Posted by Qifa Nabki  Thanks to all of the excellent participants on Syria Comment for generating a stimulating debate about the prospects and shape of a future Israeli-Syrian peace deal. The comment board, as of this moment, is nearing 300 posts, amounting to 75,000 words, which is equivalent to a printed book over 200 pages [...]

Lebanese diva arouses emotion, controversy in Syria Mon 28 Jan 2008By Khaled Yacoub Oweis: Reuters DAMASCUS, – Legendary Lebanese singer Fairouz performed to a sell-out crowd in the Syrian capital on Monday, defying politicians who criticised her for going to what they consider enemy territory. The Arab diva, who burst onto the music scene on [...]

I hope everyone will continue to post to the letter from Alon Liel,  Chairman of the Israeli-Syrian Peace Society, posted below. It has stimulated very interesting dialogue. Alex will be posting a summary soon. I begin this news roundup with a short announcement: Serene Taleb-Agha [serene@hashem.net] has begun a "a list for English-speaking residents of Syria, [...]

Dear Alex, My name is Alon Liel. I am chairing these days the Israeli-Syrian Peace Society that I helped found exactly one year ago. I am an ex-Israeli diplomat and a university lecturer today, who strongly believes it is high time that Israel and Syria sign a peace treaty and normalize their relations. I am [...]

Posted by Alex  Damascus celebrated yesterday the official opening of festivities for "Damascus, capital of Arab culture for 2008" For the first time in Damascus fireworks were used in those celebrations. In the past, security concerns prevented organizers of similar events from using fireworks. President Assad made a speech that included the expected expressions of [...]