Middle East Inside line: Israel's Nuclear Problem; Syrian Tensions with US & Israel

Israel's Nuclear Trouble: On Wednesday, at the United Nations conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the ~US, Russia, Britain, France, and China voiced support for making the Middle East a zone free of nuclear arms. There are two messages: one for Iran's nuclear programme and one for Israel's secret nuclear agenda.

"We are committed to a full implementation of the 1995 NPT resolution on the Middle East and we support all ongoing efforts to this end," the five permanent members of the UN Security Council members said in a statement. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukia Amano, in a letter, asked foreign ministers of the IAEA's 151 member states to share views on how to implement a resolution demanding that Israel accede to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and throw its nuclear facilities open to IAEA oversight.

Israel-Palestine: The Proximity Talks Starts Silently (Yenidunya)
Syria: A National Unity Government for More Democracy? (al-Assad)
Israel-Palestine Opinion: Discrimination in East Jerusalem (Eldar)
Israel-Palestine: Proximity Talks to Begin on Wednesday? (Yenidunya)

Syria-U.S. Relations at Odds?: On Monday, the U.S. renewed the six-year-old economic and diplomatic sanctions on Syria. In response Damascus criticized Washington harshly and said that the penalties reinforce hostilities in the region.



Deputy Foreign Minister Faysal Mekdad said the sanctions decision shows Washington has lost its credibility and failed to live up to its promises to Syria. "Obama is not serious about changing the relationship between the U.S. and Arab and Islamic states in the Middle East," Syrian officials said.

Hezbollah-Syria-Israel Triangle: On Tuesday, although there is still no evidence that Scud missiles were transferred to Hezbollah, the Israeli army's head of intelligence research, Brigadier General Yossi Baidatz, told the Knesset that the Scud transfer was the "tip of the iceberg", .
"Even today Hezbollah has missiles of all ranges types, including solid-fueled rockets that have a longer range are extremely accurate."

Baidatz then drew the picture of a multiple threat:

Hezbollah's long-range rockets allow them to position launchers deep within Lebanese territory and cover ranges far greater than we aware of in the past.

Hezbollah in 2010 is very different to Hezbollah in 2006 in terms of military capability, which has advanced a great deal. Hezbollah is now regarded by the Syrians as a component of their defense establishment.

Lastly and paradoxically,Baidatz stated that a political settlement with Israel is still a priority for Damascus:

A political settlement with Israel is high on Syria's list of priorities and intelligence shows a will to reach an agreement – but on their terms, meaning a return of the Golan Heights and American involvement.

Military intelligence believes Syria could radically alter its role – but Assad feels that political progress with the current Israel government is impossible and has therefore avoided confidence-building measures.

Comments

[Catherine]

I understand why Washingont's policy towards Iran has been in disarray since the June 2009 elections, but I what unforeseen event or development has thrown the Obama admininistration off the rapprochement track it started with Syria last year?

[Bijan77]

Catherine -

My guess is he's bowing to internally political pressure....again. In my opinion, based in part on reading his book, I do believe Obama wants to institute real change in the world but believe he came into his presidency a bit naive and conversely, many who voted for him were also a bit naive as to the level of "change" he could implement.

Not sure if this is similar in other countries, but the lobby machine in the US is very strong and I think this also has had a part in his flip flop stance. Also there are many republicans who take a very hawkish approach to the ME as a whole and also several Democrats within his party that do the same. Even look to Clinton who tends to take a much more aggresive tone.

Further there is a very high level of pro-Israel (could say pro Zionism) within the US,specifically convervative Christians who believe Israel belongs to the Jews and no one else (based on language in the Bible). Therefore any country that is a threat to Israel is a threat to the US and should be dealt with accordingly. I forget the figure but an imense amount of money goes from US Protestant based organizations, including at an individual church level, to Isreal to support...who knows what.

[wdavit]

Catherine,

The rapprochement was thrown of by two events the Gaza war and Syria's strengthing ties to Iran. It also didn't help that Syria has also taken a hardline stance about continual support for Hezebollah. In addition Obama also has to cater to domestic demands many of which are not in favor of ties with Syria. Regardless, I would have to say if the Gaza war didn't happen maybe a breakthrough would have happened. Alas that didn't happen and Obama for right or wrong had to go with the support for Israel which is part of our foreign policy. It is not right or wrong but just a fact of geopolitics and right now Israel is more important to the US than Syria(probably always will be.)

Thx
Bill