Syria::Articles

Human Rights Watch - July, 2010
This 35-page report reviews al-Asad's human rights record in five key areas: repression of political and human rights activism; restrictions on freedom of expression; torture; treatment of the Kurds; and Syria's legacy of enforced disappearances. The verdict is bleak.
Helena Cobban
The Middle East Channel - June, 2010
The other salient aspect of Damascus's policy is that the ties it has with longtime U.S. allies like Turkey or Saudi Arabia are just as important to it as its ties with the "Tehran axis." The Middle East -- as Dennis Ross said recently in a passing aside -- is "much more complicated than most of us previously thought." Right.
International Crisis Group - December, 2009
In a companion report with identical policy recommendations published on 14 December 2009, Crisis Group analyzed the factors behind Damascus's strategic evolution. Here, it explores in detail the mechanism, extent and limitations of these adjustments as well as challenges faced by the Obama administration if it wishes to exploit and solidify them.
International Crisis Group - December, 2009
At the heart of the problem is a profound mismatch of expectations. The West wants to know whether Syria is ready to fundamentally alter its policies -- loosen or cut ties to Iran, Hamas and Hizbollah; sign a peace deal with Israel -- as a means of stabilising the region. Syria, before contemplating any fundamental strategic shift, wants to know where the region and its most volatile conflicts are headed, whether the West will do its part to stabilize them and whether its own interests will be secured.
Frederic C. Hof
U.S. Institute of Peace - March, 2009
Syrian-Israeli "proximity" peace talks orchestrated by Turkey in 2008 revived along-dormant track of the Arab-Israeli peace process. Although the talks were suspended because of Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, Israeli-Syrian peace might well facilitate a Palestinian state at peace with Israel.
Joshua Landis
Syria Comment - March, 2009
The barriers standing in front of a successful peace process are many. First, the debilitating imbalance of power between Syria and Israel stands out above all others. Second, the US is not an impartial or neutral mediator, but a lawyer for Israel. Third, underlying these problems are the radically different world-views of each side and deep mistrust for each other, due to decades of demonization and warfare.
International Crisis Group - February, 2009
There are indications of potential common ground on which to build, from resuming Israeli-Syrian negotiations, to consolidating progress in Iraq to blunting the rise of jihadi militancy and sectarianism. But significant obstacles to healthy, mutually beneficial relations remain, along with a legacy of estrangement and distrust.
International Crisis Group - January, 2009
Bilal Y. Saab
Brookings - November, 2008
Ahmad Khalidi
Conflicts Forum - January, 2008
Human Rights Watch - December, 2007
Nader Kabbani and Noura Kamel
Brookings Wolfensohn Center - December, 2007
Joshua Landis
Syria Comment Blog - November, 2007
Shana Marshall
Foreign Policy in Focus - October, 2007
Leon T. Hadar
Independent Institute - October, 2007
David W. Lesch
The Century Foundation - September, 2007
Moshe Ma'oz
The Century Foundation - September, 2007
Yahoo - Mideast Conflict

Syrian, Saudi leaders tackle tension in Lebanon (Reuters)

Israeli warplanes hit Gaza after rocket attack (AFP)

Israel launches air strikes on Gaza: Palestinians (Reuters)

Rare Arab summit to forestall possible Hezbollah unrest in Lebanon (The Christian Science Monitor)

Hamas slams Arab backing for Israel talks (AFP)

Palestinians, settlers clash in northern West Bank (AFP)

U.N. rights body tells Israel to end Gaza blockade (Reuters)

Israel skeptical on Iran sanctions (AFP)