Inside Syria: The Backstory of Their Civil War and What the World Can Expect (37 page)

CHAPTER 10. ISRAEL, PALESTINE, AND SYRIA

1
. Chris McGreal, “Revealed: How Israel Offered to Sell South Africa Nuclear Weapons,”
Guardian
, May 23, 2010,
www.theguardian.com/world/2010/may/23/israel-south-africa-nuclear-weapons
. See also: “How Israel Helped Apartheid South Africa Build Nuclear Weapons,” War in Context, April 5,
2013,
http://warincontext.org/2013/04/05/how-israel-helped-apartheid-south-africa-build-nuclear-weapons
.

2
. In 1993, as part of the Oslo peace process, Israel recognized the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the right of Palestinians to their own state. The PLO recognized the Israeli state. Years later, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that the Palestinians must recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Hussein Ibish, “Should the Palestinians Recognize Israel as a Jewish State?
Foreign Policy
, May 25, 2011,
www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/05/25/should_the_palestinians_recognize_israel_as_a_jewish_state
.

3
. Syrians argue the commonly used term
Golan Heights
is a misnomer because the area consists of rolling hills, some of which lie below Israeli territory. Israelis argue that
Golan Heights
is accurate because they occupy a strategic position overlooking Israel. In this chapter I use the neutral term
Golan
.

4
. Maryam Ajami, interview with the author, Golan, October 23, 2013.

5
. Akba Abu Shaheen, interview with the author, Golan, October 23, 2013.

6
. Dr. Ali Abu Awad, interview with the author, Golan, October 23, 2013.

7
. Eyal Zisser, interview with the author, Tel Aviv, October 22, 2013.

8
. Mark Heller, interview with the author, Tel Aviv, October 22, 2013.

9
. “Barak: End of Syria's Assad Would Be ‘a Blessing for the Middle East,'”
Haaretz
, December 11, 2011,
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/barak-end-of-syria-s-assad-would-be-a-blessing-for-the-middle-east-1.400850
.

10
. “Senior Member of the SMC Defects to ISIS and Details Foreign Involvement in the Opposition,”
Brown Moses Blog
, December 2, 2013,
http://brown-moses.blogspot.com/2013/12/senior-member-of-smc-defects-to-isis_2.html
.

11
. Associated Press, “Israel Sends Humanitarian Aid to Syria,”
New York Times
, December 3, 2013,
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/04/world/middleeast/israel-sends-humanitarian-aid-to-syria.html
.

12
. Anne Barnard, Michael R. Gordon, and Jodi Rudoren, “Israel Targeted Iranian Missiles in Syria Attack,”
New York Times
, May 4, 2013,
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/05/world/middleeast/israel-syria.html
.

13
. Anne Barnard, “Syria Condemns Israeli Assault near Damascus,”
New York Times
, May 5, 2013,
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/06/world/middleeast/after-strikes-in-syria-concerns-about-an-escalation-of-fighting.html
.

14
. Michael R. Gordon, “Some Syria Missiles Eluded Israeli Strike, Officials Say,”
New York Times
, July 31, 2013,
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/01/world/middleeast/syrian-missiles-were-moved-before-israeli-strike-officials-say.html
.

15
. Anne Barnard, “Israeli Warplanes Strike near the Border of
Syria and Lebanon,”
New York Times
, February 24, 2013,
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/world/middleeast/israeli-warplanes-strike-near-the-border-of-syria-and-lebanon.html
.

16
. Herb Keinon, “Israel Wanted Assad Gone since Start of Syria Civil War,”
Jerusalem Post
, September 17, 2013,
http://washingtonpac.com/Articles%20of%20Interest/israel_wanted_assad_gone_since_s.htm
.

17
. Jodi Rudoren, “Israel Backs Limited Strike against Syria,”
New York Times
, September 5, 2013,
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/world/middleeast/israel-backs-limited-strike-against-syria.html
.

18
. Jodi Rudoren and Isabel Kershner, “Lobbying Group for Israel to Press Congress on Syria,”
New York Times
, September 9, 2013,
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/10/world/middleeast/lobbying-group-for-israel-to-press-congress-on-syria.html
.

19
. AIPAC, “Our Mission,” AIPAC home page,
http://www.aipac.org/about/mission
.

20
. Mark Landler, “Pro-Israel Group Finds Its Momentum Blunted,”
New York Times
, February 3, 2014,
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/04/world/middleeast/potent-pro-israel-group-finds-its-momentum-blunted.html
.

21
. Mustafa Barghouti, interview with the author, Ramallah, West Bank, October 24, 2013.

22
. Ron Kampeas, “Coalition Brings Together Groups Opposing New Iran Sanctions,” Jewish Telegraphic Agency, January 28, 2014,
http://www.jta.org/2014/01/28/news-opinion/politics/coalition-brings-together-groups-opposing-new-iran-sanctions
.

23
. Chemi Shalev, “Israel, Saudi Sheikhs and Congress Isolated in World Arena,”
Haaretz
, November 24, 2013,
http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/west-of-eden/.premium-1.559850
.

24
. UN Security Council Resolution 242, November 22, 1967,
http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/0/7D35E1F729DF491C85256EE700686136
.

25
. United Nations Resolution 497, December 17, 1981,
http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/73D6B4C70D1A92B7852560DF0064F101
.

26
. “Golan Heights Profile,”
BBC
, May 21, 2013,
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14724842
.

27
. Heller, interview with the author.

28
. David W. Lesch,
Syria: The Fall of the House of Assad
(New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2012), p. 36.

29
. Jay Solomon and Bill Spindle, “Syria Strongman: Time for ‘Reform,'”
Wall Street Journal
, January 31, 2011,
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704832704576114340735033236.html
.

30
. Shimon Shiffer, “Netanyahu Agreed to Full Golan Heights Withdrawal,”
Y Net News
, October 12, 2012,
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4291337,00.html
.

31
. Heller, interview with the author.

32
. Zvi Hauser, “No Peace without the Golan,”
Haaretz
, December 13, 2013,
http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.563291
.

33
. Hannan Ashrawi, interview with the author, Ramallah, October 24, 2013.

34
. Barghouti, interview with the author.

35
. Ashrawi, interview with the author.

36
. Ziad El-Zaza, interview with the author, Gaza City, June 8, 2011.

37
. “Preliminary Statement of the NDI/Carter Center International Observer Delegation to the Palestinian Legislative Council Elections,” Carter Center, January 26, 2006,
https://www.cartercenter.org/news/documents/doc2283.html
.

38
. Khaled Meshal, interview with the author, Damascus, December 18, 2008.

39
. Robert Tait, “Iran Cuts Hamas Funding over Syria,”
Telegraph
, May 31, 2013,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/10091629/Iran-cuts-Hamas-funding-over-Syria.html
.

40
. Ibid.

41
. Rick Gladstone, “Large Truck Bomb Reported to Kill 60 Syrian Troops,”
New York Times
, June 17, 2013,
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/18/world/middleeast/large-truck-bomb-reported-to-kill-60-syrian-troops.html
.

42
. “Palestinian Public Opinion Poll No. 45,” Palestine Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 30, 2012,
http://pcpsr.org/survey/polls/2012/p45e.pdf
.

43
. Professor As'ad Ghanem, e-mail interview with the author, October 16, 2013. The poll was conducted in 2012.

44
. Naela Kahil, “Syria War Polarizes West Bank Palestinians,”
Al-Monitor
, September 13, 2013,
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/09/syria-war-palestinians-baath.html
.

45
. Barghouti, interview with the author.

46
. Bruce Stokes, “Little International Support for Arming Syria Rebels,” Pew Research Center, May 2, 2013,
http://www.pewglobal.org/2013/05/02/little-international-support-for-arming-syria-rebels/
.

47
. Khaled Abu Toameh, “Rival Palestinian Factions Hamas, Fatah Unite against Western Attack on Syria,”
Jerusalem Post
, August 29, 2013,
http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Palestinians-Hamas-Fatah-voice-opposition-for-Western-attack-on-Syria-324709
.

48
. Ibid.

49
. Zisser, interview with the author.

50
. Barghouti, interview with the author.

CHAPTER 11. UNITED STATES, RUSSIA, AND OUTSIDE POWERS

1
. State Department spokesperson, interview with the author, Washington, DC, April 16, 2012.

2
. “Kathy,” State Department source, interview with the author, Washington, DC, April 2012.

3
. State Department spokesperson, interview with the author.

4
. “Clinton: SNC No Longer Leads Syrian Opposition,”
Voice of America
, October 31, 2012,
http://www.voanews.com/content/brahimi-seeks-chinese-support-for-syria-solution/1536429.html
.

5
. “Kathy,” interview with the author.

6
. State Department spokesperson, interview with the author.

7
. Peter van Buren, interview with the author, Washington, DC, April 17, 2012.

8
. Henry Precht, interview with the author, Washington, DC, April 16, 2012.

9
. “Remarks by President Obama in Address to the United Nations General Assembly,” September 24, 2013,
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/09/24/remarks-president-obama-address-united-nations-general-assembly
.

10
. John J. Mearsheimer, “American Unhinged,”
National Interest
, January–February 2014,
http://nationalinterest.org/article/america-unhinged-9639
.

11
. “Remarks by President Obama in Address to the United Nations General Assembly.”

12
. Jonathan Watts, “NSA Accused of Spying on Brazilian Oil Company Petrobras,”
Guardian
, September 9, 2013,
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/09/nsa-spying-brazil-oil-petrobras
.

13
. “Snowden: NSA Conducts Industrial Espionage Too,”
CBS News
, January 26, 2014,
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/snowden-nsa-conducts-industrial-espionage-too/E
.

14
. Mearsheimer, “American Unhinged.”

15
. Sammy Ketz, “Moscow Rejects Saudi Offer to Drop Assad for Arms Deal,”
Agence France Press
, August 8, 2013,
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jhPTvibpnk98IR09Amuc5QzWQsIQ?docId=CNG.c0b07c0fd43690568ae07ab83f87f608.6d1&hl=en
.

16
. Pepe Escobar, “Syria's Pipelineistan War,”
Al Jazeera
, August 6, 2012,
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/08/201285133440424621.html
.

17
. Nafeez Ahmad, “Syria Intervention Plan Fueled by Oil Interests, Not Chemical Weapon Concern,”
Guardian
, August 30, 2013,
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/earth-insight/2013/aug/30/syria-chemical-attack-war-intervention-oil-gas-energy-pipelines
.

18
. Rhonda Roumani, “Four Armed Men Attack US Embassy in Damascus,”
Washington Post
, September 13, 2006,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/12/AR2006091200345.html
.

19
. Peter Grier, “Why It Took so Long for Obama to Say Syria's Assad Must Go,”
Christian Science Monitor
, August 18, 2011,
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2011/0818/Why-it-took-so-long-for-Obama-to-say-Syria-s-Assad-must-go
.

20
. Ahmad Bakdouness, interview with the author, Damascus, October 5, 2011.

21
. “Leen,” interview with the author, Damascus, October 2011.

22
. Thom Shanker, “General Says Syrian Rebels Aren't Ready to Take Power,”
New York Times
, August 21, 2013,
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/22/world/middleeast/general-says-syrian-rebels-arent-ready-to-take-power.html
.

23
. Mark Mazzetti, Robert F. Worth, and Michael R. Gordon, “Obama's Uncertain Path amid Syria Bloodshed,”
New York Times
, October 22, 2013,
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/23/world/middleeast/obamas-uncertain-path-amid-syria-bloodshed.html
.

24
. Ibid.

25
. Jack Keane and Danielle Pletka, “How to Stop Assad's Slaughter,”
Wall Street Journal
, May 23, 2013,
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323744604578477203521015598
.

26
. Doug Bandow, “Choosing between Two Evils in Syria,” Cato Institute, August 6, 2012,
http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/choosing-between-two-evils-syria
.

27
. Pat Buchanan, “Syria: Just Whose War Is It?”
WorldNetDaily
, September 5, 2013,
http://www.wnd.com/2013/09/just-whose-war-is-this/
.

28
. Arlette Saenz, “Let Allah Sort It Out,”
ABC News
, June 15, 2013,
http://news.yahoo.com/sarah-palin-u-decision-syria-let-allah-sort-182044264--abc-news-politics.html
.

29
. Thomas L. Friedman, “A War for Oil?”
New York Times
, January 5, 2003,
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/05/opinion/a-war-for-oil.html
.