Thanks for the thoughtful and balanced coverage Joshua. You are currently second on my morning list of go-to bookmarks, with the State Department Travel page at #1. So I was intrigued with your comment beneath the new State Dept warning re voluntary departure of government employees:

“This is diplomatic retaliation against the arrest of 2 American citizens in Syria (released today).”

If this is the case, I don’t understand what the diplomatic goal is. The American citizens were released, which is a good thing… So why wait until now to add this?

When people talk on the phone ,they speak in symbolic representations,such as,the food is not cooked yet, there are rocks in the freekeh.

All the economic signs you mention are pointing at serious inflation and a possibility of hyperinflation. The solution is to raise interest rates, freeze wages and reduce the money supply. However, it seems the regime has decided to spill oil on the fire and raise wages across the board.

To all,

I have 2 discussions topics and would love to hear from all of you (prof Landis please chime in).

First:
Can you tell me what the end game in Syria is? Do you think Syria will turn into a monarchy where the Asads are the ruling family? Syria will be a democracy? Or MB will take over soon after Asads leave? Please expand on your answer. Please answer all the Ws (when, where, how,….).

Second,

The Ba3th party history that Norman posted had the following which caught my attention:

“Syrian politics took a dramatic turn in 1954 when the military regime of Adib al-Shishakli was overthrown and a democratic system restored. The Ba’ath, now a large and popular organisation, gained representation in the parliamentary elections that year. Ideologically-based organisations appealing to the intelligentsia, the petty bourgeoisie and the working class were gaining ground in Syria, threatening to displace the old parties that represented the notables and bourgeoisie. The Ba’ath was one of these new formations, but faced considerable competition from ideological enemies, notably the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), which was intrinsically opposed to Arab nationalism and was portrayed by the Ba’ath as pro-Western, and the Syrian Communist Party (SCP), whose support for class struggle and internationalism was also anathema to the Ba’ath. In addition to the parliamentary level, all these parties as well as Islamists competed in street-level activity and sought to recruit support among the military.”

To me, Syria in 1954 had:
– Free elections
– A popular Ba3th party
– Minorities (Christians in particular) were being elected to power by muslims
– Very progressive political parties
– Political Islam was either non existent or very minimal

Then by 1963, the ba3th took power by a military coup. So they used free elections to gain representations then they eliminated their competitors by military might.

Now in 2011, after almost 50 years of Ba3th control we have none of the above (actually extreme opposites) and we are told that if we have free elections the MB will hijack the system.

So what happened? Where are the progressive parties and agendas?

Looking forward to your answers.

I will be on a business trip where I can read the responses but not reply.

QUESTION TO GROUP:

Are Euros & Dollars Available in Syria?

I am trying to poll whether there has been a run on hard currency (Euros, Dollars or Turkish Lira) in Syria. During any instability this is always a good barometer of what is actually going on. Are the wealthy elites hoarding foreign reserves in the event of a collapse of the central government? Or is it readily available?

I spoke with family / friends and they said that hard currency was next to impossible to get in Alep and Qamish. If anyone has contact with friends / family in Syria please ask and post what you are able to find out. Also the regional exchange rate money merchants are charging would be a good source of info.

Thanks in advance.

Dear Josh,

I read with pleasure your excellent, lucid and penetrating analysis of the dynamics which played a major role in the disturbances which have rocked Syria as of late and the competing forces which are currently keeping a festering volcano from immediate full-scale eruption. This is what I was anxiously awaiting.

“The Syrian community abroad has been irrevocably reunited with Syrians inside the country” is something which had never been previously mentioned and this linkage is undoubtedly a major factor stirring and emboldening latent restiveness to find expression.

I also wholeheartedly concur that unless Bashar takes some bold and visionary steps to pave the way for not only to reduce the repressive nature of the security apparatus and emergency laws, but also to create institutions for transition of power that are not predicated solely on Alawite succession, the results will be catastrophic. However, I do not agree that the best answer to 40 plus years of autocratic rule under an Alawite monopoly of power is for Bashar to usher a new era by “…preparing the way for a handover of power from Alawites to Sunnis”.

Obviously, Sunnis represent the majority denomination in Syria, but should that mean that power should default to Sunnis only? Wouldn’t that necessarily just be preserving the same system based on a narrow monopoly of power, only this time by explicitly acknowledging that only Sunnis should govern by virtue of their numbers? By inference, this would seem to institutionalize exclusion of Christians and other minorities from any opportunity to aspire to leadership. If the goal is to transition into some form of egalitarian, parliamentary or electoral process, then qualification to leadership should be based, at least in part, on a candidate’s credentials, experience, and popular support without any prerequisite or mandatory requirement of membership in any particular sect in a truly free and secular Syrian state.

Thanks,

Bill

Like I expected, Bashar seems now more willing to bow to the will of the people, that is, the will of the Islamists in particular.

Bashar licenses a new “Institute for Sharia and Islamic studies:”

http://www.syria-news.com/readnews.php?sy_seq=130960

For those unfamiliar with “Islamic studies” in the Arab world, Islamic studies in the Arab world are not academic studies but are just a name given to places were students are supposed to memorize the old Sharia books of the middle ages. There is no “studying” at all that takes place in these institutes. People are not even allowed to discuss anything written in the old sacred Sharia books. They just have to learn what the books say and that’s it.

So basically Bashar now is licensing more teachers of Sharia Law.

There is obviously an Islamization trend that is beginning in Syria now. I could feel it in Bashar’s speech.

The Syrian regime has become too weak to resist the Islamists, and what we will see in the next stage is more and more Islamization of the state and society in Syria. Syria is going to turn into something similar to pre-Mubarak’s Egypt.

I doubt Joshua’s prediction that the younger Syrian generations will see an example in Egypt’s revolution. Egypt is obviously going to become more Islamist, which means a more failed and less successful country. What example for the generations is that? Islamist states have never been a good example for anybody. Who likes his country to be like Iran or Saudi Arabia? Only the radical Shia and Wahhabis would like that.

So on the sociopolitical level, Syria is going to lose significantly. The rise of Islamism in Syria will mean less national unity and more sectarianism, which means that democracy will become harder to apply. The rise of Islamism will also mean significant reduction in public freedoms, especially the freedom of expression, and this means that the public culture in Syria will further deteriorate and ignorance will increase.

On the economic level, we still can’t say much because we have not seen the new government yet; but if Bashar decides to bow to the will of the people in economic matters too, then we must expect that the economic reform process will be put in the fridge. Of course, like Joshua said, Syria is not going to attract 10 billion dollars of investment this year. This was a long shot even before the current crisis.

To summarize everything, Syria is doomed. This country has no future, and I can’t see how such a fragile country can survive given this bleak outlook of the future. Of course, this is not new. People have always doubted that this country is viable. When the Baath came to power in the 1960’s, many foreign observers expected the country to collapse very soon, especially after the 1966 coup. Surprisingly however, Hafez Assad managed to glue the country’s parts together by a brave and brilliant use of force and repression.

Syria was an artificial country since it was first created in the 1940’s. The Sunni feudal rulers who ruled Syria in the 1940’s tried to unite the country by using force, intrigues, and neglect against the dissident minorities. Throughout the 1940’s, the Alawis, Druze and Ismailis never had any political representation in the government. Their regions were deliberately deprived from government projects and services. The ruling Sunni elite tried repeatedly to incite civil instability in their regions. Shukri al-Alquwwatly once said “our goal is to make the Druze Mountain destroy itself by itself”. He was referring to his attempts to make the Druze villagers rise against their feudal masters from Al-Atrash clan. The same genius plan was also tried in the Alawi mountain. To justify their persecution of the minorities, the Sunni feudalist elite used the regular historical Sunni racist propaganda which accuses the Alwaites of being traitor infidels and agents of France. They assassinated Salman al-Murshid, an Alawi leader and religious reformer, after they accused him of being a French agent who proclaimed deity. This racist sectarianist elite even tried to convert the Alawis into Sunnism, and they had government plans designed for that purpose.

Of course, during Adib Shishakly’s rule things got only worse. Adib Shishakly was probably the most racist sectarianist Sunni who ever ruled Syria after independence. It is not surprising that he was assassinated by a Druze.

All this use of force and repression, which was sectarianist and feudalist in nature, glued Syria together until the Baath rule. When the Baath came, many people expected that the political rise of the minorities would lead into civil war and division. This did happen indeed, but Hafez Assad managed to end the war swiftly and with minimum casualties. Unlike the old Sunni feudalist elite, Hafez Assad and the Baath raised the banner of secularism and equality. This helped him isolate the radical Sunni Islamists from most of the Sunnis. In a country like Syria, the only way that people can live together peacfuly is through secularism and equality. This was the Alwaite demand since the French mandate period. The Alawis and the other minorities always called for a secular country that guarantees equality for all. The Sunni Islamist never acepted this pricnicnple, and they still incist on the sectarian Islamist model of rule. This means that the Islmists refuse to live in peace with the Alawis and the other minorities. When you refuse peace and equality for all, there is nothing left other than war and division.

Syria’s main problem is its Islamist population. They must understand that they cannot turn the clock back to the Ottoman model of rule. Unless they understand that they cannot rule the minorities by force (including the secular nonreligious minority to which I belong), there is definitely going be wars and serious troubles in Syria.

VEDAT,

Foreign currency is also a good hedge against inflation. So the fact that it is being hoarded does not always indicate government instability. It sometimes just indicates economic instability.

It looks like a pattern is emerging here: (1) Generally speaking, the demonstrators are Sunni and the demonstrations are Sunni motivated (2) All other sects, including the Christians of course, are united against this protest (3) The Kurds so far remain sitting on the fence, and their demand is limited to having a Syrian citizenship (how sad).

The bad news (or the good, depends on your sectarian origin) is that one day in the future, Syria will become (or actually will return to a state of being) a Sunni ruled state. A condition of political incongruousness is limited in time and in nature. It’s possible to enforce it with the gun, but not for long.

The same as Lebanon will one day be ruled by Shias, the same as Iraq already is. Abnormalities are unsustainable.
So fasten your seatbelts. It’s gonne be a bumpy ride.
.

Souri and Amir in Tel Aviv

A sunni state next to a shia state next to a jewish state: the dream of Israel and you!

Egypt ready to re-establish Iran diplomatic ties….
An addition to the Syria-Iran-Lebanon-Turkey block?

CAIRO (Reuters) – Cairo is ready to re-establish diplomatic ties with Tehran after a break of more than 30 years, Egypt’s foreign minister said on Monday, signaling a shift in Iran policy since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak.

“The Egyptian and Iranian people deserve to have mutual relations reflecting their history and civilization,” said Foreign Minister Nabil Elaraby after meeting Iranian official Mugtabi Amani.

It was the first publicly announced meeting between officials from both countries since Mubarak was toppled on February 11, handing power to the army.

Shi’ite Muslim Iran and mainly Sunni Egypt severed ties in 1980 following Iran’s Islamic revolution and Egypt’s recognition of Israel. Both have competed for influence in the Middle East.

Egypt has long been an ally of the United States and Israel but since Mubarak was toppled there have been signs of warming ties between Cairo and Tehran.

“Egypt is open to all countries and the aim is to achieve common interests,” Elaraby said, adding that Cairo welcomed “opening a new page with Iran.”

Amani carried a message from Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, who welcomed Egypt’s initiative.

“Foreign Minister Salehi … called for developing bilateral cooperation, beginning with hosting Egypt’s foreign minister in Tehran or having Iran’s foreign minister visit Cairo,” Menha Bakhowm, spokeswoman for Egypt’s foreign ministry, said in a statement.

In February, two Iranian warships passed through Egypt’s Suez Canal after approval from the military rulers in Cairo. Israel called Iran’s move a provocation.

Egypt and Iran have been at odds on a number of issues including the Middle East peace process and ties with Israel and the United States.

(Reporting by Marwa Awad; editing by David Stamp)

Any balanced Analysis of the the events of the past two weeks in Syria must take into account the millions who showed support for Assad in all Syrian provinces as well as the protests against Assad.

Mr Landis simply dropped this fact from the equation (a sort of a mental chutzpah!) and moved on to conclude “Assad’s refusal to prepare the present regime for a soft landing (meaning handover of power from Alawites to Sunnis) spells bad news for Syria.”

Any clear headed person knows that framing the question of reform in syria in confessional or taifi terms is a recipe for civil war and the division Syria into several mini states.

Joshua, i am beginning to suspect that your wife is an Alawite secessionist and that you are falling under her influence 🙂 .

i am obviously joking . or am i ?

ZiadSouri @ 4,

You bring forth a very important note. It’s also worth noting that when the Baath Party participated in the free elections of 1954 and 1961, the Baath never won the most seats in those parliaments. They were 2nd in 1954 as a party behind the People’s Party and 3rd in 1961 behind the People’s Party and the National Party. Most of the parliament would consist of independents that would later join with the either the People’s Party or National Party’s voting bloc. The Baath had to resort to a military coup d’état because they knew that they were too ideologically extreme for the average Syrian. During their 50 years in power, they altered the constitution in a way that that would grant them monopoly of power and altered the history curriculum and removed any positive references to the period pre-1963. They portray that period to be a period of chaos and that it was only necessary for the Baath to bring about their coup and save the country. It’s time for the Syrians to know the real truth about that era and I am hoping that Prof. Landis would shed more positive light on that era in his new book.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_parliamentary_election,_1947
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_parliamentary_election,_1949
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_parliamentary_election,_1954
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_parliamentary_election,_1961

Ziadsouri
No I do njot think that Syria will become Monarchy,it is run by a family from the Alawite sect,they plan to inherit the rule like a monachy,but it would not go as they wish, MB will not take over Syria,in a democratic election.
The real Baath party was different in the past, now it is run by people who are oppurtunistic peolpe who hijacked the Baath,infact this is the regime who assasinated Salah Bitar in Paris,they do not believe in Union,nor in freedom, they are corrupt ,they do not believe in helping the poor,the only thing they care about is to stuff their pocket,with stolen money and bribes.
some of the SC member they either benefit from the regime,or they deceive themselves,some lack the morality to be neutral,and you can tell who they are , they usually attack personality or say words like E3lak,they cannot discuss things rationally.
Where are the progressive parties? they are still there,they are powerless ,if they talk they will be in jail, they may have left syria, or placed in jail like H.Maleh or Aaref Dalilah.

Souri stop your scare scenario ,the islamists can only rule if they become as moderate and rationalists than the turkish akp and even better.Despite the increase of bigotery in these last decades ,the Syrian people remained moderate inwardly and would not elect radical islamists.
What is sad ,is that during Asad years Syria has seen the percentage of its christian population decreasing from 12 % to less than 5%,christian strong presence and influence in the past had positive effects on the inter-religious co existence.
For Aleppo ,the christian population’s percentage decreased from 20 % to 5% in 3 decades.
Amir,many leaders in the opposition are christians,druzes and alawites.
In general,educated and non corrupt people from all syrian communities do not support this regime.

To predict Syria’s future, we need to know how its social components will evolve and behave.

The largest and most important social component is the Sunni Islamists (traditionally known as the reactionaries ????????), who perhaps represent about 50% of the population. The Islamists do not believe neither in democracy nor in nationalism (despite what they say sometimes). Their explanation of the word “democracy” is simply that they should rule Syria and do whatever they want since they are the largest group. They want to create in Syria a political regime similar to the pre-national states that ruled Syria during Ottoman times and before.

The other social components are the religious minorities (Alawis, Druze, Chrisitians, Ismailis, Shia, nonreligious, etc.) and the Kurds. All those minorities refuse Islamist rule. So we have a major conflict here. This conflict has been going on since the French mandate until now.

The Sunni “nationalist” elite that opposed the French mandate claimed that it was nationalist and against sectarianism and reactionism. However, their practice was very different from their proclaimed ideals. Their rule proved to be reactionary and nondemocratic, so they lost the confidence of the minorities as well as the progressive forces of society. This is the reason why many non-Islamist Syrians today don’t trust the secular Sunni politicians who claim to be democratic and non-Islamist. Most of those people are corrupt opportunistic hypocrites and few people trust them.

So it is obvious that the Syrian society is sharply divided. There is a huge rift between the Sunni Islamists and the other social components. We live in two different planets. One camp wants to move forward and abolish all the sectarianist laws and sectarianist social practices, and the other camp wants to draw things back and restore the old Ottoman millet system. We want more social freedoms, and they feel bitter and angry at the freedoms we currently have.

What is the solution? Currently there is no solution. Things are getting worse. The growth of Wahhabism and the influence of the Wahhabi Saudi media is making the Syrian Islamists more radical and vicious. The rift is widening.

Either the Islamists change and accept to live in a secular and liberal society, or the country will eventually divide. I don’t expect the minorities to accept to live under Islamist rule. Why would they accept such a thing? It would be insane. The non-Islamists should never sacrifice their freedom no matter what it takes. I expect the Alawis and other minorities to fight for their freedom. There is no point in accepting to live under Islamist rule. The Islamists do not accept nationalism, so what is the relationship that is going to unite all these social groups? The relationship of slave-master does not work anymore.

???? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ????? ?? ????…???????: ??? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???? ???????

??? ??? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ??????? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ???????? ??? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ?? ???? ????? ????? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ?????? ????????. ??????? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ?? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ???????? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ???? ??????? ???? ???? ??????? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ??????? ??? 25 ????? ??????.
????? ??????? ?? ????? ??«????????? ??????» ??? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ????????? ???????? ???????? ??? ????????? ????????? ?????? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ??????? ??????? ??? ???????? ??????? ?????? ????????? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ??? ????????? ?????? ????: ??? ???? ???????? ??? ??????? ???????? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ?????? ?????????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ??????? ???????? ????????? ???? ???????? ????? ???? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ???????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ???? ????? ???????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ???????.
???? ??????? ??? ?? ?? ??? ??? ??? ??????? ????? ??????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? ????????? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ???????? ????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ????? ????? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ????????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ????? ????????? ??????????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ??????? ????????. ?????: ??? ???? ????? ??? ??? ??? ??????? ???????? ?? ????? ???????? ????? ???????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ???????? ???? ??????? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ???????? ?? ????? ?? ????? ???? ???? 13 ??????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?? ??? 16 ???? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ??????.
??? ????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ???????? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ??????.
???? ??????? ?? ??????? ???? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???????? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ???.
????? ??????? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ???????? ???????? ??????? ???????? ?? ?????? ??????.

Not sure where you are getting your numbers from but the Christian population is at least 12%. So many of those that worked and lived in Dubai and abroad have returned and a good percentage of the Iraqi’s are also Christian.

The Patrachia and the Pope requested that America, Canada, and Australia refuse visas to Chridtians to ensure that they remain in the holy land.

??????? ?? ????? ???? ????????? ?? ???? ????? ????…?????? ????? ???? ??????? ?????? ?????…???? ???? ?? ????????? ??? ???????? ??? ???????…????? ????? ???? ?????? ??????? ??? ?????? ?????? ????? ??????

??? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?????
?? ????? ??? ???????? ?? ??? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ????????? ?? ??? ???? ??? ????? ??«?????» ?? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??? ??????? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ????? ???.
???? ?????? ??? ?????? ????????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ????????? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ???????.
????? ????????? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ?? ?????? ???? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ????????? ????? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ????????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????? ?? ????????.
?? ??? ???? ???? «?????» ?? ????? ????? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ??? ????????? ?????? ??????? ???????.
????? ??????? ??«?????»: ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ?? ???????? ???????? (?? ???? ?????) ???? ???? ?? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ???????.
?????? ???????: ?? ??? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ??????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ????????? ??????? ?????????? (?????? ???????)? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??? ??? ?? «???? ?? ??????? ????? ???? ?????? ????????? ?????? ????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ??? ?????».
????? ??????? ?? ??? ??? ???? ???????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????????? ????????.
??? ???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ?? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????. ????? ??????? ??«?????»: ?? ????? ?? ?????? «?? ????? ???????» ?????? ??? ????????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ??? ?? ??? ????????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ??????.
?????? ??????? ?? ??? ????????? «?? ??? ?????????» ???? ?? ????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ????? ?? ????.
????? ??????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???? ??????? ??? ??????? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????.
??? ????? ???? ???? «?????» ?? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ???? «????? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????»? ???? ?? ???? ????? ????? 1962 ?? ???? ???? ????? ???????? ???? ???????.
????? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ?? ?? ???? ????????? ??? ???? ????????? ???????? ?? ???? ????? ???? «???? ????? ???????»? ??? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ???? ?????.

The truth behind the revolution in Syria:

http://www.syriatruth.info/content/view/1867/36/

The worst scenario for Syria is to end up like Mubarak’s Egypt. I prefer that things escalate and a bloody clash erupts between the regime and the Wahhabis. We need to get rid of the Wahhabis.

Syria promises to unveil road map to end emergency laws by Friday

Syria authorities will unveil new legislation to replace the country’s dreaded emergency laws before the weekend, a newspaper considered close to the government has said.

The al-Watan newspaper reported on Monday that sources in a judicial commission studying the issue had said “it would, by Friday, finish formulating the necessary legislation to replace the emergency law.”

Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s president, had responded to a wave of violent unrest in the country by setting an April 25 deadline for the commission to study the revocation of the emergency law.

Syria’s emergency law, which has been used to impose drastic restrictions on political and personal freedoms ever since the ruling Ba’ath party took power in 1963, was a key demand of protesters who led three weeks of unprecedented pro-reform rallies across the country.

Al-Watan said the commission’s work is inspired by the “experience and legal frameworks of the United States, the United Kingdom and France, while taking into account both the dignity and safety of all citizens”.

The newspaper also reported that a separate committee investigating the street violence in Deraa and Latakia, where protests were met with deadly force, had questioned “many witnesses and will soon end its work.”

Mr al-Assad has already moved to placate protesters by replacing the governor of Deraa, an agricultural town near the Jordanian border where dozens have been killed in two weeks of unrest.

Mohammad Khaled al-Hannus was appointed governor of Deraa in place of the reviled Faysal Kalthum, who was sacked on March 23 at the height of a brutal crackdown on anti-regime rallies that left dozens dead and the governor’s residence in flames.

Residents of Deraa had also accused the former governor of undermining their property rights and preventing farmers from drilling water wells for irrigation.

A lawmaker from the region issued a scathing indictment of Mr Kalthum’s administration in Syria’s parliament, accusing security forces of opening fire “without mercy” and criticising the president for not offering his condolences to the victims.

It is unclear if the regime’s actions will help defuse the pro-reform movement, which brought thousands on the streets last Friday. In one sign that the authorities fear further unrest, the Syrian football federation has indefinitely postponed the domestic football league.

????? …….. ??????? ?.???? ??? ?? ??? 2004

??? ????? ?????????? ???????? ? ???? ?? ????? ??? ??? ??????? ??????? ? ?? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ??????? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ? ???? ????? ????? ????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ? ??? ?????? ?????? ???/134/ ??? ?? ?? ???? ??????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ???????? ??? /133/? ? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ? ??????? ??? ?????????

? ????? ???? ????????? ???????

1- ?????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ?? 3 ????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ???

2- ?????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ?? ??? 300 ??? ??

3- ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ???????

4- ??????? ???? ????? ???? ?????????

5- ?????? ?????? ????????? ?? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ??????? ? ??????? ???????? ???? ??? ??????? ?????? ??????? ? ??????? ? ??????? ????? -??? ????? ??? ?? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ???????(???? ???????? ? ?????) ?? ??????? ????? ????? ?? ?????????? ????????? ??? ????? ??????-

6- ?????? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ??????

7- ????? ???????? ???????? ????? ???????? ???????? (???? ????? ?????? ???) ????? ??????? ???????? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ? ????? ?????????

8- ?????? ????? ??????? ????????? ? ?????? ? ??????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ????? ????? ??????

9- ??? ???? ????????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? /?????? ???????/ ?????? ?????

10- ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?? ??????? ? ??? ??? ??? ????? ????? (???? ?? 60 ??? ???????? ???????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ?? ??????)

??? ??? ???? ??????? ???????? ????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?????? “?????? ????? ?????? ???????”.

????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ??????? 41% ?? ????????? ??????? ???????? ????? ??????? ???????? ???? 42% ?? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ??????? ??????? 42% ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ???????? ?? ??????. ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ??????? 57.6% ?? ?????? ????? ????????? ??????? ???????. ????? ?????? ???? 17% ?? ?????? ??????. ????? ????? ???? 69% ?? ???? ??????? ??????? ?????? 70%. ??? ??????? ?????? 33%. ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ????. ???? ???????? ????? ?????. ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ????????

? ?????? ?????? ?? ?? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ??????? ???????? ? ???????? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ?? ????????? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ? ??? ??????? ?? ???????? ??? ???? ??? ??????

???? ?? ????? ???????? ? ???? ?? ?????? ????????? ?? ???? ???????? ?? ????? ???????? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ??? ?????

Syria1,

Un des intervenants a souligné l’existence d’une étude sur ce sujet
qui n’a jamais été exploitée. Le chiffre qui a
été avancé était alarmant pour la sale : il ne
reste en Syrie que 4,7 % des chrétiens. Leur
nombre s’élevait à plus que 15 % au début des
années 1970. Les deux évêques ont essayé de
contester ces chiffres. En revanche, ce chiffre
est revu à la baisse par plusieurs religieux qui
ont requis l’anonymat : « Nous ne sommes pas
plus de 3 % » disent les uns, pour les autres
« nous sommes encore en dessus de la barre des
5 % ». Il est cependant presque impossible de
trouver des statistiques réalisées par l’Église ni
par l’État. Aucune volonté d’une part et d’autre
de souligner cette hémorragie.

http://www.iemed.org/publicacions/quaderns/10/q10_063.pdf

Souri
Please decide, at least between two consecutive posts whether the regime is the victor or is it the islamists. Reading your posts is one source of my headache. Not because I agree or disagree, but because you seem not to be able to settle on one. As secular as I am, I find your analysis of the Islamists to be more like that coming from an islamophobe than from a secular thinker.

LEO:
Thanks for the post. I really do not remember having studied the names of political leaders in Syrian history books, and I was a history buff. I agree with you, text books, TV programs, and an entire propaganda machine worked very hard to detach that period from Syrian history. It is no wonder why Syrian’s can not draw back on that rich history with all its failing and successes in moments of needs.

Nour,
You are a lawyer, can you read from the article you posted signs of things to come. I am not reading good news, I hope you are.

NK
Not that I am impressed with the record of the new Syrian PM, please do not dismiss the impacts of a natural disaster such as sustained drought. A more rational argument is that of failure to plan ahead knowing that the region is first known for high climate variability, and anticipating that the arid semi arid regions such as Syria are in fact the second canary, after glaciers and ice-caps, for climate change.

As for cotton, cotton is one of the most water demanding crops. It is a legacy crop on which dependency should have been reduced over years of well planned policy. But the numbers you site are scary. Something must have gone really wrong in policy circles.

NK
I am really astonished about importing bad seeds. Whatever happens to developing a national seed stock?, anyone knows what company these seeds came from?

This seems to be a recurring problem.

This was posted on Haitham Maleh’s Facebook page, I agree with you, the drought caused a lot of that damage, I just wonder what did the government do to ease the impact of this drought, the numbers are indeed scary, and it looks like this guy didn’t lift a finger while he was in office.

Maybe someone more informed can shed some light on this matter.

Thanks NK, as for your own question, based on information i havem very little, very late, and too chaotic. I think Syria , and most Arab countries are in a desperate need for National Disaster Management Policy. The most efficient, in the region, that I know off is the one adopted in Oman. I hope the Syrians, at some point in time send someone to talk to our Omani brothers.

Did you see Elias Khouri new article in Alquds Alarabi. If not, here it is. Just be careful reading him, he is a dangeruous Islamist 🙂

?????? ???????
????? ????
2011-04-04

?? ???? ????? ??????: ‘????? ???? ????? ??????’? ??? ??? ????? ???????? ???? ‘????? ???????’ ???? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ?????? 25 ?????. ??? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ????????? ??????? ??? ???? ????????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ??????: ‘????? ?????? ?? ??????’. ??? ?????? ???? ??????? ????? ????? ????????.
????? ?? ?????? ????? ???????. ???? ????? ???? ??? ???????. ?? ???? ?? ????? ??? ?? ??????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ???????.
?? ????? ???? ????? ?? ???????? ???? ???? ??? ?? ????? ???? ?? ????? ?????. ???? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ????? ?????????? ??? ???? ?? ??? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ?? ‘???? ?????’? ?????? ???????: ‘????? ???? ?????…??????: ??????? ????? ?? ???’…
?? ??? ??? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ????? ??? ??? ??????. ???????? ???? ??????? ??? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????.
????????? ????????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ??? ???????? ????? ????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ??????. ???? ?????? ?? ?? ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?????????.
??? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ?????????. ?????? ???? ???????? ?????. ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?????????? ??????? ??? ????? ?? ??? ?????. ?? ??? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ???????? ??????? ????????? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ??????
????? ?????? ???? ??????? ????????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????.
????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ?????. ????? ??????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ????????? ?? ?????????? ???? ????. ??? ???? ????? ?? ????????? ‘????? ?????? ?? ?????’. ??? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? ?? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??? ??? ????? ???? ????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ???? ???????.
????? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ???????. ?? ?? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??? ????? ???? ???????? ?? ?? ???????? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ??????? ???? ??????? ?????????? ???? ??????? ????? ??? ?? ????. ?? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????? ???????. ??????? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ??????.
??????? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ???????!
??? ?????????? ??????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ???????? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ????? ????.
?? ??????? ??? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ???????? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ????? ????????? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ?????.
????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?? ?? ????? ?????? ???????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ????????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ???. ????????? ?????????? ?? ???????? ????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????? ???? ?????. ??? ?? ????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ‘???????’? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ?????????? ??????? ???????? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ????????? ???? ?? ?? ?????? ????? ???????. ??? ?? ??????? ????????? ??? ?? ??????? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ??????? ??????? ???? ?????.
??? ?????? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ???? ??? ???? ?? ?????. ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ??????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ??????. ????????? ??? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ?????????? ???? ??? ??????? ?????? ???? ??????. ?????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ?????????? ??????.
??? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ???????? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?????????? ???????? ????????? ????? ??????.
?? ????? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ???????? ????????? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ???????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ?????. ???? ????? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?? ??????? ???????? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ??????? ????????? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ???????.
??? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ?????.
?????? ?? ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ??????? ????????? ????????? ?????.
???? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ??????: ?????? ???? ????.
??? ???? ????? ????? ???????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ??? ?? ??????? ??? ?????.

how long the Assad regime can last.?
It bet you, it will last longer than the US Treasury bubble.

The Syrian community abroad has been irrevocably reunited with Syrians inside the country. It is difficult to exaggerate the importance of this change.

Absolutely true , but so far this reunion has led a great number of Syrian expats in

New York ,
allentown,PA ,
Los Angeles,
London ,
Berlin,
Stockholm , to manifest and show support for president Assad. and these are just few examples.

These measures should help the regime regain some standing against the Islamists:

http://www.syriatruth.info/content/view/1866/36/

Unless the current Islamist revolution ends with a bloody defeat for the Islamists, Syria will become another Egypt and the regime won’t last long.

OTW

I read that earlier, I agree that guy is a dangerous ISLAMIST 😉

This was published by Al Jazeera yesterday

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/04/20114212305013394.html

The ghosts of Syria
Syrians claim that roaming gangs of thugs have turned peaceful pro-democracy protests into violent chaos.

They are known to the locals of Lattakia as the ghosts – al-Shabeha – but when these phantoms dress up it is in black and their terror is tangible.

In a port city dominated by Sunni Muslims, who comprise three quarters of the Syrian population, and surrounded by mountain villages that are home to Alawites, a minority that has ruled over the country for 40 years, these roaming gangs of black-clothed thugs have turned peaceful protests calling for freedom into deadly chaos.

Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s president, warned in a speech this week that such gangs are part of a foreign plot to drive a wedge between Syria’s different religious and ethnic communities. But in interviews with residents, journalists and eyewitnesses in Lattakia almost all say the same thing: Shabeha are almost exclusively Alawites from the region, described by one reliable source as the private militia of the Assad family itself.

The spectre of chaos

Straddling Iraq to its east, which descended into sectarian slaughter after the US-led invasion, and Lebanon to its west, where competing religious identities fuelled a 15-year civil war, the spectre of sectarian strife looms large in Syria’s national psyche.

As well as Sunnis and Alawites, the country has a sizeable Christian minority, Druze and Ismailis. The largest ethnic minority are Kurds, some 300,000 of whom live without Syrian citizenship – fuelling a desire among some to breakaway and join neighbouring Kurdistan.

The fear of Syria splintering into rival communities has been used by the regime as a key justification for its iron grip on the country.

“The president has said Lattakia is a sectarian problem firstly to get carte blanche to quell it – no-one wants to see a new Iraq,” said a local political analyst who did not want to be named. “And second in order to mobilise minorities, Alawites, Christians and Druze out of fear of life under a Sunni majority. They argue it’s the regime or the Muslim Brotherhood.”

Yet eyewitnesses to the pro-democracy protests in Lattakia over the past fortnight insist they began with both Sunnis and Alawites calling for change together.

“The protesters were chanting ‘freedom, freedom’ and ‘no Sunni and Alawites, we are all Syrians’,” said Hiam Gamil, a youth activist in Lattakia.

A trusted source who has been gathering reporting from Syria since the uprising began on March 18 said: “It is not sectarian – this is the great lie of the regime. In video you see Sunni and Alawite walking side-by-side calling for reform.”

A video uploaded to YouTube on March 28 appears to show a meeting of residents of the Lattakia neighbourhood of Assalibiya discussing the crackdown on their protest movement, although its contents cannot be independently verified.

“They are lying to you when they say there will be sectarian war in the country. The priority now is to define our demands and who will represent us,” a man standing on a platform addresses the crowd.

A second man speaks: “Yesterday the TV said we killed two security men, to show that we are terrorists. But yesterday we caught two security men trying to create chaos and we handed them to the governor.”

Ghosts on the streets

Witnesses and journalists in Lattakia say that during protests in the city members of the shabeha have been used to instigate and fuel violence against protestors, in what many consider to be an attempt by the regime to divide the local Sunni and Alawite communities.

“The protesters were chanting ‘peaceful, peaceful’ while another group of people stood at the end of the street dancing to songs praising the president,” said a resident of Lattakia, an Alawite, who witnessed a protest last week.

“After a while, the two sides began fighting without any security forces or army present. Then there were people from both sides dropping dead from sniper shots. From both sides, those with the regime and the protestors.”

Only then did members of an official Syrian security force arrive on the scene, said the witness, but rather than tackle the gunmen on the rooftops they also shot at the pro-democracy protestors.

After that the streets were left to the shabeha. “We saw cars with armed men in the streets shooting at people indiscriminately – Alawite, Sunni, pro-regime or against the regime, everyone,” the eyewitness said, describing the city as being “in a state of terror”.

“The regime has made sure that no-one goes down and protests in Lattakia. They made an irreparable split with great ease …. They split Lattakia in two and the tension will remain. The excuse of sectarian conflict succeeded, greatly succeeded, unfortunately.”

As many predicted, the authorities later claimed the fighting in Lattakia had been instigated by outsiders. “It is obvious Syria is the target of a project to sow sectarian strife to compromise Syria,” said Buthaina Shaaban, the president’s advisor.

Ali, a middle-aged Sunni shopkeeper from Lattakia, described a separate demonstration last Friday in which hundreds of worshippers had taken to the streets following prayers to call for freedom and pledge their support to the people of Daraa, the southern border city where the protest movement began.

He said plain clothes agents had turned the peaceful protest violent, triggering an armed crackdown by official security forces.

“Hundreds of security men in plain clothes demonstrated against us shouting pro-Assad slogans. They came close to us and started to push us,” said Ali. “It was then that the security forces began to fire on us. We were demonstrating in a peaceful and civilian way and shouting national slogans. None of us were shouting anti-Alawite slogans.”

A local journalist who says he has spoken to 10 residents of Lattakia over the past week said they had all delivered the same message about who the agitators roaming the streets were. “All of them are saying one thing: ‘They are shabeha’,” he said.

A Syrian political expert, who declined to be named, said he had no doubt the shabeha had been used on the streets of Lattakia. “They are the ones who are on the streets shooting people,” he said. “It’s a kind of out-sourcing: They are the regime, but they’re not the regime. The regime doesn’t want to take the risk of using an official security body to start the shooting of protestors.”

Syria’s state news agency has blamed the deaths of protestors on “armed gangs,” but has not explained why these gangs, little seen until now in the tightly policed state, have yet to target any of the large, exclusively pro-regime rallies.

Divide and rule?

Having emerged in the 1970s, when Hafez al-Assad, the president’s father, took power, the shabeha are nothing new to many Syrians but remain largely unknown to those outside the country.

According to a number of experts on Syria, the shabeha have easy access to arms through their close ties to Syria’s military and security forces, hail from the mountain stronghold of Qardaha, which overlooks Lattakia, and answer to the orders of local Assad family elders.

The gang’s wealth, according to sources, comes from distributing goods imported tax free through Lattakia’s port, which they control. During the 1980s they were reported to be heavily involved in smuggling drugs from Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley.

In a widely viewed video on YouTube, which cannot be independently verified, a group described by Syrians as shabeha are seen beating a man local media reported as Abdel Majid Saadoun, the head of a private Syrian university. “Are you trying to get one over the Assad family?” shout the attackers as the man cowers on the ground.

Local journalists said Saadoun had been attacked last October because he refused to allow the entry of a female student, a member of the Assad family, when she arrived to take an exam after it had already begun.

One people

Mass protests demanding freedom broke out across Syrian cities again on Friday, beginning in Kurdish majority Qamishli in the north-east and spreading through the desert of Deir Ezzour across the central plains to Homs, west to the port city of Banias, down to the south at Daraa and to the suburbs of Damascus.

At least four people were killed after snipers on rooftops opened fire on a group of demonstrators calling for freedom in the Damascus suburb of Duma. Across the capital, groups of plain clothes security roamed the city armed with homemade bats. Sanamen, the southern city where at least 10 protestors were killed by security forces last Friday, was sealed off by the military.

Local activists have documented the killing by security forces of more than 150 Syrians in the armed crackdown against the unprecedented wave of protests against the regime.

But if the shabeha are seeking to divide, the protestors appear fully aware of the dangers.

“One, one, one!” chanted hundreds of worshippers trapped inside Damascus’ Al-Rifai mosque on Friday, after security forces refused to let them leave following prayers, fearing mass demonstrations. But that did not stop their voices being heard. “People of Syria are one,” they cried.

how long the Assad regime can last.? Syria’s youth are no longer apathetic.

my mind kept lingering on this question.

In Syrian culture, we respect and dignify our elderly and view them as depositors of wisdom and collective conscious. Having lived on 3 different continents and come across many other other wonderful cultures, i have never seen any other people that venerate their parents and grands more than my Syrian friends. we always listen to what they have to say. Especially so in hard times. when wisdom is needed to inform action. and this is the case across all social categories , regions, and communities.

Furthermore, public opinion in Syria is formed through constant discourse and debate with family, friends, neighbors, anybody .. people live less in their individual bubble and social life tend to be dense.

From this one can expect that Syria’s youth will suffer less the “memory-lessness” and hedonism we observe in many of the youths in rich countries, or simply the generational gap that form in other countries under certain socio-economic pressures.

So there is no way that Syrian youth , in a four or five years,
can forget the turmoil in Lebanon ,Iraq, or Palestine unless this turmoil is over. How can they forget it when it is always shouting at them.

in my opinion the thesis that in a four or five years, the next generation of Syrian youth will not remember the turmoil in either Lebanon or Iraq. Palestine will be a cause remembered only by grandfathers. will only materialize , Iff (that is if and only if) the prediction of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah that the end of the State of Israel is near , materializes ! . How else could the turmoil in Lebanon , Iraq or Palestine become a forgotten memory for Syrian youth ?

This is not to say that Syria will not face economic and political difficulties and hard times and choices , but it will definitely face them as a mature and cohesive society as it has demonstrated thus far.

Juliano Mer-Khamis assassinated in Jenin, a big blow to the spirit of bi-nationalism in Israel-Palestine, a big blow to humanity and non-violent resistance, a big blow to Israeli-Palestinian theatre and a big blow to the Palestinian “people” who are quite good at devouring their own flesh and blood. This is the work of Islamic zealots most likely… My heart aches… Juliano was a student of my mother when he was a teenager in Haifa, and I have met his brother Spartak once, many years ago. What was assassinated is hope, plain and simple.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israeli-actor-juliano-mer-khamis-shot-dead-in-jenin-1.354044

Here’s more about Juliano: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQGqmLyunm0

Yossi,
Is it possible that he was killed by a masked Israeli extremist to blame the Palestinians so no other Israeli will dare to fight for the Palestinian rights,

Hi Norman,

It’s very unlikely that such an assailant would make it safely in and out of the middle of the Jenin refugee camp + he was under the constant threat of the Islamists for (a) running joint drama classes for boys and girls and (b) for staging “Animal Farm” where some actors had to play the characters of pigs (You can see that in the video. Great beautiful and brave kids). We’ll see what the police finds.

Yossi,

Indeed a very sad day and a great loss…

Yossi

Bad news indeed. A loss of one of a very small group. But I do not buy the Islamic Zealots theory for the following reasons:

– Islamists are very closely watched by both Fayyad’s forces and Israel.
– There are many coed institutions in Ramallah, the conservatory is one.
– It is not offensive for Muslims to a play the role of a pig. Eating or touching is.

On the other hand he must be loathed by the settlers and viewed as a traitor. Anyway it is all speculation until the killers are caught and questioned.

Assad’s refusal to prepare the present regime for a soft landing spells bad news for Syria.

Right on the money in my opinion professor Landis, and this “soft landing” does not have to entail a handover of power from Alawites to Sunnis, but hopefully could be accomplished through a gradual controlled reform to a truly secular, democratic and accountable regime.

Ziad,

I fully agree with Yossi. If a settler, or any other Jew, wanted to kill Juliano, it’d be much easier to do so inside Israel, any day, anywhere. Why take a chance you’d be lynched if caught in Jenin?

Bullets for Peace

Steven Plaut comments on the death of Juliano Mer-Khamis. Apparently Mer-Khamis isn’t the “angel” the Left makes him out to be…

http://stevenplaut.blogspot.com/

Professor Josh,

Hello! Are you there???

You keep repeating that Assad is “popular” among the Syrian people. I hear that in every thread you write.

Question: Why doesn’t the President-for-Life hold a free election if he is so popular?

Could it be you are exaggerating?

Shai, Yossi,
Israel can not blame the Palestinians if it took place in Israel , The Israeli Government will be blamed there .

Akbar,

It’s not “The Left” that speaks so highly of Juliano, it’s everyone. Yesterday all the radio stations and TV stations were full of condemnation and sorrow expressed by everyone enlightened enough to recognize the achievements and contribution of this Israeli-Arab. Why is it that when Likud members push Netanyahu to release Barghouti from jail, they’re NOT supporting terrorists, but when anyone else does, he/she ARE? Is Hypocrisy only the domain of “The (nonexistent) Left”?

It’s so funny for me to hear YOU continue to rant about the phantom “Left”, as if that’s what’s holding back anyone. The Netanyahu government is clueless about what to do next, it has no foreign policy whatsoever, it advances no political agenda, it isolates Israel beyond anything we’ve experienced in decades, but… there’s a reason – “The Left!”…

And then, you pontificate throughout the year about the Assad Regime’s constant need for “outside enemies”, to blame all its failures on.

Hmmm… sounds a bit similar, doesn’t it?

AP,
Juliano Mer-Khamis wasn’t a terrorist. He was an annoying smart-ass with an attitude.
If Shai and Yossi are lamenting, then it’s a sign that the rest of Israelis should not be. Or as we say ?? ??? ???????.

Shai Yossi,
The method of the execution suggests that this has to do with matters of domestic nature, honor killing etc. Mer was a passionate person, both in his political life/views, and in his personal life. Could be someone in Jenin did not like his behavior regarding girls/boys, a behavior that is OK among the Jews, but not in the conservative Jenin. Let’s wait for the investigation to end, before jumping into conclusions.
.

Yossi, Shai,Amir
What do you think?
http://www.alquds.co.uk

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??????- ????? ?????? ?? ???????? ??????????? ???????? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ??????????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ??????.
????? ????? (??????? ?????) ???? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????? ???? ??? (???????? ??????????? ??????) ???? ?? ?????? ???????? ???? ??? ?? ????????? ???? ?????? ??????? ???? ??????? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ??????? ???? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??? 2002 ??????? ??? 2007.

????? ???????? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ???????? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ??????? ???????? ????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ?? ??????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ????? ???????.

???? ???? ????? ??? ??? ???????? ??? ??????? ????? ???? ???????? ??????? “????? ????? ???? ???? ???? ?? ????? ???????? ????? ???????: ???? ????? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ?????????? ???? ?????. ???? ?? ??? ???????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ??????????”.

???? ????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ?? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?? ??????? ????? ??????? ?????????? ??????? ??????? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ????????.

????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? “??? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?? ??????. ?????? ?? ???? (????????) ?????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ???????. ???? ????? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ?? ????? ???????”.

? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ?????????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ????? ??? ??? ????? ???????? ???? ????? ?? ??? 40 ?????? ??? ??????? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????????? ?????? ????????? ????? ????? ???? ????? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ????? ??? 1995.

????? ???????? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ??????? ??? ???????????? ???????????? ???? ?? ?????? ????????? ??????????? ?????? “??????? ???????? ??????????? ??? ??? 1948 ????? ?? ???????? ?????? ?? ????? ???????”.

????? ???????? ???? ????? ???????? ??????? ???? ?? “???? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ???????”.

????? ?? ???????? ???? ??? ???? ???????? “?????? ???????” ????? 2000? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ???????? ???? ??????????? ???????? “???? ?????? (???? ??????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ????? ?????????)”.

????? ??????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ????? 1967 ?????? ?????? ??? ???????? ?? ??????? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? 7% ?? ????? ???????.

????? ???????? ????? ????? ??????? ???????? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ?? ??????? ???????? ??????? ????? ?? ?????? ?”??? ??????” ?? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? (???? ??????) ????? ??????? ?? ??????? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ???????.

????? ??? ?? ??????? ????? ????? ??????? ?? ????? 1967? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ????? 1948? ?????? ??????? ????? “?????”. ?????? ??????????? ????? ??????? ????? ?????? ???????.
???? ???????? ???????????? ????? ????? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ??????? “????? ??? ????????? ????? ??? ??????? ?????” ???? ????? ????? ??? ???????.

??? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ??????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ??????? ??????? ?? ??????? ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ????? ?? ?????? 5 ?????.

???? ????? “???? ?? ???? ??????????? ????????? ????????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ????? ?? ????? ?????”.
t1

Mer Khamis was a really interesting and special person – and it is plain to see that if you ever meet him in person or hear him speak about his work. I did have that occasion once when he came to California and presented Arna’s Children at the Film festival. He seemed to be a very excellent person, following in the path of his mother – Arna- who is depicted in the film, and this is confirmed by the accounts of many many people’s opinions being expressed today after this tragic event.

I think it is repulsive to present that Steven Plaut link – that is so nasty and reductionistic. Clearly this guy is having multiple orgasms every time he gets to say the word “terrorist” and he would like to apply that descriptor to as many people as possible. He must think that actually looks like a conclusive analysis. In fact it is nasty propaganda crap and especially vulgar under the particular circumstances.

On the other hand, Norman, give it a rest. We need not turn every interpretation to a conspiracy “plot”…it is tiresome and absurd. Lets apply some of the principle of Occam’s Razor in this pretty simple case. Mer Khamis was getting threats all the time from right wing Palestinians, increasingly so in recent times. So – you know- there will be an investigation…. and maybe it will be hard to find the specific person who pulled the trigger, but not that hard to figure out who ordered it. No need to defend those who should not be defended. There are plenty of self destructive and ignorant Pals in the vicinity of Jenin – who might not have been able to comprehend the self defeating and gruesome results coming from their own disdain for such an exceptional and wise person like Mer Khamis. Some people are wearing total blinders and can only see the dirty ground in front of them and have no imagination whether they live in a mansion or a refugee camp. And maybe he/they hated to see the flourishing fruits of a person who has a mind and heart that they can’t even hope to have.

Dear Norman,

I think that it’s a waste of time. Personally I prefer the option of the PA going to the UN to ask for recognition of a Palestinian state. This will benefit everyone. It’s good for Israel, despite of the fact that many Israelis see this as a negative move.
Let them have their virtual state. It will put them in a bigger trouble than the trouble they have now.
.

Zenobia,

There nothing for me to tell you,

Apparently you do not think when you read, some people are like that and you are one of them unfortunately, i thought you were smarter and more polite than that,

Zenobia,

Thank you for your wise words. The movie Children of Arna is available to watch on YouTube, to whomever might be interested.

Norman,

What happened? I don’t think Zenobia meant any disrespect, she just thought you were wrong. It’s still legal to disagree with you, right 🙂 And like I told you, I think she’s right.

About the peace initiative, sounds like “another one of those”… but we’ll see what happens with it. Perhaps it will help topple Bibi’s government (not that there is any other alternative at this point).

Amir,

>>> Juliano … was an annoying smart-ass with an attitude.

Look who’s talking…

someone is being a drama queen.. what Zenobia said is perfectly reasonable

what a tragic loss of a an inspirational person

Shai, solitarus,

This is what she said ,

((On the other hand, Norman, give it a rest. We need not turn every interpretation to a conspiracy “plot”…it is tiresome and absurd))

When Mugnenia and Sulaiman died in Syria , did we hear that the Syrian Mukhabarat killed them , I did not call anybody who said absurd and conspiracy theorist,

we can disagree with each other without name calling and yes i like people to treat me the way i treat them , that is not too much to ask , i always respect what Shai says even when i disagree with him ,

MurderisRepulsive.Com

Zenobia, et al,

I don’t think presenting Juliano Mer-Khamis’s full set of beliefs as being “repulsive”. He may have been a “nice guy”, and he also may have been politically naive or insensitive. In fact, if the quotes by the Jerusalem Post are correct, I find some of Mer-Khamis’s statesments to be repulsive.

For example, Mer-Khamis stated:

“I’m in favor of a single Palestinian state from the river to the sea,” he said at the same press conference. “If the Jews want to live with us, ahlan wasahlan (welcome).”

I think Jews are living pretty well with Arabs in Israel. However, it seems Israel’s large Arab citizenry is safer in Israel than Jews (or half-Jews) in Palestine. The PLO, Hamas and Hezbollah charters all confirm this.

He also stated:

“Armed struggle is legitimate as long as it’s against an occupier and is done on occupied land,”…

What is “armed struggle” and what is “terrorism”?

I wish he was still around, I would ask him.

http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=215116

After what AP said that he said, do have any doubt that an Israeli extremist like the one who killed Rabin could have killed him for treason,

Akbar,

>>> I think Jews are living pretty well with Arabs in Israel. However, it seems Israel’s large Arab citizenry is safer in Israel than Jews (or half-Jews) in Palestine. The PLO, Hamas and Hezbollah charters all confirm this.

I’ve had a long debate about this with Qunfuz about a year ago. Your observation is very true and a realistic observation and is something that is brushed under the rug by supporters of one big state. But unfortunately incidents such as what happened to Juliano, in addition to other inter-factional and inter-sect violence within Palestinian (or by extension, Syrian) society convey the bitter truth that Jews, Christians, Seculars and Gays will not be safe in a one state solution.

If it weren’t for that, I would think that this is the best solution. In other words I wouldn’t think the Jews need to be a majority in their state if their safety was ensured as a minority. But it isn’t ensured.

>>> What is “armed struggle” and what is “terrorism”?

Akbar, these are the days of Passover, when we celebrate Jewish deliverance from bondage. In order to liberate the Jews, God found it befitting, eventually, when all other methods of persuasion failed, to kill the elder son of each Egyptian family. A godly act of terrorism? This teaches us that freedom is priceless and an oppressor can expect to be challenged by WHATEVER means are available to the oppressed.

More and more Islamization: the women who were diagnosed by the secret police as religious extremist and were removed from teaching are now back to schools:

http://www.syriasteps.com/index.php?d=127&id=65882

Where is this going? Are we going to see “socialization” in the economy too?

You think ‘niqab’ issue is bad, how about the other more dangerous decision of creating armed committees to protect mosques and churches in your #29? Isn’t that a dangerous call for more violence by the government by creating another element for instability.
I’m surprised that nobody comment on such horrendous idea yet.

What if someone of these committees have an issue with his neighbor and use the gun against him/her, how is justice going to work in such chaos, what kind of democracy the government is looking for and what society are they promoting?
Arming people to face each other is a crime, legalizing violence is a crime and spreading such committee in the Syrian society is a crime.
Why not creating committees for promoting community education, justice, healthy social fabric and political awareness instead of tearing the social fabric into pieces…That is wrong and extremely dangerous and very very stupid decision to take at these times, besides, where are all those amn/police/army that supposed to protect the country not to attack and kill its citizens?

Are we going to see “socialization” in the economy too?
Socialization is not a bad concept, ignorance, mismanagement, dictatorship and corruption are the one destroying any economy model in the world.

?????? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???? ??? ?????!
???????? ???? ???? ?????
2011-04-04
???? ????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ????? ??? ????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ?????????/??? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?????.

?????? ?? ??????? ??? ?????? ????????? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ?????????? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ??????? ??????? ????? ????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ????????. ??? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ??????? ??????? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ???.

??? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ???????? ??? ???? ????. ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ????. ???? ????? ?? ??? ?? ????? ?? ?? ???? ?? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ????????. ??? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ???????? ????? ??????.

??? ??? ????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?? ????? (????? ?? ????? ?????)? ???? ????? ????? ????? ?????? (????? ???????? ??? ?????? ?????? ????????? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ?? ??? ???????? ??? ????? ???????…)? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ????? (?????????? ??????)? ??? ??? ????? ????? ???????? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ???? ???? ??? ???? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?? ??????/?.. ?? ??? ?? ??? ???? ??? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????? “??????” ?? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ?? ???? ???? ????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ???? ????? ???????? ???? ?? ????? ???????? ?? ??? ????.

???? ?? “???? ???? ?????”? ???? ??????? ?? ?? ???????? ???????????? ???? ??????? ???? (??? ????? ???????) ?? ??????? ?????? ???? (??? ????? ????????? ????? ?????????..)? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ????? ???? ??? ???? ???????? ????? ???????? ????? ???????? ?? ?????? ????????? ??? ?????????/?? ?? ????? ??? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ????. ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ??? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ????????? ??? ?????? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????.

?? ?????? ???????? ?????????/?? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ?? ?????. ???? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ????????? ???? ????? ?? ?????. ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ???????? ?????? ?? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????/?? ??????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????? ????? ??????.

?? ????? ???? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????? ????? ????? ?? ???????? ????????
????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ??? ??? ????
??? ???? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ?? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ???????? ???? ?? ????? ??? ????? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??? ?? ??? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ?????????..

????? ????? ?? ??? “????? ??? ?? ????? ????????” ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ????????.

http://nesasy.org/content/view/9617/110/

SOURI,

The largest and most important social component is the Sunni Islamists (traditionally known as the reactionaries ????????), who perhaps represent about 50% of the population.

are those 50% Sunni Islamist all Salafis or Sufis ?

It is wrong to assume that Sufis are “reactionaries” , how can students of Ibn Arabi, Al-roumi or Al Hallaj be reactionary ?
you are too pessimisstic .here is something to cheer you up:

??? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ????? ????????
????? ??????? ?????????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?????
???? ????? ??????? ??? ?????????? ???????? ??????? ???? ???????

??? ????? ??? ?????

#55

It seems that you are not completely aware of the gravity of the situation. Syria is witnessing an Islamist revolution. This is a very serious thing. Bashar now is trying to appease the Islamists, but who knows what may happen next Friday? What if those Islamists pour out of mosques in millions? Who is going to stop them?

This is a very serious situation. The Wahhabis and Ikhwan have been urging Islamists inside Syria to pour to the streets in millions. There are definitely millions of Islamists inside Syria who would love to go out to the streets and topple the regime, but they haven’t done so yet because of fear and the lack of organization among other reasons.

The regime must have a plan to deal with such a situation. If millions of Islamists go out to the streets, then there is no escape from a civil war. The regime has only two options, either to deal softly with the Islamists and accommodate them, which would eventually throw Syria into a long civil war that would lead to division of the country, or to attack the Islamists harshly from the beginning and end the war as quickly as possible, which would preserve the unity of the country and minimize the damages.

Bashar must act like his father. Hafez Assad tried to appease the Islamists for 10 years from 1970 to 1980. All the concessions that Hafez gave to them did not prevent the eventual civil war, because the Islamists would not stop until they get all that they wanted. Had Hafez Assad not acted firmly and decisively in 1980-1982, Syria would have collapsed and divided. The same conditions apply here. Bashar now is trying to give concessions, but if the Islamists don’t stop (they say that they won’t), then Bashar must attack firmly and swiftly to nip them in the bud.

The longer the insurgency lasts, the stronger it gets. The regime must act as fast as possible to cut it off from its roots.

In my opinion, the limited confrontation scenario is the best for Syria. If a bloody confrontation does not take place, then Syria is going to become totally Islamist like Egypt.

Norman,
apologies for offending you – I didn’t mean to sound that disrespectful… in general I appreciate your huge contributions to this blog, however, I think it is good to practice flexibility of perspective once in awhile and not always tow the same line.
Furthermore, I feel frustrated because this is a pretty mild issue where- we could just focus on this poor guy’s death by some awful person/persons regardless of what group they belonged to. It is really sad that it is most likely Pals from the area who had already expressed anger and made aggressive acts towards the theater.
Anyhow, I think in this general disappointing climate of “plots”… that is already annoying – regarding Syria lately, true, not true, I have no idea, some of it is probably true, but focusing on it instead of addressing one’s own faults and failings – is destructive to the mental health of everyone, so in this climate- to jump immediately to more conspiracy (especially when there is no evidence on that side re Mer Khamis) feels reactionary and unhelpful even though technically, of course, anything is possible to some small degree. I don’t think the Israelis’ assassin corps would waste so much effort to kill someone who is basically pretty benign on the scale of things geo-political. It takes pretty small minds to see him as a big threat.

anyhow, as for your defense, Akbar, you know I even have respect for things YOU say at times, believe it or not. You make me laugh a lot.
BUT, that Plaut stuff was really awful. It has nothing to do with presenting the “full set of beliefs”. Your personal words are better in this regard. Although, in the past I remember having all the “terrorist” verse “resistance” arguments back and forth with you :)…so we don’t need to go there. I am sick of both regardless of what it is called, but I think that word – the big “T” word is sooooo unhelpful to anyone, it just spreads hate and revenge and false justifications that create more violence in the end, and I really dislike people using the word incessantly.

As for Mer Khamis’s desire for a bi-national state, so what, of course many/most Jews and Pal Arabs will reject that. But, I think that just makes him and idealist.
we don’t know, it could happen one day with the blessings of everyone… nothing is impossible.

#57 NAJIB

All Islamists are reactionaries. Al-Bouty is not very progressive, is he? He launched a war against a TV show last year. He could not even tolerate a mild TV show.

However, Sufis are definitely milder than the Ikhwan and Wahhabis. At least they are not dangerous and they rarely resort to violence. They also generally accept to coexist with people from other religions and beliefs.

Zenobia,
Accepted, look at this ,

???????? 4/5/2011
??? ????? : 9:41 PM ????? ??????

????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????? 05/04/2011

???? ????-?????

???? ???? ???????? ??????????? ????????? ?? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ????? ????? ???????.

???? ???????? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ?? ????????? ?????? ??? “???????”? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ??? “???? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ???”.

?????
???? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?? ???????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????.

???? ?????? ?? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ??????? ????????? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ???? ???????? ?????????.

???? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ???????? ???? ????????? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ?? ??????????? ????? ???? ?????? ???? “???? ?????” ???? ???? ?????? ?? ?????.

????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????????? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ???????.

??????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ?? ????? ??????? ??????? ????? ??????? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ???????? ?????? ??? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ?? ????.

???? ??? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ??????? ????????? ???????? ?? ??? ??? ????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ????? “???? ?? ????? ????? ????? ?????????? ??????.

???????? ??????
???? ??? ???????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ????? ????????? ???? ??? ??? ???????? ???? ??? ????? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ?? ??? ?????????? “?? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ??????”.

???? ??? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ??????????? ??????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ??????????? ??? ?????? ?????? ????? ????? “???? ?????? ??? ??? 1987” ???????? “???? ?? ?????” ????? ?????? ?”????? ??????” ?”???????” ??????? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ???.

??? ?? ??????? ??? ???????? ??? ??????? ??? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ?? ???? “????? ????” ???? ??? ??? ???? ????????? ??????? ?? ?????? ??????????? ????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ???? ???? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? “??????”.

?? ???????
??? ?????? ????????? ????????? ???? ???? ??? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ??????? ?? ???? ??? ???????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ??? ???????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ????? ???????? ???????? ????????? ??????????? “????? ?????? ????????”.

????? ?? ???????? ?? ???????? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ???????? ??? ?????? ????? “??? ???” ?????? ?????.

????? ?? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ????????????? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ??????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ?????.

?? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ????????? ????? ????? ??? ??? ????????? ???? ??????? ????????? ??? ??????? ???.

???? ??? ???? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ??????? ?????? ??? ?????? ????? ????????? “???????? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?? ?????”.

???? ??? ?? ???? “??????” ?????? ??????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ???????.

???? ???????? ??????????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ???????? ?? ????? ?????? ????????? ????? ???? ??? ??? ???????? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ???????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ????.

???? ???? ????? ??????? ??????? 2011

Syrian journalist Rana Okbani was arrested in Libya and then humiliated on Libyan TV by Libyan presenter Hala Mesrati.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk4wlP04Sdk

It’s ridiculous to have the Syrian journalist investigated and humiliated on Libyan TV while the Syrian government is silent on this issue. If Rana was a Western journalist her government would rush in to interfere and offer all sorts of legal and material aid. This is a video and sample of the Libyan presenter who was investigating her.

Bouri,Bothaina,Bashar,Ribal…. ,there can not be civil war in Syria who will be fighting who ?
And be sure that your “islamists” will not allow the country to be divided.

Zenobia,

It’s nice to see you back here…

I’m not sure most Palestinians would reject a single, binational state, if they were granted full and equal rights. De facto, we’re headed straight in that direction. That’s one of the reasons I’m convinced time is on the Palestinian side, not on ours. With each new home built in the WB on a new or existing settlement, that’s one step closer to a single state.

What’ll be very interesting to see in the coming months, is Netanyahu’s way of preparing for the Tsunami the Palestinians will drop in September. I have a feeling he’ll attempt a spin in the Syrian direction (“let’s talk…”) to try to avert attention, and ask the UN to give Israel more time… Maybe, by accident, something will actually work out.

If not, Akbar can always blame “The Left” (which has more letters in its name than seats in Knesset…) 🙂

Hi Soury,
You are right that I may not be fully aware about the situation on ground, since I don’t live in Syria and the longest visit for me to Syria won’t last more than 3 weeks a time.

My point is that at these times the government/regime needs to be wise not irrational by making more problems by using violence and arming citizens instead of cooling down the conflict.
Protecting security is the job of Amn, Police and Army, not the civilians.

One observation, almost all the guys involved in the demonstration are youth, neither my generation nor my father’s, which means that the problem this young generation of Syrian is facing and dealing with is very bad and general on all young Syrians regardless of their religion so instead of pushing them in the corner and suffocate them with tear gas and batons, start a conversation, nation wide, to get to the real issues and work with them to solve the problems, they need to be heard and involved in all issues, life doesn’t stop at our generation its for the youth more than us and we need to be open and ready to hear everybody instead of ‘us and them’ mentality that I see today separating Syrians inside and outside the homeland.
I’m not going to listen to any of the extremest sides of both the oppositions and the government/regime I have to stay in the middle if I want to see the truth.
And the truth is that we have major issues that needed to be dealt with wisely and now and in depth if we want to have solution.
There are many elements using this movement, Wahabis is one of them not the whole, it’s good to be aware about that dangerous element but not wise to let it take over the other ones, we are looking for common ground with everybody to come up with sustainable solutions that last and make the whole society the big winner.

Dear Leo,
That was horrible, what is her crime? Writing an article?
The other day Aljazeera made funny report about Hala Mesraty and how crazy she is.
She is the one who said that ‘Adopting’ the UN resolution is ‘7aram’ since adoption is forbidden in Islam and therefore the resolution is un-islamic

??????? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ????

???? ..
?????? ??? ??? ????? ???????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ???????.

Al-Bouti tells Syrian TV: Assad met with Islamic leaders and agreed to “reforms” requested by them, including:

-reinstating religious extremist teachers.
-reinstating religious extremist engineers who were removed from Damascus municipality.
-establishing the new institute for “Islamic studies.”
-establishing an “Islamic satellite channel.”

They also commanded Assad to give a new “clearer” speech to the people, and he agreed.

??? ??????? ????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ? ??? ?? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ???? .

? ??? ????? ” ?????? ” ?? ???? ??? ????????? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ???????? ????? ??? ? ??? ?? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ? ? ??? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ????????? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ???? ???????.

? ???? ????? ” ?????? ” ?? ??????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ???????? ??????? ???? ??????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ? ????? ??? ????? ??????.

???? ?? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ?????.

? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ????? ?? ???????? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ????? ???? ??????? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? “???? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????? ??? ?????”? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ????????? ?????????? ?????? ????? ?? ?????????.

?????? ?????? ??????? ????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ???? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ?? ?? ???? ????????? ??? ?????? ?????? ????? ???????? ????????? .

??????? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ????????…??????: ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?????

??? ??????? ????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ???????? ??????? ???? ??????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????.
???? ?????? ?? ???? ???????? ???? ??? ????????? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ?? ???????? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ????? ???? ??????? ?????? ????????? ?????????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????????? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? «???? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????? ??? ??? ?????».
???? ??????: ?? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ???????? ????? ???? ??? ?? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ??? ??????? ?????: ?? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ???? ??????? ???????? ??? ??????? ???????? ?????? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ???.
????? ??????: ????? ??? ?????? ?????????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ?? ??? ?? ??????
????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ?????.
???? ???????? ??????? ????????? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????? ????????: «???? ??????? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ????».
?????? ??????? ?????? ????? ???? ???????? ??????? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ????????? ??? ?????? ?????? ????? ???????? ?????????.
???? ?????? ?? ???????? ???? ?? ??????? ????????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ??? ??? ???????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ???????? ???? ??? ???????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ?? ????? ??? ???? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????»? ????????: «????? ??? ???? ??????? ???????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?????».
?????: «???? ???? ????? ???????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?? ?? ???? ???????? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????».
???? ??????? ?????? ??????: «?????? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ???????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????? ????? ????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ?? ?? ??? ??????? ???????? ?? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ???????? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ?????».

If Assad becomes a puppet of the Islamists, what would be his advantge?

If Assad becomes a new Mubarak, then I don’t think anybody would still support him except for the Alawis and those who are directly benefiting from the regime.

Assad’s only advantage is that he has been checking the Islamization of the country. If this advantage goes, then Assad would become a burden on everybody. Neither the Islamists nor the secular would accept him.

The Islamists will never accept Assad. There is a million reasons for that. He is Alawi and he is Baathist; the Islamists neither like Alawis nor Baathists.

Assad has to compensate for these concessions he is giving to the Islamists. He must also give something to the secular. There are many things that he can grant to the secular, including an optional secular family law and greater freedom of speech for the anti-Islamists.

Anyway, I don’t think this regime can defy the Islamists at all now, so I don’t expect anything from it except more and more Islamization.

If this Islamization policy is the new strategy of the regime, then it is obvious that the regime won’t last long. If the regime has decided to pursue a strategic policy of Islamization, then this means that the regime is looking for a “safe landing” like Joshua says and it has decided to hand power over to the Islamists.

If the Islamization policy is tactical, then this means that the regime is preparing for a big and long confrontation with the more radical Islamists who are protesting in the streets.

Syria’s future has become so vague and uncertain.

SOURI:

I think Assad might be thinking that to effectively fight religious extremism one method should be to provide forums and institutes that teach religion in its pure form, rather than continuing to allow Wahhabi institutes and outlets to spread their destructive ideological indoctrination through Saudi funding. I believe Syria should lead the Arab World in teaching true Islam, rather than the distorted version promoted by the Saudi-sponsored Wahhabis.

This of course should not undermine the principle that religious institutions should remain absolutely separate from state political and judicial institutions. I don’t mind having these religious institutions so long as the state becomes totally secularized, such that all laws become civil laws equally applicable to all citizens, regardless of religious background.

???? ????? ????? ????? 1962 ???? ????? ??????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??? ????????

???? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ??«?????» ?? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ????? 1962 ???? ?????? ??? ?????????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?????? ????????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ???????.
????? «?????» ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ????? ??? ??????? ????????? ???????? ?????? ??? ???????? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ????. ??? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ?????????? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ???? ?? ????? ??? ????????.
????? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ????? ???????.
?? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ???? ????? ?? ????? ???? ????????? ???? ????? ?????? ???????? ??? ??????? ????? «????? ??????» ????? ??? ??? ????????? ??????? ????: ?? ?????? ??????? ???????? ?? ?? ??? ???? ???? ????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ?????.

????? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ????????.. ????????? ???? ????????? ??????? ?? 21 ?????…?????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ???? ???????? ????? ??????

?????? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ??? ????? ?? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? 35 ????? ????? 14 ??????

??? ???? ???? ?? ???? ???????? ?????????? ????? ????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ????? ????? ??? ??? ??????? ????? ????? ???????? ????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????????? ?? ?????
?????????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? ??????? ?? ??? ?? ???????.
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??? ???? ??? ??????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ?? ????????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?? ???????? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ????????? ??? ??????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ??? ?? ????? ????? ????? ???? ??????? ??????? ???????? ???????? ??? ??? ???????.
???? ?????? ?? ??? ????????? ????? ?? ????? ????????? ???????? ?????? ????? ??????? ????? ????? 1962 ??? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ??????.
???? ?????? ?? ????????? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ??????? ??????? ?? ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ?????????.
????? ????? ??????? ??????? «????» ?? ???? ????? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ??????? ????: ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ????? ??? ??????? ??????? ??????.
????? ??????? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ?????? ????? ??? ????????? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ????? ??????? ???????? ??? ????? ????? ??? 1962 ??? ??? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ???????? ????? ???? ?????.
???? ??????? ???? ????? ???????? ?? ?????? ????????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ?????????? ???????? ??????? ????????.
???? ???? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ???????? ??«?????» ?? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ??? 34 ?????? ???? ??? ????? ????????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ????? 1962 ?????? 49 ????? ??????? ??? ????? ???????? ?? ??????? ????????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ??????????? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ????? ???????? ?? ??????? ???????.
???? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ???????? ???????? ??????? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ???? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ????????.
???? ??????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ???????? ???? ?? ??????? ??? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ?????????? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ?? 21 ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????????? ???? ??? ??? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ??????? ????? ????? ??? ???????? ????? ?? ????? ??????.
????? «?????» ??? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ???????? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ????? ???? ????? ?? ????? ????????? ????? ??????? ?? ????????? ???????? ???? ??????? ??????.
??? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ?? ??? ????? ??? ???? ???? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ??????? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ??????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ????? ????????? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?????????? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ????????? ?? ??????? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ???????? ??? ?????? ????? ?????.
????? ????? ??? ??? ??????? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??? ?????? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ???????? ?? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?? ????? ???????????? ???????? ?? ?????? ????????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ?????.
????? ??????? ???????: ?? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ??????? ???? ?? ???????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???????.
??? ????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ????? ????? ???????? ??????? ???????? ???? «?????» ??? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ??? ??????? ????? ????? ????????? ???? ????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????????? ?? ????? ????????? ??? ?????? ??? ????????? ??????? ???? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ??????? ?????? ?? ????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??? ????????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ?????? ???????.
???? ??????? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ???????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???????:
????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ??????? «??? ??? ???? ??????»? ???????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?? ????? ??????? ??????? ??? ??????? ??????? ?? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????? ???????? ????? ????????? ???????? ????? ?? ???????? ?? ??????? ?? ???????? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ???????? ?? ??????? ?????? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????. ???? ??????? ??????? ????? ?? ???????? ?? ??????? ???? ??????? ??????? ???? ??? ??? ????? ?? 14 ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ????? «????? ?? ?????? ???????». ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ?? ???????? ?? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ????????? ????? ???? ??????????? ????????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ????? ???????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ???? ?? ???????? ????? ??????????? ???????? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ??????????? ???????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ??????? 15 ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???? ????? ????????? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ????????? ???? ??????? ???????? ?? ??????? ????????? ???????? ?????? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ??????? ??????? ??????????? ???????????? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ????? ????????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ????????.

SOURI:

What do you think of Assad promising the Kurdish citizens of Syria that Norouz will become a national holiday in Syria. Wouldn’t that upset the Islamists, as they would view Norouz as an unislamic, pagan holiday?

Also, it seems like the new Party law will not recognize any sectarian, religious, or ethnic party, which means that Islamic parties will not be licensed under the new law.

After what AP said that he said, do have any doubt that an Israeli extremist like the one who killed Rabin could have killed him for treason

Norman,

What did I say for Allah’s sake? You’re comparing me to Yigal Amir? Yigal Amir is no different than any other murderer, Jew or otherwise. I dare say you will see many Israelis glorifying Yigal Amir like those that worships “martyrs” in Aza and the West Bank.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1423506/posts

http://www.israellycool.com/2008/03/09/palestinian-child-abuse/

Nevertheless,I never said this man was a terrorist or a criminal, however, I take issue with the people he has hung out with and I think his comments are troubling. This was a major reason I didn’t vote for Obama – we are judged by the company we keep and the statements we make.

In the same vein, I think he did a lot of good, was probably a “nice guy”, etc. In the end I didn’t kill this person, nor do I think any Israeli “settler” killed him. From what I’m reading, there was a group of Palestinians in Jenin that couldn’t “tolerate” a “half breed” Jew and saw him as a “5th column”. 25% of Israelis are Arab, but one half-Jew in the West Bank is already a “5th column”. Go figure.

Yossi,

You spoke with Qunfuz??? Eeeeeeew! I hope you took a shower afterwards;) I responded to one of his recent posts. The Hamas and Hezbo supporter was feeling “troubled” by the Syrian demonstrations. Awwww!

Your observation is very true and a realistic observation and is something that is brushed under the rug by supporters of one big state.

Thanks for the feedback. Of course, but since when did pro-Palestinians ever care about the physical welfare of Jews? Qunfuz surely doesn’t give a fig.

Look, I want Israel to remain a democracy that is based on rule of law and freedoms for all her citizens. If Israel becomes a majority Arab state, that’s fine with me. Just as Israel has taken into account her large Arab minority, an Arab majority Israel would have to do the same. That is why I think most Arab Israelis would prefer to be citizens of Israel and not citizens of Palestine.

Judging from Hamas and the PA, and the potential violence, the 2 peoples are not ready to live together in one state.

…you know I even have respect for things YOU say at times, believe it or not. You make me laugh a lot.

Zenobia,

Thanks. Like Shai, I look forward to reading your posts. It is possible to agree to disagree, and at least, explain how we feel and think. I like Steve Plaut because he makes everything “black and white”, he has good sense of humor, and a sarcasitc edge. But yes, sometimes I think he is a bit too rigid.

Look, there are Jews and Arabs who work together every day. We should get some of these individuals to post here to give their opinions.

NOUR,

The Syrian channel will never be able to stand against the many Wahhabi channels which are better funded and have been operating for a long time.

More importantly, I don’t think that Al-Bouti and his likes represent the good version of Islam we are looking for. Al-Bouti has strong takfiri tendencies and he does not accept neither secularism nor freedom of speech.

Al-Bouti tried very hard last year to prevent a TV show from being aired. Is this what we want? A sheikh telling us what we are allowed to say and what we are not? Also if you read his books, you will find that Bouti viciously attacks modern science and does not accept the separation between science and religion at all. He also does not accept the separation between religion and state.

This guy is just another religious extremist. His only advantage is that he is hypocrite and does not publicly oppose the regime.

http://www.syriatruth.info/content/view/1880/36/

well this is interesting

The only way the regime can survive is like I said before, which is to divide the Islamists and conquer them.

The regime now faces an urgent challenge, which is the uprising by the most radical and extremist forces of society. The regime obviously looks shaken and frightened by this uprising, which indicates that it is a serious threat.

The concessions Bashar are giving now will maintain the division among the Islamists. The less-radical Islamists seem to be content with these concessions as they have not joined the protests yet. We also should not neglect the role of the regime’s heavy stick in deterring those Islamists from joining the protests. I know that many of them would love to join but they are afraid or have been arrested.

By using this carrot and stick approach, Bashar hopes to keep most of the Islamists quiet while he gets rid of the protesters by force.

When the protests end, Bashar will still be faced with an Islamist threat. However, the battle at that stage will become a political battle rather than a street battle.

If Bashar wants to leave the presidency and hand power over to the Islamists, then he should do just like Mubarak. That is, he should let the Islamists grow and gain more and more influence until they overthrow him. After that, Syria will become an Islamist country and we will be back to Ottoman times.

If Bashar wants to stay in power, or if he wants to hand power over to another secular person, then he will have to fight the Islamists politically and socially and defeat them.

The first step in fighting the Islamists is to allow freedom of speech to those who criticize them. The regime must instruct all media outlets to stop censoring criticism of the Islamists. If we can’t even criticize the Islamists and their beliefs, then how are they possibly going to be contained?

Souri,

You keep getting it upside down. The only way to be able to successfully defeat radical Islamists is to allow multi-parties, even those who are opposition, to exist and to increase civil and political liberties. Allowing a quasi platform to attack Islam and yet forbid others to assemble, form parties, criticize the regime, expose corruption, and so forth would only radicalize the silent majority even more. Moving towards the free and open society is the way.

I’m sure most of you have heard this song/poem by Sameeh Shukair that was dedicated to the people of Deraa, ‘Ya Haif’.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jytzu7LCJOo

For those who’s do not speak Arabic or are not very fluent, I have translated (badly) the song. Please feel free to use the translation, edit it, and spread it around if you want to. I have no experience in translation so I am sure many of you have a lot to say.

‘Ya Haif’, What a shame.

What a Shame..What a Shame..to fire bullets at the unarmed.
What a shame to arrest kids at the age of flowers.
How? How?
You are my countryman and you kill my kids,
and while your back is at the enemy, you attack me with your sword!
What a shame, what a shame
And this is what’s happening, in Daraa (city) O mother what a shame..

O mother the kids heard liberty is coming to their doors, they went to greet it.
They saw the guns pointed at them but said they are our brothers they wouldn’t fire at us.
But they shot, and we died by the hands of our brother in the name of national security, but history will be a witness of who we are.
O mother didn’t u know one word of freedom made (the tyrant) tremble in fear.
O mother when the masses chanted he (tyrant) went berserk, burning us with fire.
and we are the ones who said that whoever kills his people is a TRAITOR!, whoever it is.
The people are their own destiny. If they chose to be silent, it’s to give you (tyrant) a chance
Hope is near

What a Shame…

Cheers

There is no half free, half democracy or half rights. Syrian are asking (or should be asking) for no less than a complete freedom and equality including the freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom of choice, equality between men and women, equality regardless of regions, sects, areas or ethnic background. If this is what the Syrian revolution is about, then I am all for it, otherwise it’s another crime against Syria.