[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Syria Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week`s roundup to syria@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every week.]
Regional and International Relations
The Belgian Teen Who Went to Fight in Syria Andrew Katz reports on a Belgian youth’s radicalization and decision to join the armed opposition in Syria.
Islamist Threat Constrains Jordan’s Syria Policy Mohammad Abu Rumman suggests Jordan has been careful to remind the U.S. about this threat, to advance its own national goals.
The Priorities of Russia’s Stance on the Syrian Crisis Raghida Dergham writes: “however high-ranking an individual might be, or however "full" the powers they might be entrusted within the process of political transition in Syria, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will remain in Russia`s opinion, president with full powers, as a "wartime president."”
Russia’s Lavrov on Solving Syria Through Diplomacy (Text of Interview) posted on Juan Cole’s blog
Turkey Shuts Border Crossing After Deadly Bombs This was allegedly the last border controlled by the regime.
Turkey Ponders ‘What Kind of Syria Will Emerge Post-Assad’ Fikret Bila says Turkey is aware of the possibility that its revised stance toward Syria may encourage the creation of a quasi-independent Syrian Kurdistan.
Border Arrests Reveal Disunity, Conflicts Among Syrian Kurds Wladimir Van Wilgenburg on the PKK and KDP’s branches fighting each other in Syria.
Armed, Bearded Syrians Flourish in Southern Turkey Amberin Zaman meets some Syrian men at a rehabilitation center in Reyhanli
The Golan Heats Up as Frontline Between Syria and Israel Tareq al-Abed says “those events are raising questions about whether the military situation could return to what it was during the Yom Kippur War of 1973.”
Diplomacy Over Military Action: The Path to Peace in Syria Ambassador Patrick Theros (retired) argues in favor of a diplomatic solution in Syria.
EU Decision to Lift Oil Sanctions Boost Jihadist Groups
Assad Sets Names of Negotiating Team For Peace Talks that will likely be held in Geneva in June.
The Supreme Military Council’s Letter to John Kerry
Population Displacement
Through the Eyes of a Syrian Refugee Vijay Prashad on how Syrian refugees in Lebanon transform the city’s social, economic and political landscapes.
Syria Strife Sends Somali Refugees on the Run Mona Kosar Abdi on Somali refugees who are caught in the crossfire and have nowhere to go.
The 5-Star Tent Village Neri Zilber on an Emirati-funded camp in Jordan, away from the crowded Zaatri camp supposed to have become the country’s ‘fifth largest city’.
Documentary: Where the War Still Echoes An intimate profile of a family living in Zaatri refugee camp, produced by IRIN news service.
A Humiliating Situation: Syrian Refugees in Lebanon A MSF movie about the poor living conditions Syrians are subjected to in Lebanon.
Hezbollah’s Involvement in Syria
Bekaa: Mourning and Celebrating Qusayr’s Dead Afif Diab on the various positions at the Lebanese border regarding Hezbollah’s involvement in Syria.
Syrian Army, Hezbollah Bear Down on Rebels in Strategic Qusayr Nicholas Blanford explains the military importance of this Syrian town.
Hizbullah Cannot Afford to Stay Long in Assad’s Quagmire Michael Young on how Hezbollah’s involvement in Syria threatens to worsen the already tense political climate in Lebanon.
The Jihadist Threat to Lebanon Jaafar al-Attar says Lebanon is struggling to precisely understand the risks incurred by Lebanon because of the limits to intelligence gathering.
Syrian Narratives
Syria`s Inglorious Basterd Audrey Ann Lavallee argues that “the evolution of a fatalistic discourse on Syria strangely coincides with a foreign policy increasingly suited to the status quo and adverse to the idea of having to make concessions with countries such as Iran.”
As Assad’s Forces Take Control of Qusair, What Comes Next? Jean Aziz explains how the latest military gains by the Syrian army are likely to impact the situation in Syria.
Syria: the threats, costs, claims and lives Phyllis Bennis says “what the civil war in Syria has exposed is that the massive political and social transformation, and real regime change under way is led by people themselves.”
Is Jabhat al-Nosra Breaking Apart? Aron Lund provides a news roundup of those new developments, whereby members of Jabhat al-Nusra are divided over who to follow.
The Rise of the Sufis Matthew Barber on Sheikh al-Qacoubi’s election by the National Council
Does the Threat of Sectarian ‘Cleansing’ Stay the West’s Hand? Frederic Hof disagrees with the noninterventionist stances held by certain international commentators.
Syria Conflict Prompts Shift in Commercial Aviation Routes, to avoid putting the lives of customers at risk.
Anything Maysaloon about loss and death
Tribal and Islamist Clashes in Syria Reveal Deep Divisions Abdelnaser al Ayd deconstructs the idea that “Syria`s tribes are susceptible to the influence of radical groups merely because the two groups are conservative Sunni Muslims.”
Syrian Bishops in Aleppo Still Missing One Month On
Inside Syria
The Wait A Homs resident outlines the different things he is waiting for while living in a war zone.
Without Water, Revolution Thomas Friedman on the relationship between the uprising and the environmental crisis in Syria
In the Hills of Alawistan Alia Malek reports on life in Tartous
Arts and Social Media
Hezbollah’s Fallen Soldiers Phillip Smyth suggests the involvement of the organization in Syria is made clearer as social media shows images and footage of Hezbollah mourning its dead.
Ali Farzat’s Sarcastic Revolution Karen Leigh interviews the famous Syrian caricaturist about his work and his hopes for Syria.
Satellite Navigation Sends Hezbollah’s Men Fighting in the Wrong Place in Syria Karl Sharro’s satirical take on Hezbollah’s involvement in Syria.
We Are the Syrian Electronic Army Alison Tahmizian Meuse on the group of hackers that has “virtually become a real army”
Policy and Reports
Too Close for Comfort: Syrians in Lebanon An International Crisis Group report
Arabic
نداء جامع حلب: اتركوا الركام بسلام!
Diana Sikkini on the destruction to the Great Aleppo Mosque.
سوريا تفقد أبناءها.. بين الرصاص و الهجرة
Tarek al-Abed on the bureaucratic hardships in getting immigration papers in Syria, and the commercialization of the process.
أردوغان و "أخونة" الصراع في سورية
Mostafa Zein on Erdogan and Turkey`s influence on the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria.
الهيئات الشرعية…عدالة منقوصة و تأسيس لديكتاتورية سورية جديدة
Abdel Hajj on the legislative bodies that have been set up in "liberated" areas, which have been created the Islamist fronts such as Annusra and others.
Tarek al-Abed on the breakout of fighting among the armed rebels in the rebel-controlled areas in Aleppo.
Michel Kilo on the daily massacres in Syria.
حزب الله في سوريا… الظروف و الدوافع
Sadeq Annabulsi on Hezbollah and their involvement in fights in Syria.
في العلاقة بين كردستانيي العراق و سوريا
Sherazad Adel al-Yazidi on the relationship between Iraqi Kurdistan and Kurdistan Syria.
Michel Kilo provides his views on the stance of Russia and America on the matter of Syria.
الفكاهة و التراجيديا في الحدث السوري
Rabie Barakat on the juxtaposition of the horrific and the tragic situation on the ground in Syria, with the "humor" of the Syrian national TV and the hysteria of the rebels in their latest representations of the struggle - the case of "Ahmad Spider" and the "Cannibal"
إعادة الحساب الدائمة: إساءة فهم سوريا بعد سنتين
Bassam Haddad on the analysis of writers, thinkers, and politicians of the situation in Syria.