.S. agrees to talks with Iran if it suspends uranium enrichment
Ehsan Ahrari Here Come “Carrots” for Iran
Washington Times: Iran 'war games' Iran's military plans for invasion by U.S.
Washington Post U.S. to Join Talks With Iran if Enrichment Stops
06:14 PM Chris Nelson on US-Iran talks

Washington Institute Rebuilding Iraq: The Way Ahead Ambassador James Jeffrey and Maj. Gen. William McCoy
THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN Insurgency Out, Anarchy In The insurgency in Iraq is in its "last throes." Unfortunately, it's being replaced by anarchy in many neighborhoods — not democracy.
Tearing Iraq Apart By THOMAS X. HAMMES To keep Iraq unified, the White House must commit to long timelines and to providing the money necessary for both the military and reconstruction efforts.
BBC New 'Iraq massacre' tape emerges The BBC obtains new video evidence that US troops may have deliberately killed 11 Iraqi civilians in March.
Los Angeles Times Will civil war bring lasting peace to Iraq?
By Edward N. Luttwak History shows civil wars must be fought without foreign interference before stability prevails

CFR Tenuous US-Turkish Relations
Brookings NATO's Growing Role in the Greater Middle East Paper by Philip H. Gordon

BULLETIN No.117

Independent The Big Question: Can Hamas and Fatah ever agree on how to negotiate with Israel?
Hamas needs to offer the Palestinian people a better option
Ha’aretz – UN report: Unemployment and poverty in PA are worsening Number of poor people rises from 600,000 in 1999 to 1.6 million in 2005; unemployment reaches 23.5%.
Ha’aretz – Aluf Benn An umbrella or handcuffs?Bush's statement U.S. would come to Israel's aid in the event of an Iranian attack is the expression of a strategic change in relations between the two countries.
Gideon Samet This nonsense of not talking to Hamas If the question is properly framed, it is very possible that polls would find an Israeli majority for talking with the Haniyeh government just as a majority was formed for getting out of most of the territories
Editorial Contacts with Hamas It turns out that the siege on the Hamas government is not weakening it - at least not for now.
Israel tightens NATO ties in shadow of Iran nuclear jitters
Iranian Foreign Minister: 'There is no such country' as Israel
Daily Star Benefits of Israel leaving Shebaa Farms outweigh costs of occupation
Washington Institute The IDF and the Israeli Spirit
Yedioth Ahronoth Reorganize 'Israel Inc.'/ Bainerman
Here's why they call it the 'Jewish state' By Jonathan Cook
Knight-Ridder Israel shouldn't wait for recognition from Hamas, ex-Mossad chief says Efraim Halevy, the former head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, is breaking with his government and much of the international community by urging Israel to scrap its requirement that Hamas formally recognize the Jewish state before it will negotiate with the Islamist militants. "To demand of Hamas that they should recognize Israel as a condition is to set a very high bar over which they must leap," Halevy said. "I think it's unnecessary."
UPI Analysis: Palestine ripe for al-Qaida
Christian Science Monitor Jailed Hamas activists press for middle way Imprisoned members' statement, advocating a two-state solution, is resonating with many.
Jerusalem Post Westward boundBy HILARY LEILA KRIEGER A secular Muslim country looks to Israel as a bridge to Pax Americana.
Ha'aretz FM Livni meets Turkish counterpart for first time since Hamas row
İsrail'le stratejik işler Murat Yetkin
BUGÜN Yazarlar Cengiz Çandar TZİPİ LİVNİ ZİYARETİNİN "DEŞİFRE"Sİ...
Sami KOHEN İlişkiler 'mükemmel' olabilir, ama...
Hüsnü Mahalli Nefes borusu!
Fikret Ertan Livni’nin ve İsrail’in dönüşümü

Guardian Syria's silent purge Simon Tisdall: Almost a year after Syria completed a humiliating military withdrawal from Lebanon amid predictions of imminent regime change in Damascus, President Bashar Assad is clawing back lost ground. Dozens of dissidents have been arrested in recent weeks.
Syria Comment
opposition News (May 31, 2006)
The Democracy of Fear
Does Syria's President Have The Will Or ConvictionTo Reform? By EHSANI2
Have There Been Reforms? Yes, Some.

SPIEGEL INTERVIEW WITH AHMADINEJAD"We Are Determined" Ahmadinejad discusses the Holocaust, the future of the state of Israel, mistakes made by the United States in Iraq and Tehran's nuclear conflict with the West.
Analysis: Interpreting the Iran-Iraq deal
Spiegel Tehran's Secret Helper Joschka Fischer on the mistakes and shortcomings in Washington's Middle East policies.
Christian Science Monitor Ethnic tensions could crack Iran's firm resolve against the world By Abbas William Samii
Türkiye ile AB'nin İran'a bakışı aynı

Washington Post A Political Path Out of Iraq By Fareed Zakaria, The reality is that only an effective political bargain will bring about order in Iraq. There needs to be a deal that gives all Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds strong incentives to cooperate.
Daily Star Don't declare a bogus victory to leave Iraq sooner By Ian Bremmer
Daily Star Iraq as an emerging Turkish-Iranian playing field By Safa A. Hussein
Daily Telegraph Saudis behind attacks Military sources say fighters from Saudi Arabia are leading other foreign terrorists in increasingly frequent attacks against British troops in Basra.

The New Global Challengers How 100 Top Companies from Rapidly Developing Economies Are Changing the World".
Washington Post Editorial Still a Genocide There should be no ambiguity about Darfur.
Daily Star Arab liberals and Islamists, Unite! By Rami G. Khouri
Neo-cons question Bush's democratisation strategy
Al Hayat War didn't and doesn't bring democracy Wesley Clark - Anyone who has traveled regularly to the ME knows that the recent hopeful democratic moves in Lebanon, Egypt, and the Palestinian territories have causal roots that long predate our arrival in Iraq.

BULLETIN No.116

Financial Times Editorial Abbas's bold move Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, has made an audacious and astute move of which few believed him capable.
Daily Star Hamas must not lose sight of primary objective: creation of Palestinian state
Breaking democracy's back in Palestine By Rami G. Khouri
Ha’aretz – Fatah to meet to discuss referendum crisis Hamas vows no concessions on Abbas initiative; PFLP chief: Exiles should have vote if referendum is held.
Ephraim Halevy: Hamas must commit not to carry out attacks, must accept past Israel-PA deals before talks
Daily Star Abbas dismisses Hamas objections, vows referendum on peace process Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Sunday brushed aside protests from Hamas and vowed to push through with his plan for a referendum unless the factions resolve their differences. Abbas, who was to host a meeting with representatives from the governing Hamas movement later in the day, said he was not prepared for the bickering.
UPI Outside View: Ending the Palestinian paralysis By Alon Ben-Meir
BBC Israel in Lebanon border 'truce' A ceasefire is agreed after clashes break out across the Israel-Lebanon border, UN peacekeepers say.
BBC Border reckoning Referendum gamble gives Palestinians historic chance Life under Hamas Poverty and bitter rivalry as sanctions bite in Gaza Yedioth Ahronoth IDF: Hizbullah fell into trap After day of combat against terror group in Lebanon, senior officer tells Ynet: We were waiting for them to attack, if they want escalation, we’ll give it to them. Monday morning calm along border, but tensions running high Full Story . . .
BBC Hamas force leaves Gaza streets A security force deployed by the ruling Palestinian party Hamas withdraws from the streets of Gaza.
Border reckoning Referendum gamble gives Palestinians historic chance
Boston Globe Editorial Abbas cornering Hamas
Guardian Punishment of Palestinians will create a crucible of trouble for the world David Hirst: George Bush's policies helped build Hamas; now a dangerous linkage with Iran and Iraq threatens a mega-crisis
Ha’aretz Former Mossad chief calls for long-term deal with Hamas
Hamas takes militia off streets but defies ultimatum Hamas pulls its armed militia off Gaza's streets to defuse tensions between Hamas and Fatah-controlled forces.
Akiva Eldar Between prisoners and captives Had the Palestinians not demanded that Israel recognize their right of return, Israel would have had to invent it.
News Analysis: Abbas Enlists Prisoners to Unsettle Hamas
Whatever happened to ... Ariel Sharon? Iain Hollingshead
Ha’aretz Livni arrives in Turkey for first talks since Hamas leader's visit
Abbas'ın Hamas'a karşı oynadığı Filistin pokeri Ayşe Karabat
Hamas'ı unuttukİsrail Dışişleri Bakanı Tzipi Livni, Hamas'ın Ankara ziya-retinin Türk-İsrail ilişkilerinde kapanmış bir dosya olduğunu söyledi

Independent Robert Fisk: Modern Syria through Saladin's eyes
Mona Yacoubian on Syria's Crackdown
Chicago Tribune Syria's strange political spring Chummy relations between Syria's ruling elite and Islamists reflect a spreading reality about political change in the Arab world.
Syria Comment
The Democracy of Fear
Does Syria's President Have The Will Or ConvictionTo Reform? By EHSANI2
Have There Been Reforms? Yes, Some.
KurdishMedia Veteran Kurd: Western Kurds have to learn form Southern Kurds to unite the Syrian Kurdish movement, form a united Syrian Kurdish front, and work with non-Kurdish Syrians and others to bring freedom and democracy to Syria.
Dr. Abbas: "Syria's Kurds must go with one voice"
Ha’aretz – Be'er Sheva within range of new Hezbollah rocket Iran has supplied the Lebanese group with rockets bearing a reach of up to 200 kilometers

Washington Institute How to Deal with the Challenge from Iran Graham Allison and Richard Haass (text and video)
Asia Times Carrots, sticks and the isolation of Iran The more that Germany, along with Britain and France a key interlocutor with Iran over its nuclear program, shows its ability to engage in creative diplomacy (the carrot) toward Tehran, the better the chances of a satisfactory resolution of the dragging crisis. At this critical juncture, though, trans-Atlantic considerations and US pressure (the stick) could undermine Berlin's best efforts. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi
Washington Post U.S. May Use Financial Pressure Against Iran Bush administration wants Europe, Japan to back sanctions that would stifle Tehran's leadership if diplomatic efforts fail to resolve nuclear dispute.
New York Times U.S. Is Debating Talks With Iran on Nuclear Issue The Bush administration is beginning to debate whether to set aside a longstanding policy taboo and open direct talks with Iran.
New York Times Iran Chief Eclipses Power of Clerics Ahmadinejad's consolidation of power presents difficult diplomatic choices for the United States.

Stabilizing Iraq: Options for Democracy, Security and Development Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies A 33-page draft report of a conference held to discuss the political, security and economic situation in Iraq
Guardian The Inshallah occupation Martin Woollacott Bush and Blair agree that Iraq's future is clouded, and presume only to hope, and not to dogmatically insist, that the final outcome will be good.
Knight-Ridder Backed by Iran, Shiite militias and warlords take control of southern Iraq
Iraq, the Republic of Fear By Nir Rosen - Iraq is the republic of fear, once again. If the religious militias don't get you, the resistance will, or the terrorists will, or the criminal gangs will, or the Americans will.
Newsweek Fareed Zakaria What We Need To Get Right If the new prime minister fails, Moqtada al-Sadr will become the most powerful man in Iraq
Looking Back at Iraq: A War to Be Proud Of - Victor Davis Hanson, NRO
Beyond Security: Challenges for Iraq's New Government
The Daily Star Iraq as an emerging Turkish-Iranian playing field In the 16th century, Iran under Safavid rule and Turkey under the Ottomans were rising rival empires in a difficult neighborhood. Their conflicts and rivalry revolved mainly around Iraq and the Caucasus. Today, after a long pause, the situation is not altogether different.

Uniting Against Terrorism: Recommendations for a Global Counter-Terrorism StrategyUnited Nations A 32-page report by the UN Secretary-General offering recommendations for a global anti-terrorism strategy
Newsweek Anti-Islamic Forces in Turkey The murder of a respected judge touches off a secular, anti-Islamist backlash—and throws Turkey's government into crisis
Turkey is being watched by the Middle East Gila Benmayor

BULLETIN No.115

Daily Telegraph Hamas shift on Israel Signs of a breakthrough between the international community and Hamas have emerged after the Islamist movement prepared to moderate hostility towards Israel.
New York Times Abbas Says He'd Put Peace Plan to a Vote Mahmoud Abbas said that he would call a referendum if Hamas failed to accept the peace plan within 10 days.
Haniyeh: We're closer than you think to deal on 1967 borders
Hamas withdraws militia from Gaza streets
BBC Israel 'to supply arms to Abbas'
Ha’aretz Analysis: Hamas appears set to give nod to talks with Israel
Editorial Israel's 'Realignment' Ehud Olmert's hope to win U.S. support for a new Israeli border offers President Bush both opportunity and peril.
Boston Review Hamas's Next Steps Finding the road to Palestine
Nixon Center Unrealists and Israel by Dimitri K. Simes - Helena Cobban
President's ultimatum to Hamas: recognise Israel or the people will decide
Abbas gives Hamas ultimatum on peaceMahmoud Abbas has challenged Hamas to accept the principle of a negotiated peace settlement with Israel or he would put the issue to a national referendum by mid-July
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Israel must make statesmanlike policy shift
Gulf News New challenge for Hamas
President Mahmoud Abbas vowed yesterday to call a referendum if the Hamas-led government refuses to back a proposal for a Palestinian state that implicitly recognises Israel.
Half empty or half full?
Bush's reaction to Olmert's plan has pleased the Israelis more than the Palestinians. It is definitely a case of the glass being half full or half empty when judging the two-day visit to Washington by the new Israeli Prime Minister.
Time to check Israel's convergence plan
Its characterisation by Bush as "an important step towards peace" has been hailed in Tel Aviv as better than what was expected before Olmert's US visit
Washington Post Olmert Urges Palestinians to Talks
FT Abbas gives Hamas ultimatum on peaceMahmoud Abbas has challenged Hamas to accept the principle of a negotiated peace settlement with Israel or he would put the issue to a national referendum by mid-July.
Washington Post Abbas Urges Hamas to Back 2-State Plan: Palestinian Leader Says He May Call Referendum
Dar Al Hayat Where is the Impasse in Hamas' Situation?
Ghazi al Touba - If Hamas wants to get out of the impasse it inherited from Fatah, it should turn this imaginary liberation into a real one, and rectify its organizational, intellectual and methodological structure, exploiting Fatah’s flawed structure to its advantage.
Al Ahram Managing cruelty Real hunger is beginning to strike the Palestinians as the boycotting of Hamas continues and the elected movement in government stands firm, writes Khaled Amayreh in the West Bank
The question is how As the Quartet discusses how to bypass the democratically-elected Hamas-led government, Palestinians are running on empty, writes Erica Silverman
To disengage or engage? In Geneva, a group of Palestinian and Israeli diplomats, and retired military officers, argue the case of "giving Hamas a chance to change". Dina Ezzat listened in
New beginning with Israel Zeynep Gurcanli

Arab Reform Monitor Syria: Media Reform and its Limitations Marwan M. Kraidy
Gulf News The saga of France and Syria relations
Friendly ties between the two nations took a turn for the worse when Chirac changed his stance on the Iraq war.
Syria Comment
Amnesty International Incorrectly Suggests Syria Executed 80,000 in 1980s
Phil Weiss on Syria II
Hizbullah factor in Iran fray
The Tehran-backed militants could be drawn into the conflict if the US or Israel strikes Iran.

Washington Post Say No to Tehran's Gambit By Charles Krauthammer, All of a sudden, revolutionary Iran has offered direct talks with the United States. And the usual suspects are urging the administration to take the bait.
It's Time to Engage With Iran By David Ignatius
UPI Outside View: Gulf states fear Iran war
Gulf News What does Iran expect from the UN?
For the past three decades, the United States confronted two attempts by Iran to become the region's leading power. The US successfully thwarted both attempts, using means and resources from the same region, and from inside and outside Iran.
Iran: International Pressure and Internal Conflict Mehdi Khalaji examines the effect that global pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program has had on President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s administration and its ability to overcome internal political and economic challenges.
Christian Science Monitor US eyes carrots, sticks for Iran nuke program The US, Germany, Britain, France, China, and Russia met in London to discuss incentives for Iran.

UPI Brzezinski wants orderly Iraq withdrawal
Iraq's government Could it prevail?
Out of Touch on Iraq By Dan Froomkin
Dar Al Hayat Sunni Arabs and Power Sharing in Iraq
Maged Ahmed el-Samarai - Security and political stability will not be regained unless the current rule and the political process overcome the sectarian quandary, and unless everyone works honestly and together with a national spirit for the sake of this great, patient people.
Al Ahram Iraq simmers Iraqi political leaders continued to bicker over key ministerial posts while the country remained in the grip of violence.
Still failing Five months after elections, and four weeks after a so-called political breakthrough, Iraq still lacks a government while killings and kidnappings continue, writes Nermeen El-Mufti
Slate Handing Off a War, Dispatches From Iraq: What lies ahead. Bing West
FT Bush and Blair admit to missteps in Iraq President George W Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair pointedly refused to set a timetable for withdrawal of troops from Iraq, but acknowledged that they had both made missteps in the country.

Boston Review The Brotherhood How far will Egypt's Islamists go? Stephen Glain
A confrontation to hold off collapse and revolution Ahdaf Soueif: Every sector of Egyptian society is struggling with the government to stop further chaos spreading across the Arab region.
UPI Analysis: How to confront Islamists
Washington Institute Understanding the Middle East: A View from inside the Mossad former Mossad chief Efraim Halevy