The 'Martyrs' of Liwa al-Sayyida Ruqayya (The Ja'afari Force)

The ‘Martyrs’ of Liwa al-Sayyida Ruqayya (The Ja’afari Force)

Sunday, May 29th, 2016

By Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi

LiwaSayyidaRuqayyaNewEmblem
Current emblem of Liwa al-Sayyida Ruqayya. Top: “If God supports you, no one can overcome you” [Qur’an 3:160]. Centre: “The Ja’afari Force: Liwa al-Sayyida Ruqayya.” Bottom: “The Islamic Resistance in Syria.”

Readers may be familiar with the previous post on this site about Liwa al-Sayyida Ruqayya (Sayyida Ruqayya Brigade, named for the Sayyida Ruqayya shrine in Damascus), also known as the Ja’afari Force. A militia recruiting primarily from the Shi’a in Damascus and identifying ideologically with Iran, Liwa al-Sayyida Ruqayya’s evolution over time can be principally traced through the presentation of its claimed ‘martyrs.’ A large number of cases can notably be traced to the National Defence Forces (NDF) in Damascus. Other labels emerged such as ‘Liwa Ansar al-Hussein’ (Supporters of Hussein Brigade), but over the course of 2014-2015, Liwa al-Sayyida Ruqayya came to present itself as an affiliate of the Iraqi Shi’i militia Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada’, with the latter’s emblem, flag and insignia featured in social media output.

However, Liwa al-Sayyida Ruqayya now presents itself as an independent group, according to a media representative who corresponded with me. The reason for the shift away from the affiliation with Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada’ was not given, but one plausible explanation for this development is that Liwa al-Sayyida Ruqayya may have attached itself to Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada’ for a temporary time in order to receive weapons and training. In a somewhat similar vein, Liwa al-Baqir of the Local Defence Forces in Aleppo reportedly received weapons and training in the beginning from Harakat al-Nujaba’- another Iraqi Shi’i militia- before separating off from it. It may also be that this process of separating off is intended to give an ever more ‘Syrian’ feel to the building of ‘Islamic Resistance’ formations in Syria. In any case, the break-off from Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada’ is clear in Liwa al-Sayyida Ruqayya’s latest social media manifestations, as the Iraqi group’s insignia and logo are absent now, while the Syrian image is reinforced by the inclusion of the Syrian flag in the current emblem.

CakeLiwaSayyidaRuqayya
A cake dedicated to the mothers of the ‘martyrs’ of Liwa al-Sayyida Ruqayya.

In total, the militia representative put the number of ‘martyrs’ at 25. Liwa al-Sayyida Ruqayya has recently been providing more detailed profiles of many of its claimed ‘martyrs’, which I have translated and featured below. They provide deeper insight into the engagements and origins of the group’s fighters, corroborating that most of the group’s personnel are Damascene Shi’a. Unsurprisingly, the recurrence of certain names points to much recruitment based around families (cf. multiple people with the family name Khaloof are involved in another Syrian ‘Islamic Resistance’ militia known as al-Ghalibun). I have also provided additional notes on many of these ‘martyrs’ where applicable.

MuhammadSousJaafariForcemartyr
Name: Ismail Muhammad Ali al-Sous (Abu Ali)
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1967
Place of death: Harasta al-Qantara, East Ghouta
Date of death: 20 May 2016

Part of the recent regime offensive on East Ghouta taking advantage of the rebel-infighting.

HassanAhmadKenanNibrasJaafariForceMartyr
Name: Hassan Ahmad Ken’an (Nibras)
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1992
Place of death: Deraa area
Date: 27 July 2015

The Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada’ association could be observed at his funeral.

MuhammadAliZaynJaafariForceMartyr
Name: Muhammad Ali al-Zayn Abu Ali (Habib)
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1956
Place of death: Deraa area, Sheikh Maskeen
Date of death: 26 November 2014
Body returned: 25 July 2015

This claimed ‘martyr’ is particularly interesting because he was actually also presented as a ‘martyr’ by Hezbollah. In addition, reports from the time of his death show he had an NDF ID card. In terms of broader context, it should be pointed out that Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada’ was heavily involved in the Deraa front over the course of winter 2014-2015 (e.g. see here).

AdnanHassanMatouq
Name: Adnan Hassan Ma’touq (Zayn)
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1988
Place of death: Mleha area [East Ghouta]
Date: 1 July 2014

Originally from Imam Ja’afar al-Sadiq neighbourhood in Damascus, he can be observed here to be wearing Liwa al-Sayyida Ruqayya insignia. The reference to him as ‘al-mulazim sharf’ may also suggest he was in the Syrian army/NDF. The al-Mleha campaign in 2014 involved a large number of Shi’i militias, including Hezbollah, the Rapid Intervention Regiment (Iraqi), Liwa al-Imam al-Hussein (Iraqi), Liwa Dhu al-Fiqar (Iraqi) and Liwa Assad Allah al-Ghalib (Iraqi).

AlaMohsenKawayfati
Name: Ala’ Mohsen Kuwayfati (al-Doushka)
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1988
Place of death: Mleha area
Date of death: 16 June 2014

Photos exist of this ‘martyr’ wearing Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada’ insignia.

HusseinAbdalKarim
Name: Hussein Abd al-Karim Ala’ al-Din (Gharib)
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1994
Place of death: al-Otayba area
(One of the 10 fighters killed in repelling an attack on Damascus airport).

Note photos featuring a portrait of him under the title of al-mulazim sharf, which in this case points to NDF affiliation. The bodies of the 10 fighters were brought to Imam Ja’afar al-Sadiq neighbourhood in Damascus.

AliMahmoudDarwish
Name: Ali Mahmoud Darwish (Karar)
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1989
Place of death: al-Otayba area
Date of death: 3 December 2013
(One of the 10 fighters killed in repelling an attack on Damascus airport).

Featured in an official NDF video.

MuhammadDibAbbas
Name: Muhammad Dib Abbas Halawa al-Bani (Muntadhar)
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1985
Place of death: al-Otayba area
(One of the 10 fighters killed in repelling an attack on Damascus airport).

His portrait in a funeral procession is featured in an official NDF video.

HassanHaithanNahas
Name: Hassan Haitham al-Nahas (Muslim)
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1995
Place of death: al-Otayba area
Date of death: 3 December 2013
(One of the 10 fighters killed in repelling an attack on Damascus airport).

Featured in an official NDF video.

AhmadHassanHalawaalBani
Name: Ahmad Hassan Halawa al-Bani (Jareh)
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1994
Place of death: al-Otayba area
Date of death: 3 December 2013
(One of the 10 fighters killed in repelling an attack on Damascus airport).

Featured in an official NDF video.

MuhammadJawadAbbasDarwish
Name: Muhammad Jawad Abbas Darwish (Abu Turab)
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1997
Place of death: al-Otayba area
Date of death: 3 December 2013
(One of the 10 fighters killed in repelling an attack on Damascus airport. Described as the youngest of the fighters killed, he was 15 or 16 years old at the time of his death).

Like Ala’ Zahwa, he can be observed with the Liwa Ansar al-Hussein insignia.

TalalHaddad
Name: Talal Haddad
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1977
Place of death: al-Otayba area
Date of death: 3 December 2013
(One of the 10 fighters killed in repelling an attack on Damascus airport).

MuhammadAliHamti
Name: Muhammad Ali Hamti
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1977
Place of death: al-Otayba area
Date of death: 3 December 2013
(One of the 10 fighters killed in repelling an attack on Damascus airport).

MohsenAkramalKhayat
Name: Mohsen Akram al-Khayat (Maymum)
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1989
Place of death: al-Otayba area
Date of death: 3 December 2013
(One of the 10 fighters killed in repelling an attack on Damascus airport).

Featured in an official NDF video.

AlaMuhammadZahwa
Name: Ala’ Muhammad Zahwa (Martyr of Hussein)
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1984
Place of death: al-Otayba area
Date of death: 3 December 2013
(One of the 10 fighters killed in repelling an attack on Damascus airport).

EmadIbrahimKanan
Name: Imad Ibrahim Kan’an (Abu al-Abbas)
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1995
Place of death: Al-Bweida area (Damascus countryside)
Date of death: 31 November 2013

MuhammadAhmadKhadir
Name: Muhammad Ahmad Khadir (Abu Ruqayya)
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1996
Place of death: Al-Bweida area
Date of death: 31 November 2013

Featured in an official NDF video.

RidhaMuhammadZahwa
Name: Ridha Muhammad Zahwa (Sajid)
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1986
Place of death: Al-Bweida area
Date of death: 17 October 2013

Specifically from Imam Ja’afar al-Sadiq neighbourhood in Damascus.

MuhammadAhmadAjuz
Name: Muhammad Ahmad Ajuz
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1991
Place of death: Bab Touma area (Damascus)
Date of death: 11 April 2013

Specifically from the Imam Ja’afar al-Sadiq neighbourhood in Damascus.

RashidShakerDarwish
Name: Rashid Shaker Darwish (the Ja’afari)
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1977
Place of death: Jobar area (Damascus)
Date of death: 6 April 2013

A video exists giving a description of his life. He was specifically from the Imam Ja’afar al-Sadiq neighbourhood in Damascus and had visited a number of Shi’i holy sites. In his death, he left behind a six-year old son called Ja’afar al-Sadiq Darwish. An account from the time of his death mentions he was in the NDF.

RadwanFawziMarey
Name: Radwan Fawzi Mara’i (Abu Ali)
Born in: Machgara, Lebanon (located in the Beqaa Valley)
Year of birth: 1960
Place of death: Jobar area
Date of death: 14 March 2013

According to an account at the time of his death, he was “one of the members of the popular committees defending the holy shrines in Syria.” His will stipulated that he was to be buried in Sayyida Zainab.

SaadAliZamam
Name: Sa’ad Ali Zamam (Abu al-Zayn)
Born in: Safita (Tartous province)
Year of birth: 1970
Place of death: Douma area (Damascus)
Date of death: 2 December 2012

According to Liwa al-Sayyida Ruqayya, he was “the first of the founders of the Islamic Resistance in Syria.” He is actually quite a famous ‘martyr’ in the pro-Assad world. For example, one article notes that he was originally a sculptor, but says that he was born in 1964. The article credits him as a founder of the concept of setting up popular committees as auxiliary forces for the Syrian army. He eventually became involved on Damascus area fronts in Douma, al-Qabun, west Harasta and Sayyida Zainab. He was reportedly killed by an IED, which he came across in one of the gardens in the Douma area and tried to dismantle. It should also be noted that there is a branch of the NDF named after him.

AhmadHassanNahas
Name: Ahmad Hussein al-Nahas (Muslim)
Born in: Damascus
Year of birth: 1987
Place of death: Sayyida Zainab area (Damascus)
Date of death: 14 August 2012

Described by Liwa al-Sayyida Ruqayya as “the first guardian of Zainab.”

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Comments (99)

Majedkhaldoun said:

who will liberate Reqqa, ,US is on the wrong path, Reqqa is not Kurdish, is not Turkish , the only force who should go there is the FSA, ,

Mr. Al Tamimi,
those who died from this Liwaa, they died in vein,many others like them will die too are we going to have their pictures here?Zainab ,Ruqiyya and Husein tombs are not in danger,why are they fighting ?, in what honor they are dying ?, to support Iran? this is not honorable in Syria, it is betrayal of Syria,Who care about them?

May 30th, 2016, 10:32 am

Tara said:

These people aren’t martyrs . They are ????? not more not less. They suspended their brain , and submitted to some turban mullahs brainwashing them that the path to haven is via killing and slaughtering under the disguised of protecting some dead women tomb more than 600 km away . Stupids!!!!

May 30th, 2016, 3:36 pm

Ed Jazairi said:

Very Sorry for all of the above Syrian citizens died for fraduelent causes. Those young men died for no reasons other than their affiliation with sectarian causes. Syria is not a sectarian country. Perhaps they should have spilled their blood in either Iran or Saudi Arabia. Oh, one more thing, a very important thing. This cake does not have the Syrian Flag on it. The true Syrian flag has a Black stripe on the bottom, Green Strip on top, White Middle and three Red Stars in the Middle Therefore, these so called martyrs are not Syrians to begin with. Long life Syria, Free and democratic

May 30th, 2016, 7:49 pm

Ghufran said:

Iran and KSA have made things worse in the Middle East and gave Israel a breathing room by allowing it to pick both its targets and allies while arabs are being used as foot soldiers in a war that could only help foreign nations. Iran made peace with the Talibans to help fight isis and gave refuge to Taliban new leader’s family and the man himself was killed by a U.S. air strike while he was crossing the borders between iran and Pakistan. Things will only get better if Ksa and Iran sit down and end this bloody conflict. I see no indication that a resolution is near.

May 31st, 2016, 2:00 am

Alan said:

/ Things will only get better if Ksa and Iran sit down and end this bloody conflict. I see no indication that a resolution is near /.

No! The Saudi ruling family, of Jewish roots, has become a burden catastrophic for the Arab nation and the world
We must root out al-Saud family from the Arabian Peninsula and then everyone will sleep comfortably

May 31st, 2016, 6:13 am

Akbar Palace said:

To those interested, Israel has created a Syrian Liaison Unit for treating Syrians wounded in the civil war there:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4810130,00.html

…and gave Israel a breathing room…

We must root out al-Saud family from the Arabian Peninsula…

That’s good Alan, when do you start with your next Muslim-on-Muslim death parade? Unbelievable.

Ghufran,

Is that all you care about? Giving Israel “breathing room”? Really?

That’s good Alan! When do you start with your next Muslim-on Muslim war?

May 31st, 2016, 9:34 am

Jasmine said:

The Martyr

I will carry my soul in my hand
And throw it in the valleys of death
It is either a life that makes a friend happy
Or a death that makes an enemy angry
The noble man’s soul has two goals
To die or to achieve its dreams
What is life if I don’t live
Feared and what I have is forbidden to others
When I speak, all the world listens
And my voice echoes among people
I see my death, but I rush to it
This is the death of men
And whoever desires an honorable death
Then this is it
How am I patient with the spiteful
And patient with all this pain?
Is it because of fear?
While life has no value to me!
Or humiliation? While I am contemptuous!
I will throw my heart at my enemies’ faces
And my heart is iron and fire!
I will protect my land with the edge of the sword
So my people will know that I am the man

by Abdelrahim Mahmud
1937

May 31st, 2016, 9:38 am

Jasmine,

What do you think Abdelrahim Mahmud would say about the state of the Middle East today?

May 31st, 2016, 11:25 am

Turkey is looking at giving citizenship to Syrian sheikhs and religious figures:
???? ???? ?????? ??????? ?????? “???? ??????” ??? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ???? ????????? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ??????? ?????? ?????????? ????? ???????? ?????????? ?? ?????.
What a great idea, let them go to Turkey, stay in Turkey and help wipe out gains made by
secularism since the 1930s, that is the best gift we can give to the new Sultan,Erdogan.

May 31st, 2016, 1:33 pm

Akbar

He would say that the Middle East is cursed by Zionism and Wahhabism .

May 31st, 2016, 4:05 pm

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has begun the construction of a gigantic embassy in Israël, probably the most important in Tel-Aviv.

Officially, the two states do not maintain diplomatic relations because of the expulsion by Israël of the majority of its Palestinian population in 1948 (al-Nakba).

However, the Quincy Pact, signed between President Roosevelt and King Abdelaziz in 1945, and renewed by President Bush and King Fahd in 2005, stipulates amongst other things that the Kingdom would not oppose the Jewish homeland in Palestine (future state of Israël) [1].

It was not the United States, but King Abdallah who financed the Israeli operation «Cast Lead» against the Gaza Strip in 2008-09 [2]. This rapprochement put an end to the «Periphery doctrine» according to which Tel-Aviv sought to unify the non-Arab actors in the region (Iran, Turkey, Ethiopia) against the Arab countries…… http://www.voltairenet.org/article192024.html

June 1st, 2016, 3:43 am

He must have been been a smart man. His fight against Zionism and Wahhabism must go on forever. Thank you for that lovely poem.

ALan,

Thank you for that piece of misinformation. Which street in Tel-Aviv is the Saudi Embassy being built?

June 1st, 2016, 7:43 am

AKbar Palace said:

Take a looked at how “cursed” Israeli-arabs are living in Israel:

http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/p/eoz-posters-for-apartheid-week.html?_sm_au_=iVVVDN85sJ1PN6FN

When will you and your Wesistance Pro™ comrades put an end to this affront? We need Israeli-arabs to suffer like the rest of the Middle East!
Arabs need to live the “good life” just like in the Shia Utopias of Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq.

June 1st, 2016, 9:53 am

A gentle reminder:

https://theburningbloggerofbedlam.wordpress.com/2014/11/07/zionism-and-wahhabism-the-twin-cancers-destroying-the-middle-east-and-their-dark-origins/

June 1st, 2016, 12:12 pm

“Gentle Reminder“? This person, “theburningbloggerofbedlam” is just another in a long line of jew-haters and conspiracy theorists. Glad he makes you feel good, but I would advise that you wean yourself from such khara and start listening to some of the more tolerant arabs on this website.

If arabs were treated as well as arab-israelis are in Israel, we wouldn’t have a lot to talk about here.

BTW, what did you think about the photos from my last post? Do you think they were photo-shopped? Did you do any Google searches to verify the identity of some of these Israeli-arabs?

Let me guess: No

June 1st, 2016, 12:47 pm

Just for yuks, I posted a link below to a very successful person I know who is in my field of business. Guess which languages this person speaks? Guess which Apartheid State this person began his studies!

Are you surprised dear Jasmine? Send him and email and try to convince him to be a Wesistance Pro™.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/abed-khaskia-2233317

June 1st, 2016, 1:27 pm

Hopeful said:

I’d like to weigh in on the debate between Akbar Palace and Jasmine…

The average income of Israeli Arabs is about 35% less than Israeli Jews. This is a huge difference and Israel has clearly some work to do to bridge the gap – it is not a happy place of equality for minorities. http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/.premium-1.624900

On the other hand, Israel’s GDP per capita (which is closely related to income per capita) is $36K. Assuming for Israeli Arabs it is less by a third, the number will be roughly $25K for Arab Israelis. This is FIVE times the GDP per capita for Jordanians, more than ten times for Syrians (before the war), and close to eight times for Egyptians. Given the fact that the natural resources in Israel are similar to the ones in Syria, Jordan and Egypt, what would one assume the GDP per capita for a Palestinian would have been today had the state of Israel not existed? Would an Arab-led Palestenian state have done any better than its neighbors in Syria, Jordan or Egypt? Did the influx of Jews from around the world – equipped with know-how, diversity and democratic ideals from their own countries help lift up the standard of living for all people, including Arabs who remained in Israel (note please that I am not in any way trying to minimize the suffering and injustice inflicted on the Palestinians who left their homeland – I am only talking about the Arabs inside Israel today)

You see, it is a case of a glass half empty half full. I tend to see it half full.

June 1st, 2016, 1:31 pm

Hopeful,

You mean you’re not going to rely on conspiracy websites? How refreshing!

I welcome your input. Arab-Israeli quality of life is always on the increase. In the rest of the Middle East, I dare say it is getting worse.

But, as you can see, the issue isn’t the Palestinians and Israel’s treatment of her arab minority. The issue is this thing called “Wesistance” and how Jasmine thinks this is going to help “her people”.

Why don’t you address her points and help her out. It would be a “mitzvah”;)

June 1st, 2016, 1:51 pm

Another one with a different style,enjoy !
http://mondoweiss.net/2016/01/zionism-kingdom-arabia/

June 1st, 2016, 2:46 pm

Passerby said:

Hmmm… Haven’t been paying attention, figured Russia had it under control. But I guess they decided to stick everyone else with it, having saved Assad.

Something about this cease-fire and that cease-fire and this and that about some apparently meaningless negotiations and so on.

But this Syrian Kurds, backed by US Special Forces on the front lines, in Syria, taking on ISIS, and cutting it’s supply line from Turkey…? All infuriating Turkey, both because it’s Kurds and because of their support for ISIS.

Not like Turkey can lightly bomb those Kurds, you wouldn’t want to do it in an airplane with what they have flying overhead, NATO or not.

So guys, has America finally come to it’s senses, and backed the only remotely civilized group fighting ISIS, that’s actually capable of fighting? Finally cut the subservience to the GulfStates/Turkey?

Fracking, that’s my guess. Oil will always be cheap, and getting cheaper, it’s permanent. Those censored pages of the 9/11 report on the Saudi/Gulf States involvement, the letting the survivors sue, something’s up. Something bigger than just taking that one town in Syria.

June 1st, 2016, 8:19 pm

Observer said:

This came to my attention and the recent declaration from Alawi elders about refusing to associate all Sunnis with Ibn T’s fatwa is interesting as this pro regime posting is clearly in contradiction to this post:
?? ???? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ??? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ?? ????? ???????? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ????????? ?????? ?? ????? ????????. ????? ????? ?????? ??????? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????. ?????? ??? ?????? ????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ??? “????????? ??????? ???????” ???? “????????? ???????” ?? ????? ??????: ” ?????? ??????? ??????? ??????:”

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

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

????? ????? ??????: “????? ??? ????? ??? ????? ????? ??????! ????? ??????! ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????!”

June 2nd, 2016, 10:09 am

This mess in Syria is the product of oppression, corruption and islamism, to get out of it you need a new system that promotes freedom and prohibits religious parties that practice politics. Foreign intervention in Syria is not new but it got worse after the Syrian house was occupied by albaath and the Assads followed by The Iranian revolution and the invasion of Iraq. Israel is not the cause of Syria’s problems but it does not help to have an aggressive and apartheid state at your borders that occupied lands by force and bullies its neighbors. Stop blaming Israel and look in the mirror. What made israel strong is the failure of arab regimes and Israel’s adaptation of a democratic system and its institutions which protect Jewish citizens and treat arab Israelis better than the treatment they receive by most arab regimes.

June 2nd, 2016, 10:31 am

Before anyone jumps up and down
I think the Kurds should have their state
I think the Alawi should have theirs as well
I think the Druze should too and also any other group that wishes to be independent of others. Please do it peacefully and get out of the juggernaut called Sykes Picot imposed on the people there.
Once again there is no such thing as a Syrian nation or an Arab nation or a Muslim umma or anything but tribes and families with flags and security services.
Cheers

June 2nd, 2016, 10:36 am

ALAN said:

you jumped in all directions. Kurds/i am including/, Druze or Alawi, togather with all components of Syria are a Nation with capital letter. You, Observer smaller than giving opinion in such esue. Keep quite.

June 2nd, 2016, 2:54 pm

You’re correct (except for one thing). Israel isn’t an Apartheid State™; but we’ve been through this before. Like Jasmine, it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks!

BTW, there could be a “Syrian Nation” if the people there were tolerant. The US is made up of all kinds of ethnicities, but were a nation because we have freedom and opportunity. Nothing holds us together except our desire to live in freedom.

June 2nd, 2016, 3:22 pm

Tolerantly enjoy your polis state.

June 2nd, 2016, 3:49 pm

Now this news should shorten the leach on Erdogan”s neck.

From Al-Alam
The German parliament has approved a resolution recognizing as genocide the killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks a century ago, in a move which risks damaging ties between Berlin and Ankara.
On Thursday, the lower house of the German legislature, Bundestag, voted overwhelmingly for the motion, which is symbolically significant and has no legal effect.
“With one vote against and one abstention, this resolution has been passed by a remarkable majority of the German Bundestag,” said Norbert Lammert, the Bundestag president.
Titled “Remembrance and commemoration of the genocide of Armenians and other Christian minorities in 1915 and 1916,” the motion was put forward by the ruling left-right coalition and the opposition Greens.
The resolution uses the word “genocide” in the headline and text. It says Germany – the Ottoman Turks’ main military ally at the time – bears some guilt for doing nothing to stop the killings.
It also calls on the German government to “encourage” Turkey to “deal openly with the expulsions and massacres” so as to “lay the necessary foundation stone for reconciliation with the Armenian people.”
Armenia says up to 1.5 million of its nationals were killed between 1915 and 1917 as the Ottoman Empire was falling apart, but Turkey argues that it was a collective tragedy, during which 300,000 to 500,000 Armenians and as many Turks lost their lives.
– See more at: http://en.alalam.ir/news/1824403#.dpuf

June 2nd, 2016, 4:29 pm

Well, no one seemed to agree, but I donno’ seems something’s up. Voice of America…

How Long Can US Mask Disagreements With Turkey?

ISTANBUL—
For months the U.S. has sought to keep up appearances when it comes to relations with Turkey, striving to downplay disputes with Ankara and to mask discord. But a dispute over the best way to defeat the Islamic State terror group is exposing how much at cross-purposes the two countries are — risking longer-term harm to the U.S.-Turkish strategic alliance, say analysts…

http://www.voanews.com/content/united-states-turkey-islamic-state/3359235.html

Cutting the supply line to where? Where are they getting their supplies?

Turkey?

June 2nd, 2016, 8:39 pm

Soldiers on the ground willing to fight, US airplanes overhead and US special forces on the ground communicating with them? Like a hot knife through butter if history is any guide.

Seems it’s not possible to seal the Turkish side of the border, seems easier to seal the Syrian side in the middle of a civil war.

Funny how that is.

Erdogan is very good at seizing total power in Turkey, big Dictator now, but he’s really screwed up Turkey’s role in the world. He thought he was going to be the big leader. Bet wrong on Assad, backed ISIS/Nusra and just keeps digging that hole deeper and deeper. He’s got the Gulf States in there digging with him, but I wouldn’t count on them in a pinch.

June 2nd, 2016, 9:22 pm

ghufran said:

Saudi Arabia and its pimps are in hot water after three developments (and more to come I believe):
1. US Congress voted to allow victims of 9/11 to sue KSA. Obama said he will veto the bill but Obama will be gone in 7 short months.
2. US stops exporting cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia after “discovering” that the Saudi thugs are using them against civilians in Yemen.
3. UN officially blacklists KSA for killing children in Yemen placing it in the same class that has ISIS and war lords in Syria.
MY point is simple, there are no good governments in The Middle East, and those who told you that The Saudis and the Turks are merciful and clean have lied to you. Ordinary Arabs and Muslims have been the stupid foot soldiers in the war to master the regions since 1979, to others we are all Bedouins, that makes the shia-sunni war rather dumb and self defeating.

June 3rd, 2016, 12:12 pm

American ground forces operating on the Syrian soil are invaders and must be kicked out of the country by the force. Proxy special masters could undergo invaders out against their will

June 3rd, 2016, 3:44 pm

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

June 3rd, 2016, 8:54 pm

Russia and the Syrian army are trying to reach Tabqa airport near Raqqa before the U.S. and its allies get there. Giving raqqa to kurds means starting a new war now or later, the city and its surrounding was never a Kurdish zone.

June 3rd, 2016, 9:13 pm

One more time, in an attempt to be constructive (yeah right.)

Partitioning like some suggest, chopping up Syria or Iraq is a recipe for war. And Russia seems against it.

But the current situation where Sunnis have an absolute majority in Syria and Shiites have an absolute majority in Iraq, is a recipe for domination, or repressive minority rule.

As everyone is flailing about, one plan would be to annex the Eastern Sunni area of Syria, pretty much the ISIS part, to Iraq. Then The Shiites no longer have a majority in Iraq, and the Sunnis no longer have a majority in Syria. The Kurds get some autonomy and plenty of clout, since their votes in both places now matter. They deserve better but it’s better than what they have and it would at least toss Erdogan a bone, no Kurdish state, although the Alawites will probably still dominate the remaining part of Syria.

Tossing it out there.

June 3rd, 2016, 10:15 pm

For instance, when ISIS is defeated in Syria, who replaces them? Assad? That’s going to work out?

Iraq actually has sort of a democracy, their vote would matter unless the Shiites running Iraq stacks the deck. At any rate, probably preferable to them than Assad.

The Alawites/Christians/Etc. are probably glad to see them go. The goons runing Iraq might not want them, wanting to maintain their ethnic domination, but there’s something about countries wanting to expand their borders, you never know.

Everyone except the ISIS/Nusra types win, or at least are better off than now or any other realistic alternative.

June 3rd, 2016, 10:28 pm

Mina said:

If Bashar al Asad wanted to annoy everyone, he would declare a complete separation of state and religion and adopt a fully secular constitution. This would really worry his neighbours, and in particular those in the south.

June 4th, 2016, 6:33 am

Well, looks like no one is interested in peace yet. Haven’t suffered enough. The only satisfactory resolution is I win, my enemies are all dead or subjugated.

Well, more death and misery coming, you get your wish.

June 4th, 2016, 7:58 am

“The battle to capture Quneitra on Sept. 27 was preceded by coordination and communications between Abu Dardaa, a leader of Jabhat al-Nusra, and the Israeli army to pave the way for the attack. And according to an FSA commander who partly participated in this battle, the Israeli army provided Abu Dardaa with maps of the border area and the Syrian army’s strategic posts in the southern area”

Call those terrorists “Thuwwar” if you want but we all know they are Nusra thugs and religious zealots. They call it “Thawra” but they hail the fact that terrorists from Uzbekistan captured 8 Syrian soldiers in Southern Aleppo. They call it “The Alawite Army” when more than half of the recruits fighting in Aleppo now are Sunni !!

June 4th, 2016, 11:50 am

Trying in vain to legitimize the illegitimate regime:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-n-will-request-syrian-permission-for-aid-airdrops-1464985753

Starving one’s own people always to remain on the throne.

In the meantime the misery continues.

June 4th, 2016, 12:23 pm

I donno’, this guy thinks something’s up…

Syrian Army thrusts into Raqqa

…Regular army troops were backed by militia newly trained by the regime’s ally Russia, Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said.

He said the twin offensives which threaten to cut off IS-held Raqqa from militant-held territory along the Turkish border raised suspicions that Moscow and Washington were covertly coordinating operations by their respective Syrian allies.

“It seems there has been an undeclared coordination between Washington and Moscow,” he said…

http://www.hindustantimes.com/world/syrian-army-thrusts-into-raqqa/story-VOgB0Y2Il3COcmrdio6BcJ.html

It was the same day.

June 4th, 2016, 9:58 pm

Ok, I’ll make another prediction. Here’s what I think is up. We are looking at the moderate Syrian Sunni army that will defeat ISIS/Nusra/Etc. The US has finally come up with a plan.

Any moderates were quickly overwhelmed by the radicals, and the Gulf States and Turkey supporting the radicals guaranteed it. And the “FSA” shiny shoes guys and those pathetic couple dozen the US trained with all that money, immediately handing over all weapons to Nusra to save their lives. There was no way for a moderate Sunni army to form. They finally came up with a plan, have the Kurds protect them as they get their act together. And the hundreds of US Special Operations with them? And the increase in Russian Special Operations, although not blabbed to the entire planet like Obama?

Good job.

But the fundamental problem remains. What happens after ISIS/Nusra is gone? How do the two armies sort that out?

I’m tellin’ ya’, make it part of Iraq. Problem solved. Or as close to solved as it gets in that scorpion jar.

June 4th, 2016, 10:32 pm

Turkmen jihadists recently posted photos of their fighters operating inside the Yamadi Refugee Camp near the Turkish border-crossing into the Latakia Governorate. These pictures confirmed Russian military reports that the Syrian opposition fighters were turning refugee camps into bases in order to launch attacks against the government forces in Latakia.
Jihadists have been using civilian areas as bases for years, they also shell civilian areas under rrgime control, then they post videos about civilian casualties when they get bombed by Russia or the Syrian army.

June 4th, 2016, 11:35 pm

The armed rebellion failed where it was critical for it to succeed: improve lives for ordinary Syrians.
Read what the leaders of rebellion said 5 years ago and look at where they took Syria, when confronted with facts, the thawrajiyyeh uses a Baathist mentality by blaming the enemy and insisting that there was a conspiracy to kill their “revolution”.
Are you better off after 5 years of an armed rebellion that is now led by terrorists ?
The answer is a resounding NO.

June 4th, 2016, 11:54 pm

Erdoganistan
https://www.rt.com/shows/documentary/344950-erdogan-turkey-kurds-crackdown/

June 5th, 2016, 1:12 pm

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

June 5th, 2016, 1:19 pm

Quick collapse of the US
for intelligent discussion we should never drift away from reality, no there will be no quick collapse of US, Alan is reflecting his dreams and hopes , not credible analysis

As for the comment that says the armed rebellion has failed ,this is another outlandish dream by those who consider Assad their IDOL, empty analysis and ridiculous ideas, probably first grader can think much better, this is truly garbage people desire for freedom and democracy does not fail, it will continue till the criminal dictator is gone, the long time it is taking to rid Syria of Assad is due to Iran huge effort and money and military support to the hated ruler in Syria and due to Russian direct military and diplomatic support and to the Obama hesitant and weak stand in this Syrian crisis, and US policy that is directed at containing Erdogan, People revolution against dictators or corrupt rulers always succeed at the end , this revolution is not a fight between nations , or leaders, it is ideological revolution the time for corrupt dictators in this world is going away and the whole world ,now , is changing ,there is always set back but good will win over evil

June 6th, 2016, 6:24 am

Majedkhaldoun,

I agree.

June 6th, 2016, 7:19 am

?? ???????
????? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ???????
??? ????? ????? ???? ????? ???? ??? ????????? ???? ????? ???? ???? ????? ???? ??? ????? ????….. ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ???? ????? ? ??????? ?? ?????? ??? ????????? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ????????? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ??? ??????
???? ????? ????? ????? ???? ?? ????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ???????? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ????? ????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??? ????? ??? ????? ?? ??? ????????? ???? ??????( ?????? )???? ??? ??????? ???? ? ????? ???? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ????? ???????? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ?????? ????????? ??? ??? ??????? ????????? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?? ???? ?? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?? ?????????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ????? ????????? ? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ?????.
??? ???? ??? ????? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ???????? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ??? ????? ????? ????? ???? ???? ?? ??? ??????. ??? ?? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ??? ???????
??? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ????? 12 ??? ?? ????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ???? ? ??????? ????? ??????? ????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ??? ?????? :?????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ???!
??? ????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ???? ????? ??? ??? ???? ? ????? ?? ????? ?? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ?????( ??????? ????? ??????)?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ?????( ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ????)? ? ????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?????( ???? ??????? ??? ???? )????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ??????? ???? ?? ???? ????( ???? ????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????? ??? )? ????? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ??????? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ???( ???? ????? ??? )???? ?? ???? ???????( ??????)??? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ??????? ??? ??? ?? ???? ???? ???? ??? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ??????? ????? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??? ????????? ???? ???? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????? ????????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????….. ???? ?????? :???? ?????? ??…… ?? ??????? ???????? ???? ???? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?? ????? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ??????? ???? ?????? ???? ????? …( ???? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ??? ???????? ????? ?????? ??? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ??? ??? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ????? ????? ??????? ??? ?? ??? )???? ??????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ??? ??????

June 8th, 2016, 10:15 am

Zionist Racism NewZ

Don’t tell the BDSers, but Arab-Israelis are the lucky ones.

http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-eoz-pinkwashing-poster.html?_sm_au_=iVVTFqfJVZ32J5q0

June 8th, 2016, 11:29 am

Mr Putin: it is time of overwhelming force for complete destruction of the enemy.
Time to get it over with quickly so Russia can fully deal with the NEXT western provocation!
NATO intends to close the Dardanelles…

June 8th, 2016, 5:54 pm

????

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

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

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

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

June 9th, 2016, 9:10 pm

What 4 ‘bought’ syrian children refugee have achieved for humanity in Lebanon.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/What-4-bought-Syrian-ref-by-Franklin-Lamb-Children_Malnutrition_Syria_Syrian-Refugees-160609-335.html

I always hated Lebanon and Lebanese and my hatred to them has deepened now,Syrian should have never defended them for 30 years.

June 9th, 2016, 11:32 pm

SANDRO LOEWE said:

I am fed up of racism and hatred. First jewish racism against arabs and non jewish. Then iranian racism against arabs and all non persian people. Then arabs against kurdish mountain people. Now kurdish are racists against arabs and turkish.

Now people like JASMINE say she always hated Lebanon.

Jasmine, I think you are empty headed. You and 90 % of people who are writing and promotiong RACISM and HATRED.

You go to hell. Fxxx YOU ALL RACISTS AND INGNORANTS.

June 10th, 2016, 7:35 am

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Sandro #53

Absolutely agree. It’s a shame that a delicate and lovely flower is used by this crude hater.

June 10th, 2016, 11:06 am

Not to mention that Lebanon deserves nothing but admiration and gratitude for taking so many Syrian refugees and for hosting them (not without problems for both sides) in its territory.

But this stinky flower is just preoccupied with spreading the stench of hate.

June 10th, 2016, 11:26 am

Yes, dear little Jasmine is the shinning example of why the Middle East is the cesspool it is.

Thankfully, we have numerous participants here who are respectful and tolerant.

For example the moderate Arab-Israeli mayor of Taibe said yesterday:

Taibe Mayor Shua Mansour Masarwa said at the meeting, “Despite the hard days, we need to deal with the difficulties and to overcome (them). We condemn any act of killing innocent people on both sides. The occupation needs to end so that peace can survive and we will be able to live in peace.”

He also said, “(I) call to every moderate person in the country and say to them that it’s important for us to denounce and to overcome extremism and hate to continue our lives in the best way and without violence.” The mayor added that his city was always open to Jews and Arabs: “Here, we respect each other, and every Jewish or Arab visitor feels at home.”

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4814477,00.html

June 10th, 2016, 1:10 pm

Who would have guessed that Erdogan is a haematologist.
http://www.lorientlejour.com/article/990401/lallemagne-furieuse-contre-erdogan-qui-cible-le-sang-corrompu-delus-dorigine-turque.html

June 10th, 2016, 1:16 pm

french ground mices operating on the Syrian soil will be kicked out of the country by the force otherwise simply they will go missing!

/Quick collapse of the US/
/for intelligent discussion we should never drift away from reality/
reality?……
http://www.therussophile.org/george-soros-is-preparing-for-economic-collapse-does-he-know-something-that-you-dont.html/

June 10th, 2016, 3:03 pm

SimoHurtta said:

Well it would be wise for these the comment section’s Jewish “democracy to Arabs, but not for Palestinians” bullhorns and Sandro der Löwe to figure out what racism actually means. If Jasmine says that she as a Syrian hates Lebanon and Lebanese based the story how Syrian refugee children and women have been exploited as sex slaves in Lebanon. If Finnish children, during WW2 80,000 of them were sent to Sweden to safety, would have treated, even some of them, like those Syrian refugees in the story, it is certain that generations of Finns would have hated Swedes. That hate would not have been racist.

These our active Israeli Jews and Sandro see what Jasmine is condemning is wrong and racist, then the only conclusion is that these our stinky human rights “advocates” and gentlemen allow and support using refugee children and women in brothels and by pedophiles as sex slaves. Let us remember, that the existence brothels is based on the customers activity and the governmental system which allows it to exist. Even in Lebanon. In Israel prostitution is legal. The sex trade in Israel generates up to $500 million in revenue a year. A Parliamentary study in 2005 said that between 3,000 and 5,000 women had been smuggled into Israel and sold into prostitution in the previous four years. High prices and zero salaries is the aim of “business men” in this trade.

PS
Akbar do you know who is Malka Leifer?
I am certain Akbar that you know her well, but to others the answer is:
Orthodox Jewish former school principal wanted on 74 counts of child sex abuse in Australia, but Israel is not handing her over to Australian justice system after she escaped to asylum in Israel.
(Mentioning this Akbar is hardly racist or anti-Semitic. What would those 74 children say?)

June 10th, 2016, 3:40 pm

Israeli Minister Wants To Annex Half Of West Bank and Kick Out The Palestinians
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44842.htm
The world knows what Israel stands for: elitism, brutality, religious fanaticism, genocide, collective punishment, land stealing, cruelty, occupation, imperialism, racism, etc.
America stands for much the same things. That’s why it supports Israel.
America, Israel, Britain, and France have formed an evil alliance, one which supports colonialism and militarism and the right of a small elite to have most of the world’s wealth.
This fascist alliance threatens the world.

June 10th, 2016, 3:58 pm

Amir,

Sorry but being “privy” to the Syrian file in Lebanon ( whatever that may mean) ,I find nothing to thank Lebanon for! Thos is from the link to the original article that Jasmine posted

I thought about the scale of exploitation faced by Syrian refugee children in Lebanon, of the tens of thousands sleeping rough these frigid nights and the countless thousands who every day are easy prey for abuse. I thought about the fact that Refugee relief efforts in Lebanon are chronically underfunded and that even UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) has been forced to cut aid from all but the neediest of refugees due to insufficient funds.

I thought of that recent Save the Children report of their survey showing that more than a third of the 126 residents they interviewed reported that their children often go without a single meal a day and a quarter have seen children in their towns dying because of lack of food.

I thought about the intense vicious anti-refugee harangues from Lebanese politicians that Syrian refugees pose a threat to the country’s security and economic stability even though the menial jobs they do find are not likely to replace many in any Lebanese job holders. Many fear mongering Lebanese politicians even make The Donald appear somehow compassionate.

I thought about the Syrian children I see daily begging as they wander Beirut’s streets selling chewing gum, flowers, or shining shoes. And I thought about the 11 and 12 year old girls, some of whom I have come to be acquainted with from my visits to the beach where I like to go to take a break and stare into the Mediterranean and just think about life and talk to those anti-social fiddler crabs who pop up from their homes along the beach, grab something and disappear quick.

These beautiful innocent children skip along or pace the Ramlet el Baida corniche waiting for cars with blackened windows to pull up. And they do regularly. Then the pedophiles molest the children for a few dollars before pulling off and disappearing into the traffic. Sometimes keeping the children with them. This observer has given the local police photos of some of their license plates but one supervisor at the Hamra police station regretted that the cops are too overwhelmed with other matters to get very involved in these cases. More than once I was given a shoulder shrug and upturned palms in reference to the case of a young girl “Leila” that I have reported more than once. One female police officer told me: “Well, at least she is earning some money for her family.”

This observer recently wrote some friends about the same “Leila” a twelve year old sweetheart who worked the Ramlet el Baida beach strip. Her friends on the strip have since reported to me that “Leila” never returned from “work” last week and they have no idea what has become of her.

Approximately one half of the Syrian women with children who have been forced to flee to Lebanon have lost their husbands and often their adult sons to the war. Most not having held jobs outside the home before are now forced, besides their role of working mother, into the additional roles of father, big sister, big brother, and best friend for her children. Manar, a Palestinian social worker in Shatila camp reports that “the mothers have become their children’s everything.”

Many Syria women who are able to find work are subjected to regular sexual harassment by employers and fellow male workers and sometimes deny to employers that there is no male in their household who would offer protection if she reported sexual abuse. Some less strong Syrian refugee women simply prostitute themselves for money and aid. It is estimated by a social worker at Shatila camp that women can earn on average $ 36 per day as a sex worker as compared to $8-10 for a 12-14 hour manual labor work day.

June 10th, 2016, 4:11 pm

As a matter of fact and coming to think about it, the most abuse Syrian refugees faced were from fellow Arabs…. Syrian refugees who fled to nonArab countries fared much better than those who fled to Lebanon and Jordan . I once regrettably said I identify myself as a proud Arab.( that is what Albaath party kept brainwashing us with as children). What a scam !!!! I’m neither proud nor an Arab. I just wish that my sympathy to Arab “causes ” cease to exist as all what we get from the “Arabs” was garbage in and garbage out .

June 10th, 2016, 4:26 pm

Simohurta @59
So eloquently put,thanks.

Tara @62
Syrians were never Arabs and we only speak Arabic.
Totally agree.

June 10th, 2016, 5:17 pm

Tara,

Thanks for sharing some of your experiences in Lebanon. I wish there were simple answers. BTW, I thought you were Arab-American?

Sim,

Thanks for pointing out all the despicable joos. If only we joos were as good as Israel’s nice Arab neighbors! Anyway, glad Arabs are safe in Israel.

June 10th, 2016, 7:39 pm

“I thought you were Arab-American?”

I thought I was too.

Now I think I am nothing-American

Genetically , you may be more Arab than I am. We are all jambalaya of mixed genes.

June 10th, 2016, 7:44 pm

Akbar,

Something good about “joos”

They take care of their own.

Something terribly bad about Arabs

They don’t.

It pains me that a Syrian woman was considered a “prize” in the Middle East , a trophy wife . Now they are sex slaves by no one other than Lebanese/ Syrian pimps

June 10th, 2016, 8:03 pm

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

June 10th, 2016, 9:25 pm

Yes, after centuries of being abused, mostly by Europeans, joos have learned to manage well as a group mostly out of necessity.

It boggles the mind how a society which was far ahead of the medieval Dark Ages in Europe floundered into its present state.

So I think about Hafez and his stupid son Bashar, The Wesistance Pro. As you recall, Bashar was talking with the Zios about how to get the Golan back. Of course, the West was gleeful and promises of recognition and billions and trade were hung in front of Bashars eyes.

So what did Bashar do? Did he take Door No 1: a future with the liberal West or did he take Door No 2: rejection and wesistance.

And the rest is history. Arafat, Hamas, and all the other wesistance pros would be proud!

Arab leaders have a habit of running their countries into the ground. I say send Assad to Sims house and keep him there.

June 10th, 2016, 10:36 pm

We can certainly learn a lot from this c_nt…

Is there something more ironic than this interview? I don’t think so.

https://youtu.be/A0nASbOg3B8

June 10th, 2016, 10:58 pm

Hafiz Assad displayed two principal traits. The first was an exceptional degree of political foresight; the second was a foxy fighting instinct when driven to the wall, as he was by the Muslim Brothers at Hama in 1982 or by the Israelis in Lebanon a year later. On both occasions, he proved he could fight as dirty as anyone.

Patrick Seale

RIP Hafiz,you were one of the great leaders .

June 11th, 2016, 12:32 am

68. Akbar Palace said:

Yes, after centuries of being abused, mostly by Europeans, joos have learned to manage well as a group mostly out of necessity….

Akbar Jews have in Europe been the most successful, wealthiest and best educated minority ever. Do you seriously believe it would have been possible for a pariah and hunted tribe? Come on, read real history not that your self-pitying Zionist fiction and propaganda.

Akbar in Poland before WW2 56 percent of all doctors were Jews. 43% of teachers,33% of layers, 22% of journalists, much of trade and industry sector was owned by Jews etc. Jews represented then 10% of the population. Still we are told time after time that Jews in Poland were blocked from universities and from the society. In Europe Jews have lead universities, been bankers, ministers, generals etc for a long time. Akbar look simply at the list of Nobel price winners. There are no Romani people, who honestly can say to been a discriminated and persecuted tribe around Europe. But there are plenty of “discriminated and exploited” Jews. Strange isn’t it Akbar?

I did read a book of medieval slavery. Guess Akbar who had a big fingerprint in the slave trade of that time? Both Christians and Muslims had problems with their religious rules and allowance of creating so called eunuchs of whom were huge demand among both Christians and Muslims. One tribe contributed its services in trade and with cutting genitals. The “tribe” had also the ability to trade between the major blocks and trade captured slaves back to their relatives, with a healthy provision naturally. Jews later became highly influential in the European slave trade, reaching their apex from the 16th to 19th centuries. Hmmmm victims or clever, “flexible” businessmen earning of “necessity”?

June 11th, 2016, 4:21 am

Tara #61 #62,

I share your sadness over the status of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. What I meant was that Lebanon has more refugees per original citizens, than any country in the world. I believe it’s 1 million Syrian refugees in a country with a population of 4,5 millions.

I wish I could say that the situation in Israel is better than this. It isn’t. We treat the refugees that we have here from Africa (mainly from Eritrea) very badly. Their women and children aren’t sexually abused, but in every other aspect they suffer here.

So if I can join your kindness to share your feelings, I feel ashamed that the Jewish people who suffered a lot, can’t be better than this.

June 11th, 2016, 5:48 am

Simo

“Akbar in Poland before WW2 56 percent of all doctors were Jews. 43% of teachers,33% of layers, 22% of journalists, much of trade and industry sector was owned by Jews etc. Jews represented then 10% of the population.”

Simo, why in your opinion , Jews have excelled whereas others such as Arabs didn’t? There shall be a Syrian community in Germany for instance. Are they going to exel ? Are they going to collectively achieve any status ? And please avoid anti-Semitic rant . Would like an intelligent answer .

Amir and Akbar feel free to answer as long as you avoid the nonsense of chosen people as I really do not believe in deity -related appointments and promises

June 11th, 2016, 9:59 am

Deities notwithstanding, we “chosen” have been accused of being “Christ-killers”, relegated to certain professions, thrown out of numerous countries, forced to convert, victims of pogroms, herded into ghettoes, and sent to concentration camps.

Centuries of mistreatment have forced us to take care of ourselves. Just MHO. I wish Israel was around 100 years ago. I guess God works in mysterious ways.

I hope one day all Semites will live together in peace and the violence will stop. I thank you for you contributions here.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisemitism_in_Europe

June 11th, 2016, 10:51 am

Daniel Pipes:

Western governments should support the malign dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad…. http://fb.me/1hE8FJ89T

June 11th, 2016, 12:19 pm

73. Tara said:

Simo

“Akbar in Poland before WW2 56 percent of all doctors were Jews. 43% of teachers,33% of layers, 22% of journalists, much of trade and industry sector was owned by Jews etc. Jews represented then 10% of the population.”

Simo, why in your opinion , Jews have excelled whereas others such as Arabs didn’t? There shall be a Syrian community in Germany for instance. Are they going to exel ? Are they going to collectively achieve any status ? And please avoid anti-Semitic rant . Would like an intelligent answer .

Well Tara the statistics of academic Jews in pre-WW2 Poland can be found in wikipedia. The Nobel price winner lists are public. How Jews contributed in European medieval slavery is also official history, not anti-Semitic propaganda. What happened in Nazi-Germany during those 10 years in 30’s and 40’s is NOT all the history of Jews in Europe.

If one constantly whines like Akbar does how Europeans, Arabs and Palestinians have been and are mistreating, oppressing and exploiting Jews all the time, it is not anti-Semitic to point out some historical facts. The Zionist propaganda is built on these eternal and constant victims everywhere arguments. It is not wrong to point out that this victim notion is not historically accurate.

In Europe have been two tribes/religious groups which have been able to preserve a strong own identity and own habits for a very long time. The Romani people and Jews. The Romani people have been and are still on the absolute bottom of European societies. The Jews have represented the top of societies and have been the wealthiest, best educated and successful minority in Europe. It is simply impossible to achieve such status and position if the majority constantly attacks this minority group in question.

Jews in Arab countries were not the “slaves” for the majority or represented the underclass cleaning toilets. Like in Europe Jews also they were there in general wealthier and better educated compared to the local Arabs.

Palestinians in Israel (those citizens) have not risen to the top of Israeli society in such amounts we can have seen Jews doing in European and other world stages. 50 percent of Israeli doctors are not Palestinians who represent one fifth of the population, 1 percent is more likely (is there statistic about it Akbar, I doubt). We can and should ask the question WHY? Is the answer that Israeli Jews do not allow Palestinians to raise on the top OR if they do are Palestinians and Arabs simply more stupid compared to Jews? In Israel the schools for Arabs get considerably less funding than what Jewish schools get. Many sectors of the society are blocked for Palestinians. So are Israeli Palestinians more equal to the Romani people or Jews in historical Europe?

PS.
“Moderator” Tara you are allowed to comment here if you leave out your Sunni-Muslim extreme fundamental propaganda and frequent threats to other groups and commentators. 🙂

June 12th, 2016, 5:05 am

Erdogan is aware that US strategy is to create Kurdish state in northern Syria to separate Turkey from Syria, he knows he can not do anything about it, in Syria, but he can push Kurds from Turkey to the newly created Kurdish state ,this will create humanitarian crisis in this state that will increase the misery of this Kurdish state
Isolating Turkey from Syria ,also, is not complete as part of Syria in the north is not Kurd area, the long arm ,extending west of Qamishly is going to be narrow and hard to protect and defend, and Kurdish state will have no access to the sea.
Syria is divided now , but the division is only limited to separate the Kurdish area from the rest of Syria,
Russia has limitations in its involvement in Syria, Putin is fully aware of that , while Tehran meeting ,that includes three defense ministers of Russia, Iran and Syria, that meeting ends with no public declaration, this means one of two things , either there was no common agreement on demands from Iran to Putin ,that includes sending Russian land troops, or the Russian foreign minister has informed the Iranian F.M. that Russia has or under limitations in Syria,
US support of the Kurdish forces means that Russia will have no control over there
Russia involvement in Syria is mainly to fight US interest in this area, the recent change in US strategy , is now to counter Russian interest

June 12th, 2016, 6:51 am

12. asghar palace said:
ALan,
Thank you for that piece of misinformation. Which street in Tel-Aviv is the Saudi Embassy being built?
Saudi Arabia Embassy in Israel: 11 Ha’Etrog, En HaTkhelet, Netanya
asghar
Are you a multicolor person?
You sometimes take the place of a lecturer in all the knowledge, and at other times show yourself that you do not know about the simple things
Is this how you learned in the college of the spirochetes?

I mentioned the story about Dr. Younis in the comment that is written in Arabic , to your informations Dr Younis is living in US now, his mother is Palastinian

that story is sent to me by a friend, it is not my own words

June 12th, 2016, 7:01 am

the Nazi Erdogan is unable to push 18% of the total population of Turkey’s and transfer them abroad!
The United States is unable to create a Kurdish state on any inch of Syria, but more than that it is not able to save own face in the Syrian quagmire
The upper hand in Syria – is the hand of the Syrian Arab Army, and there are no human being who can be able to change this fact. Syrian sovereignty over every inch of the Syrian land, including the Golan Heights will be reached.
If you need the chatter you do in your country’s elections. There is a wide space for you.

June 12th, 2016, 7:33 am

Ahlan,

Unfortunately, Saudi Arabia and Israel have no diplomatic relations. If they have an embassy in Israel, that would be a surprise. Can you find a picture of the Saudi embassy in Netanya with a Saudi flag hanging on the building? Even a plaque on the door would suffice.

I did a Google search for the supposed Saudi Embassy in Israel and I found a couple of makeshift websites showing a map in Netanya.

In any case, Egypt and Jordan have diplomatic relations with Israel, so Saudi Arabia wouldn’t be the first Arab country to make peace with your Zionist nightmare.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel–Saudi_Arabia_relations

June 12th, 2016, 10:22 am

asghar palace
Zionist nightmare surly is not my. It is exactly the honest and true Jewish nightmare.

June 12th, 2016, 11:38 am

Ahlan’s Saudi Embassy search in Israel now in full Swing NewZ

You are free to delude yourself to your heart’s content. Israel is doing fine. Certainly better than most arab and muslim states.

June 12th, 2016, 11:46 am

PS.
“Moderator” Tara you are allowed to comment here if you leave out your Sunni-Muslim extreme fundamental propaganda and frequent threats to other groups and commentators. ”

Like any Baathist and Persian mullah: .Those who do nor agree with you, are extremes Sunni fundamentalist and a threat.

Please get lost.

June 12th, 2016, 12:11 pm

Your question about Jews was a fair question, and I simply gave you my opinion. Our population has always been small and vulnerable, so we stick together and make best with whatever situation comes our way. Over the past 2000 years, there were times of peace and also times of hardship.

Sorry for “whinning” (lol)!

Well, looks like the joos did it again. Another mass killing, this time in Orlando. Wonder what could have set this guy Omar Mateen off? I’m betting he killed all these people because of Israel’s mistreatment of the Palestinians.

But, all folly aside, my heartfelt sympathies for the families of these murdered individuals and of course to the thousands of innocent arab families affected by the despots who run the Middle East.

We discussed this before, but I do NOT agree with Daniel Pipes. He cynically prefers that muslims kill each other to keep them from killing us. That doesn’t “cut it” for me. The world needs to intervene and get this violence to stop AND to create free societies and governments. GWB tried this in Iraq and it didn’t quite succeed. It will take an effort of a complete generation to do this work correctly. That is the best long-term solution. Again, this is just MHO. Of course, countries that are not democratic will surely NOT agree, including UNSC permanent members such as Russia and China and sheikdoms like Saudi Arabia .

June 12th, 2016, 12:30 pm

There is no Syrian army , there is Assad army, there is no Syrian sovereignty , Assad relegated that to Iran and Russia , people should wake up to the reality, and stop talking out of illusions.

A.P.
I am glad you disagree with Daniel Pipes , because that idea is Evil idea, I partially support democracy, the decisions in Democracy usually is not emotional, but after deliberation, but they still can make wrong decision , point in case is Obama election, I respect Romney. and the current election in US is going to be very interesting, there has to be a split in the republican party, unless Trump reach an agreement with the leadership to modify his stands on many issues, republican party stands for better morality, contrary to the democratic party who has low morality

June 12th, 2016, 1:15 pm

Thanks. I respect your response and opinions as usual. Please continue to contribute here.

June 12th, 2016, 2:04 pm

Sohr poll:
?? ????? ?? ?????”?????? ????????? “?? ????? ??? ????? ????????
??? (51%, 395 Votes)
?? (34%, 263 Votes)
?????? (15%, 120 Votes)
??? ????????: 778
51% believe Isis is starting to break
34% disagrees

June 12th, 2016, 8:32 pm

My heart aches for the loss of life in Orlando, Florida. It is a real tragedy that some one finds in himself enough hatred to kill 50 people . One is left speechless with all this sorrow.

June 13th, 2016, 7:16 am

Israel is more concerned about Iran than ISIS, Nusra and Islamists groups. This explains the friendly relations, or at least the non hostile relations, Israel has with Islamist militias and rebel groups in Syria since 2011. Rebel groups and terrorists have not fired a single bullet at Israel, instead they sent wounded fighters to be treated in Israel, and some political figures in the anti regime camp visited Israel and others openly asked for a “new chapter” in relationship with the Jewish state. The next time you hear Thawrajiyyeh speak about how the Alawite regime sold the Golan ask them to cover their behind before they walk the walk, rebels and Islamists are selling Palestinians and Syrians alike and are doing the dirty work on behalf of Israel and Saudi Arabia, they are the useful idiots in Syria !!
Asked in an interview to state Israel’s main objective in Syria, Dore Gold, the director-general of the foreign ministry, said: “At the end of the day, when some kind of modus vivendi is reached inside of Syria, it is critical from the Israeli standpoint that Syria does not emerge as an Iranian satellite incorporated fully into the Iranian strategic system.”
For the U.S. and other Western nations, by contrast, the main priority in Syria is to destroy Islamic State and other Sunni radical movements that are perhaps even more opposed to Iran’s rival Shiite theocracy than they are to the West.

June 13th, 2016, 12:45 pm

Thanks for the post above, but don’t you think it’s time to “ease-up” on Israel?

For example you said:

The next time you hear Thawrajiyyeh speak about how the Alawite regime sold the Golan ask them to cover their behind before they walk the walk, rebels and Islamists are selling Palestinians and Syrians alike and are doing the dirty work on behalf of Israel and Saudi Arabia, they are the useful idiots in Syria !!

“Selling Palestinians”? Really? The only people who have done MORE for the Palestinians is Israel!

Did Egypt give Gaza to the Palestinians when they controlled Gaza? No.

Did Jordan give the West Bank to the Palestinians when they controlled the West Bank? No.

Did Assad do anything to help the Palestinians when he talked with Ehud Barak about giving back the Golan? No.

And then we have arabs and muslims who are dying all over the Middle East, in circumstances far worse than what the Palestinians are suffering from today.

Why are you using Israel and the Palestinians as some sort of holy, litmus test for who the best arab is?? EVERYONE has used the Palestinians for their own propaganda and all the Palestinians got in return was nothing.

I think the events over the past 5 years has shown that the Palestinian conflict is a side-show to a much larger problem and nothing more.

June 13th, 2016, 1:02 pm

Saudi evil funded proactive project next US war.

In what may be the pinnacle of hypocrisy, moments ago Hillary Clinton, while speaking live on national security and addressing the Orlando shooting took some time from her constant bashing of the Second Amendment and calling for a ban on assault rifles, to say some less than kind words about Saudi Arabia whom it accused of supporting radical organizations.

There is nothing wrong with that statement, as it is the whole truth – Saudi Arabia’s involvement in supporting terrorism stretches from Sept 11 all the way through to ISIS – however, where there is a big, and potentially law-breaking, problem is what Jordan’s official news agency, Petra News Agency, reported on Sunday citing the Saudi crown price, namely that Saudi Arabia is a major funder of Hillary Clinton’s campaign to become the next president of the United States.

As MEE notes, the Petra News Agency published on Sunday what it described as exclusive comments from Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman which included a claim that Riyadh has provided 20 percent of the total funding to the prospective Democratic candidate’s campaign.

The report was later deleted and the news agency has not responded to requests for comment from Middle East Eye.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-06-13/saudi-arabia-has-funded-20-hillarys-presidential-campaign-saudi-crown-prince-claims

June 13th, 2016, 2:25 pm

heart aches….
The peace here:
he worked for wakenhut
waken who
they got taken over by g4s
who g4s
israel and the uk use the services of g4s
g4s is pulling out of israel
triple whammy
lgbt victim hood
zion revenge on g4s
another muslim story for the msm.
real or not gladio trauma tavistock works.
100 years of mind shock and awe
http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sociopolitica/esp_sociopol_wackenhut06.htm
http://www.moonofalabama.org/2016/06/a-few-more-questions-about-the-orlando-massacre-.html#comments

June 13th, 2016, 5:54 pm

“Mina Justice last heard from her 30-year-old son, Eddie Justice, on early Sunday morning, after bullets rang out at the Orlando nightclub Pulse. He texted her at 2:06 a.m., saying, “Mommy I love you.”

He texted her again, saying there was a shooter at the club. He told her to call police and said he was hiding in a bathroom with other clubgoers.

“He’s coming,” he wrote. “I’m gonna die.””

Eddie justice was conformed dead!
—–

I can’t stop crying. … The texts playing endless loop in my brain . I can see my son ( god forbidden) asking for my help in such circumstance ….

Only to see Alan’s post blaming Zionism…. Even the explosion of the bank in Lebanon, HA blamed Zionism . Funny if it was not sad. Aren’t you people ever get sober up? Is stupidity an active choice you made or are you guys being paid to be stupid. Come on Alan . It is insulting to the souls of those dead.
.

June 13th, 2016, 11:03 pm

Hillary Clinton:

“It is long past time for the Saudis, the Qataris, and the Kuwaitis and others to stop their citizens from funding extremist organizations,”.
“And they should stop supporting radical schools and mosques around the world that have set too many young people on a path toward extremism.”

June 13th, 2016, 11:06 pm

https://youtu.be/maYeWLbAehU

June 14th, 2016, 6:42 am

a war fought by fighters moving from one country into another is not a “civil war,” it is a foreign invasion – and those nations participating in it along the invaded nation’s borders must be held accountable.

June 14th, 2016, 6:48 am

Secretary of Sthate, Hillary Clinton

Dear Hillary,

Should that also include the EU and American funding of Hamas and the PA and Iran’s funding of Hezbollah and Iran’s funding of their nuclear program despite public statements about destroying the State of Israel?

June 14th, 2016, 10:16 am