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a WikiLeaks cable that brilliantly foreshadowed how environmental stresses would fuel the uprising. Sent on Nov. 8, 2008, from the U.S. Embassy in Damascus to the State Department, the cable details how, in light of what was a devastating Syrian drought — it lasted from 2006-10 — Syria's U.N. food and
down not only on the Brotherhood, but Hamas as well. In addition to destroying tunnels, Egypt has also severely limited Gazans' ability to exit at Rafah, Gaza's main access to the outside world. Israel responded by easing restrictions on people and goods moving through the two crossings it controls,
is also determined to improve relations with Syria, and rumors have surfaced that the new chief of Intelligence, Murad Muwafi, has secretly visited Damascus twice. These developments have generated questions about the emergence of a new axis, but a likelier explanation is that the new leadership is dete
y Council: (1) it allowed two Iranian warships to cross the Suez Canal on their way to Syria; and (2) it permitted Hamas officials to travel though Rafah's crossing, thus reversing President Mubarak's policy on this issue. • Sources claim that Egypt is also determined to improve relations with Syria,
ore than a year, Mr. Assad's government has been committing crimes a=ainst humanity in Syria. As it fights for survival on the streets of Alepp= and Damascus, the risk of unrestrained reprisals against Mr. Assad's Al=wite sect and Syria's other religious minorities is growing every day. Following the ris
Mr. Thrall suggested, would be a three-=arty deal in which Hamas vows to contain Gaza's more extreme elements in=exchange for improved trade through Rafah, the border crossing controlled =y Egypt, as well as Kerem Shalom, the commercial crossing managed by Israe=. "The new X-factor is that Egypt is no
a WikiLeaks cable that brilliantly foreshadowed how environmental stresses would fuel the uprising. Sent on Nov. 8, 2008, from the U.S. Embassy in Damascus to the State Department, the cable details how, in light of what was a devastating Syrian drought — it lasted from 2006-10 — Syria's U.N. food and
down not only on the Brotherhood, but Hamas as well. In addition to destroying tunnels, Egypt has also severely limited Gazans' ability to exit at Rafah, Gaza's main access to the outside world. Israel responded by easing restrictions on people and goods moving through the two crossings it controls
ghting alongside Assad forces inside Syria. Meanwhile, wiping Israel off the map can wait. Conflict with Sunnis gives Hizbollah and its patrons in Damascus and Tehran a regional role; war with Israel is costly and unrewarding, a lesson that Hafez Al Assad learnt some 40 years ago. As such, as Syria's
they cross from Egypt into Gaza through the Rafah passenger terminal there. Gaza's prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, is to greet the emir at Rafah and also host him at his office in Gaza City, the officials said. The Qatari ruler is also expected to tour the sites of the projects funded by Qa
Entities connected to both Damascus and Rafah

Barack Obama
PERSON
Bashar al-Assad
PERSON
Lebanon
LOCATION
United States
LOCATION
Tehran
LOCATION
George W. Bush
PERSON
Benjamin Netanyahu
PERSON
Tunisia
LOCATION
Hosni Mubarak
PERSON
Cairo
LOCATION
Terje Rod-Larsen
PERSON
Saddam Hussein
PERSON
Yemen
LOCATION
Middle East
LOCATION
Fatah
ORGANIZATION
Marc Rich
PERSON
Jerusalem
LOCATION
Department of Justice
ORGANIZATION
Joe Biden
PERSON
Bahrain
LOCATION