THE MIDDLE EAST, TURKEY & NORTH AFRICA :

See also Iraq, and Iran.

International Herald Tribune, 07 Aug 08, by Ethan Bronner
Israel to free about 150 Palestinian prisoners
'Israel will release about 150 Palestinian prisoners, including perhaps a couple of prominent ones, at the end of this month as a gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, officials from both sides said after a meeting on Wednesday between Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel.'

Reading Eagle/AP, 06 Aug 08, by Steven Gutkin, Anne Gearan, and Lolita C. Baldor
Israel beefs up strike capability, confident it could deal setback to Iran nuclear program
'Israel is building up its strike capabilities amid growing anxiety over Iran's nuclear ambitions and appears confident that a military attack would cripple Tehran's atomic program, even if it can't destroy it.'

Asia Times, 06 Aug 08, by Sami Moubayed
Syria exploits US loopholes
'Rather than isolate Syria, the United States' tough line on Damascus has made it an indispensable problem-solver in key regional issues. Washington's flawed perception of Syria as a "weak country" has led to it helping stabilize Iraq and Lebanon while also acting as a mediator with Iran. And for Syria, a peace deal with Israel is now a real possibility.'

Christian Science Monitor, 04 Aug 08, by Rafael D. Frankel and Joshua Mitnick
Fatah, Hamas rift widens amid new violence
'The Palestinian factions fought Saturday in the worst internal violence since Hamas's Gaza coup.'

International Herald Tribune, 22 Jul 08, by Nada Bakri
Syria moves ahead in recognizing Lebanon
'The foreign minister of Syria reiterated on Monday that Syria intends to establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon, for the first time since the two nations gained independence more than 60 years ago.'

Washington Post, 10 Jul 08, by Ellen Knickmeyer
U.S. Consulate in Istanbul Is Attacked
'Turkey bolstered security at U.S. diplomatic installations across the country Wednesday ... Turks have been uneasy since the recent arrests of 21 people, including two former generals, accused of plotting to overthrow the country's Islamic-oriented government. Authorities have released few details of the alleged plot, but newspapers close to the government have reported that the plan focused on carrying out violent attacks as a pretext for an army coup.'

Christian Science Monitor, 10 Jul 08, by Scott Peterson
Confrontation escalates between Iran and Israel
'Iran tested the Shahab-3 missile, which could hit Israel or US Mideast bases. ... "This does not mean there is going to be war in the Middle East, [but] it means that the situation is more dangerous, and it means that miscalculation now could actually have a horrendous result – a result that I don't believe the Israelis or the Iranians or the US ... want," says Charles Heyman, a British military analyst and editor of the annual "Armed Forces of the United Kingdom."'

Christian Science Monitor, 09 Jul 08, by Scott Peterson
Political strife deepens in Turkey
'Two cases have the nation on edge. While the government goes after an ultranationalist gang, prosecutors want to ban the ruling party on charges of Islamist subversion.'

Christian Science Monitor, 26 Jun 08, by Nicholas Blanford
Can Lebanon douse political fires?
'Fighting in Tripoli is indicative of rising Sunni-Shiite tensions as the formation of a new government hits an impasse. Religious leaders called for calm Wednesday.'

Xinhau, 23 Jun 08
Hamas says commitment to truce linked to Israel's commitment
'Islamic Hamas movement's spokesman in Gaza Fawzi Barhoum said Monday that his movement's commitment to a truce brokered by Egypt is linked to Israel's commitments to it. Barhoum warned Israel, in a statement, of using the Israeli High Court of Justice decisions, related to the appeal of the family of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, to violate the truce.'

New York Times, 18 Jun 08, by Isabel Kershner
Israel Agrees to Truce with Hamas on Gaza
'Israel now seeks to halt the rocket and mortar fire from Gaza that has killed four Israeli civilians this year and has caused widespread trauma and disruption of life in Israeli towns and villages close to the Gaza border. In addition, Israel has insisted that any deal include an end to Hamas's military buildup in Gaza, and movement toward the release of Corporal Shalit.'

Christian Science Monitor, 19 Jun 08, by Ilene R. Prusher
Hamas, Israel truce greeted with skepticism and hope
'The temporary cease-fire deal bids to end attacks from Gaza militants and the Israeli army and improve life in the impoverished coastal strip.'

Washington Post, 19 Jun 08, by Griff Witte
Israel Proposes Peace Talks With Lebanon
'Israel on Wednesday publicly pushed to open peace negotiations with Lebanon, seeking to add another initiative to an already burgeoning diplomatic roster that includes talks with some of the Jewish state's foremost adversaries.'

Christian Science Monitor, 18 Jun 08, by Jamie Etheridge
Kuwait's empowered Islamists question all things Western
'After an Islamist victory in Kuwaiti elections, lawmakers' new agenda reflects a regional debate over the pace of social change as economies surge.'

Christian Science Monitor, 14 Jun 08, by Ilene R. Prusher
US policy and the pro-Israel lobby: A university in Jerusalem takes on the debate
'The authors of 'The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy' said Thursday that the special-interest group is leading the charge for attacking Iran and damaging US interests.'

CBS '60 Minutes', 27 Apr 08
The Israeli Air Force
[video] 'The Israeli air force – the best in the Middle East – has to prepare for anything says one of its officers, because if Israel loses just one war, it will cease to exist. Bob Simon reports.'

Middle East Times, 06 Jun 08, by Sana Abdallah
Syria, Lebanon forging new relationship
'Damascus and Beirut are heading toward normalization and full diplomatic relations for the first time in their modern history, which the Lebanese expect will usher in a relationship based on mutual respect for each other's sovereignty and the Syrians hope will improve their ties with the rest of the world.'

International Herald Tribune, 05 Jun 08, by Isabel Kershner
Palestinian leader urges talks with Hamas
'The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, called unexpectedly late Wednesday for a resumption of dialogue with the Islamic militant group Hamas, a move that could herald a breakdown of his peace talks with Israel.'

International Herald Tribune, 05 Jun 08, by Isabel Kershner
Palestinian appeal to EU angers Israel
'The Palestinian prime minister, Salam Fayyad, infuriated Israel on Wednesday by calling on the European Union to refuse a request by Israel to upgrade its ties with the 27-member bloc.'

Middle East Times, 04 Jun 08, by Sana Abdallah
Headlines from the Arab press
'Israeli sources revealed that US President George W Bush will announce during Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's visit to Washington a "security package" that includes defenses against long-range missiles. The sources said the United States has never granted such a package to any other country in the past.'

Christian Science Monitor, 04 Jun 08, by Julien Spencer
Syria faces UN atomic agency inspection
'After accusations of starting a covert nuclear program, Syrian officials have agreed to allow an IAEA inspection later this month.'

See Middle East, Turkey and North Africa archive for past stories.