Tag Archives: Syria

Hizballah backs Assad – and pays the price

Posted on January 20, 2012 by jonathanspyer

In early January, 2011, Hizballah and its allies took up the reins of government in Lebanon, having ensured the collapse of the coalition led by March 14 leader and then Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri. Hizballah needed a coalition which it … Continue reading →

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Arab Observer Farce

Posted on January 7, 2012 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post, 6/1 Since the beginning of last week, a team of observers from Arab countries have been in Syria. Their task is to monitor Syrian compliance with the Arab League Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Assad regime on … Continue reading →

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Syria: a word of caution

Posted on December 28, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Defense Minister Ehud Barak was reported as predicting that the regime of Bashar Assad would fall within weeks. Certainly things are not going well for the Assad family dictatorship. The bloodletting continues as the Free Syrian Army and other insurgent … Continue reading →

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Iraq pays the entry fee to the Iran-led bloc

Posted on December 28, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post, 20/12/11 As the Assad regime in Syria fights for its life, it is important to remember that it still possesses a considerable number of assets. Perhaps most important among these is the fact that its regional allies have … Continue reading →

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Civil war begins in Syria; Turkey’s stance will prove crucial

Posted on November 27, 2011 by jonathanspyer

A civil war is now under way in Syria. It is a contest in which the two sides are vastly mis-matched. Without increased international pressure and possible intervention, the blood-letting looks set to continue for a long time ahead. The … Continue reading →

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Why did the Syrian regime kill Maashal Tammo?

Posted on October 16, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Pajamas Media, 16/10 The murder this month by the Assad regime’s security forces of Syrian Kurdish leader Mashaal Tammo is the latest act of unprovoked brutality by this most cruel of regimes. Tammo was killed in his own home in … Continue reading →

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An Empty Package

Posted on April 5, 2011 by jonathanspyer

30/05/2008 At this past Sunday’s cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert issued a public statement relating to the revived negotiations with Syria. The talks, the prime minister wished to assure us, were “serious” and would be conducted with “all due … Continue reading →

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Arab Summit, Iranian Agenda

Posted on April 5, 2011 by jonathanspyer

05/04/2009 The issues that dominated the 21st Arab League summit in Doha, Qatar, this week testified to the weakness and disunity of the Arab states. Sunni Arabs are the majority population group in the Middle East. Yet the Doha agenda … Continue reading →

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The West Should Use Resolution 1701 to Roll Back Hizbullah’s Effective Take-over of the Lebanese Government

Posted on April 5, 2011 by jonathanspyer

22/04/2010 The summoning by the United States of Syrian Deputy Chief of Mission Zouheir Jabbour for a review of Syrian arms transfers to Hizbullah is the latest evidence of the serious basis to the recent tensions in the north. Syria … Continue reading →

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What Does Assad Want?

Posted on April 5, 2011 by jonathanspyer

07/03/2010 In Damascus last week, the full array of leaders of the so-called ‘resistance bloc’ came together in a series of meetings. Presidents Ahmedinejad of Iran and Assad of Syria were there, alongside a beaming Khaled Meshal of Hamas and … Continue reading →

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