VIOLENCE IN SYRIA PUTS PRESSURE ON ISRAEL
Israel is preparing to deal with the consequences of the Syrian civil war as violence creeps closer to the Israel-Syria border. Fighting has now reached the Golan Heights, which was been maintained as a buffer zone between the two countries since 1974. Last week, Austria ordered 380 of its troops attached to the U.N. peacekeeping force to leave the buffer zone. Israel fears that many of the numerous Syrian rebel groups are made up of Islamist militants who may be sympathetic to Hezbollah or al-Qaeda. Israel thus finds itself in a dilemma: it wants to stay out of the conflict yet needs to protect its citizens in the Golan Heights and limit the weaponry flowing from Hezbollah to Iran. Amon Sofrin, a retired Israeli general, said that the situation in the Golan Heights “is going to be one of the most complicated situations [Israel] is going to face in the near future.” (the New York Times, June 6, 2013)
PENTAGON: RUSSIA MAY BE TRANSFERRING AIR DEFENSES TO SYRIA
U.S. intelligence agencies believe that three Russian warships in the eastern Mediterranean are carrying weapons to the Assad regime. These weapons potentially contain components of the S-300 air defense missile system, although this is unconfirmed. The U.S. has been pressuring the Russian government not to transfer the advanced S-300 system to Syria, fearing it would significantly enhance the government’s anti-aircraft capabilities and pose real challenges to any power attempting to intervene in the Syrian civil war or impose a no-fly zone. (CNN, June 5, 2013)
U.S. GIVES MILITARY AID TO EGYPT DESPITE UNDEMOCRATIC RECORD
Secretary of State John Kerry has decided to grant Egypt $1.3 billion worth of military aid despite a crackdown on free speech and judicial activists. The government of President Mohammed Morsi has proposed changes to the judicial process which would make it easier for Morsi to dismiss judges critical of the regime, and this week an Egyptian court convicted 43 democracy workers, including 16 Americans, for political reasons. Secretary Kerry wrote that “we are not satisfied with the extent of Egypt's progress and are pressing for a more inclusive democratic process and the strengthening of key democratic institutions.” He went on to say that the U.S. should still give Egypt the funding because it will further American national security interests, most notably protecting Israel from attacks from Gaza. (Reuters, June 6, 2013)
SYRIAN OPPOSITION DEMANDS WEAPONS
The main Syrian rebel group, the Free Syrian Army, says that it will not attend the proposed Geneva peace conference unless it receives arms and ammunition. General Salim Idris, the FSA’s head, told reporters “If we don’t receive ammunition and weapons to change the position on the ground, to change the balance on the ground, very frankly I can say we will not go to Geneva.” General Idris said even though he supports the idea of a peace conference in theory, he is concerned that recent battlefield victories by pro-Assad forces have weakened the FSA’s negotiating position. Secretary of State Kerry has made a Geneva peace conference the centerpiece of his Syria strategy. (the New York Times, June 8, 2013)
MALI, TUAREGS REACH TENTATIVE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT
Taureg separatists and the Malian government have agreed to stop fighting in the wake of the Malian army’s push towards the town of Kidal. Kidal is the MNLA’s (National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad) last stronghold in the northeast part of the country. The government said that it was prepared to assault the town if civil administration was not restored before elections scheduled for July 28. However, the MNLA has refused to let the Malian army enter Kidal and will not disarm unless long-term solutions to Taureg independence are reached. (Reuters, June 10, 2013)