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Mixed Message from the Head of the UN Observer Force in Syria
The newly-arrived head of the UN observer mission in Syria told Britain’s Sky News that his group is “having a calming effect,” but also admitted that the cease fire “is not holding.” The comments from Norway’s Maj. Gen. Robert Mood came on Wednesday, when at least 20 new deaths were reported amid heavy fighting between government and opposition forces. An opposition ambush of Syrian army troops reportedly resulted in the deaths of 15 soldiers near Aleppo, in the north. The New York-based group Human Rights Watch on Wednesday accused the Bashar Al-Asad regime of war crimes, including summary executions, arbitrary detentions and the destruction of civilian property. In a new report, HRW detailed atrocities including the execution of nineteen members of a single family, including two boys under the age of 18. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights now places the 14-month death toll at 11,000.
Israeli Elections Set for September 4; Netanyahu-Likud Hold Strong Lead in Poll
Israelis will go to the polls to elect a new parliament (Knesset) on September 4 – the date that’s reported to have been agreed upon by a majority of lawmakers. The legislative session will end as soon as two weeks after members vote on bills of dissolution on Monday. Recent polling has been uniform in predicting that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will return for another term, most likely with a stronger parliamentary base than at present. Polls continue to paint the Kadima party and its new head, Shaul Mofaz, as the big losers, likely plunging from 28 to 11 seats. Kadima’s loss will likely be to the benefit of the Labor party, which is showing signs of returning after imploding and losing its historic leadership position during the past several years; and newcomer Yair Lapid, a media personality-turned-politician who is showing considerable strength in his party’s first time out. A new poll by Haaretz, a leading daily newspaper, indicates that Netanyahu is the only candidate in the field who could form a government following the election. When asked which candidate is best suited to serve as prime minister, more respondents named Netanyahu than named all other candidates combined. [Editor’s note: Israelis vote for parties, not candidates. Seats are won pursuant to the percentage of vote the party amasses and the head of the party, who, in the opinion of the president has the best chance of forming the coalition, is given the opportunity to do so. If successful, the head of that becomes prime minister.] Netanyahu’s decision to call for early elections was a simple one: with burgeoning strength and no serious opponents, an election timed to come before other parties can re-group and campaign is a no-brainer.
Fatah, Hamas Meet in Cairo; Little Reported on Reconciliation Efforts
Fatah’s chief negotiator in reconciliation talks met with Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal in Cairo on Wednesday with an Egyptian mediator present. Except for reporting that the meeting was held, few details were revealed about Azzam Al-Ahmad’s talks with Meshaal beyond the fact that the discussion was focused on specific details regarding the implementation of the Fatah-Hamas reconciliation agreement and in particular, the formation of a unity government. The Ma’an news agency reported that Al-Ahmad also met with a representative of Islamic Jihad, which said the meeting was unplanned. It, too, was devoted to a discussion of how to implement the agreement. Hamas and Fatah signed the reconciliation agreement in May 2011, but since that time implementation talks have shown little progress. The original date set for elections has passed and there has been no agreement on a new date. Fatah complains that Hamas is not allowing election committees in the Gaza Strip to carry out the registration process in preparation for the election.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease Hits the Gaza Strip
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization said on Wednesday that a new strain of foot-and-mouth disease that had been spotted in Libya and Egypt in February has now been detected in the Gaza Strip. The infected animals were spotted at Rafah, where the crossing point between Gaza and Egypt is located, and UN officials warn there is an insufficient supply of vaccine to treat the outbreak. The disease is not a risk to humans but is highly infectious among animals and threatens to drastically reduce the amount of milk and meat available to the public. Gaza’s Hamas-controlled government has expressed confidence that the outbreak of the disease is being handled. The agriculture minister told the Reuters news agency that, “The situation is not worrying.”
Al-Qa’ida Taunts US with Release of its English-Language Magazine
Al-Qa’ida’s Yemen branch is taunting the United States with the release of its Inspire Magazine, the first editions to be published since American forces killed its founders last September. The magazine first surfaced in July 2010. The two newly-released editions, which are being touted as “America’s worst nightmare,” praise the dead founders -- both of whom were US citizens: Anwar Al-Awlaki and Samir Khan – and urge readers to set off bombs and chemical weapons in the United States. In a posthumous article, Al-Awlaki offers instructions on using weapons of mass destruction against populations “of countries that are at war with the Muslims.” The US, France and the U.K. top his target recommendations. The magazine also seeks editorial assistance.
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