(Check comments daily for updates)
Israel withholds Palestinian funds after UN vote
Israel said on Sunday it was withholding this month’s transfer of tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority, after the United Nations’ de facto recognition of a Palestinian state.
Under interim peace deals, which Israel says the Palestinians violated by unilaterally seeking an upgrade of their status at the United Nations, it collects about US$100 million a month in duties on behalf of the authority.
For Arabs, the year 2012 might be seen as the first year where wars were waged through social media networks. This, after 2011 saw those same networks become so prominent in the social fabric governing the Arab peoples that they began to effect fundamental change in the latter through the interlocking relationship that developed between them and the Arab Spring.
*Palestinian President Abbas declares ‘we have a state’
*Hamas complains to Egypt after Israeli army kills Gazan
*Mixed reactions to Morsy’s call for constitutional referendum
*Analysts: Egypt’s military won’t buck the Brotherhood
*In Damascus, tense anticipation of strongest push yet by rebels
*Blast kills 15 in Syria’s Homs
*Syrian warplanes strike rebels in Damascus suburbs
*Iranian weapons fly easily to Syria via Iraq airspace
*EgyptAir to resume flights to Syria
*Saudi Arabia interested in buying German armored vehicles
*Kuwait election: Opposition hails boycott as turnout falls
*For First time in Kuwait: Shiites emerge as main victors in polls
*UAE President warns: Our security sacred
(Image: AFP)
To Retrieve Attack Helicopters from Russia, Syria Asks Iraq for Help, Documents Show
Conference on Middle East WMD-free zone called off.
Contains the official statements of all the major participants.
After reading this article (linked in the post), I believe a future military coup in Egypt is a distinct possibility.
DECEMBER 3
*Israel faces European backlash over settlement plan
*France and Britain Reportedly Considering Pulling Ambassadors from Israel
*Ban warns Israel of ‘fatal blow’ to peace
*Israeli settlers occupy 5-story house in Palestinian area of East Jerusalem
*Haaretz: It’s time for Israel to talk to Hamas
*Abbas calls for Palestinian unity after ‘birth certificate’ for Palestinian state
*Collaboration in Gaza Leads to Grisly Fate
*Amid Euphoria Over U.N. Vote, Palestinians Still Face Familiar Challenges
*Syrian jets resume attack on border town
*Report: Syrian rebels clash with Lebanon troops on border
*Turkey scrambles jets as Syrian government forces bomb border town
*Syria says would not use chemical weapons against its people
*Western intelligence officials: New signs of activity at chemical weapons sites in Syria
*Clinton: U.S. will act if Syria uses chemical weapons
**Turkey requested NATO missile defenses over Syria chemical weapons fears
*Russia’s Putin flies to Turkey amid differences over Syria
*Update: Egypt-Turkey shipping is ‘working regularly without problems
*Standoff between Egypt judges, Morsi gets bitter
Judges up political stakes by refusing to oversee referendum on new constitution drafted by Islamist-dominated panel.
*Questions for the Muslim Brotherhood
*Spiegel – Egypt’s democracy at stake
Reuter tweet:
*SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN JIHAD MAKDISSI HAS DEFECTED -REGIONAL DIPLOMATIC SOURCE
He may be witnessing the disarray in the inner circle and wants to save his own hide.
Anonymous tweet:
*United Nations Humanitarian Agency says it is sending all non-essential international staff out of Syria
*Israeli ambassadors summoned in protest at new settlement plans
The UK, France and Sweden have formally summoned Israeli ambassadors to protest against plans to build new settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, the BBC reports.
Denmark and Spain also called in diplomats, according to the Guardian.
Israel should learn from the U.N. vote
*Is Israel’s West Bank expansion political suicide?
*Iran and Turkey Closing in on Israel When It Comes to Science
*Syrian government spokesman flees country, diplomat says
*Russia, Turkey agree to differ over Syria conflict
Defection or escape? Syria’s foreign ministry spokesman ‘on way to US’
Also, and (Hullabaloo): These zealots can find a controversy anywhere
Darn, I just lost over an hour’s work of middle east news. Now I have to start all over again. I’ll just post it in chunks so I don’t loose 20 articles in one shot.
DECEMBER, 4
*Questions Linger After Ambush Of Lebanese ‘Jihadists’ in Syria
*Syria state media say 29 students killed when mortar slams into a school in a Damascus suburb
*Syrian Refugees, Children Struggle in Jordan
*Syria crisis: Nato in chemical weapons warning
*Saudi FM: world must unite views on Syria
*Syrian Leader Hit by Setbacks in Fighting and Diplomacy
*NATO to discuss sending Patriot missiles to Turkey
*Russia Respects Turkey’s Right to Self-Defense: Lavrov
BBC: Tunis Islamists ‘attack unionists with knives’
December 4
*Morsy mulls arrangements for referendum
* Controversial articles in decree to be suspended, Gheriany says
NCHR (National Council for Human Rights) members say that the declaration violated international human rights charters. The committee released a statement specifically condemning Articles 2 and 6 of the decree.
*ElBaradei, Sabbahi and others to be investigated for ‘espionage’
*Journalists join Tahrir protests against draft constitution
*Anti-sexual harassment campaigns to increase presence in Tahrir
*Egyptian police fire tear gas to stop protesters approaching presidential palace in Cairo
*Chaos in State Council as court postpones decree decision
Judge Farid Tanagho had to adjourn a Tuesday court session three times as Muslim Brotherhood supporters interrupted proceedings with chants for President Mohamed Morsy and against his detractors.
DECEMBER 4
*Trouble Lies Ahead For Two-State solution
*Israel oblivious to international pressure on outposts
Jewish state lays out revised plans for additional 1,600 homes in occupied east Jerusalem despite US-EU condemnation.
*Jordan king to visit Palestine Thursday
*King Abdullah considering postponing Jordan elections
*Hariri’s ‘right arm’ admits involvement in arms for Syria rebels
Explosive wiretaps implicating a Lebanese MP close to ex-premier Saad Hariri in arms shipments to Syrian rebels has stirred fresh controversy in Lebanon, which is deeply divided over the civil war raging in its powerful neighbour.
*Barzani: Maliki’s Actions ‘Illegal, Unconstitutional and Provocative’
The president of the Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani, has said that the formation of the Tigris Operations Command (TOC) is illegal, unconstitutional and provocative.
DECEMBER 4
*NATO approves Patriots for Turkey
*Russia Respects Turkey’s Right to Self-Defense: Lavrov
*Egypt’s Mursi leaves palace as police battle protesters
*Iranian TV shows off ‘captured US ScanEagle drone’
The Revolutionary Guards said they had brought down a ScanEagle – one of the smaller, less sophisticated drones employed by the Americans.
Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi told the Fars news agency that the drone had conducted several reconnaissance flights over the Gulf in recent days.
But the US Navy said none of its drones was missing in the Middle East.
*Syrian Leader Hit by Setbacks in Fighting and Diplomacy
*Israel settlements: UK considers ‘further steps’ over expansion
Sabry tweet:
Al Qaida-linked group Syria rebels once denied now key to anti-Assad victories
David Enders | Qalat al-Mudiq | December 2
McClatchy – When the group Jabhat al Nusra first claimed responsibility for car and suicide bombings in Damascus that killed dozens last January, many of Syria’s revolutionaries claimed that the organization was a creation of the Syrian government, designed to discredit those who opposed the regime of President Bashar Assad and to hide the regime’s own brutal tactics.
Nearly a year later, however, Jabhat al Nusra, which U.S. officials believe has links to al Qaida, has become essential to the frontline operations of the rebels fighting to topple Assad.
Not only does the group still conduct suicide bombings that have killed hundreds, but they’ve proved to be critical to the rebels’ military advance. In battle after battle across the country, Nusra and similar groups do the heaviest frontline fighting. Groups who call themselves the Free Syrian Army and report to military councils led by defected Syrian army officers move into the captured territory afterward.
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[Comment: File that one under self-fulfilling prophecies (for those not paying sufficient attention, this is the opposite of the "Ahhhh. The US is supporting jihadis in Syria." narrative of a while back). Seems to be the eternal story of the West and al-Qa`ida aligned movements. ~ JPD]