Syria's War Within the War Expected to Continue Despite Downing Of
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Issue 174, Year 4 September 23, 2018 UK £2 www.thearabweekly.com EU €2.50 Interview Saudi writer Tripoli Ahmed al-Duwaihi spinning on prospects out of control of modernity Page 22 Page 10 Syria’s war within the war expected to continue despite downing of Russian plane ► Israel says its F-16 fighter jets attacked a facility in northern Syria to prevent “systems to manufacture accurate and lethal weapons” from being “transferred on behalf of Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon.” Thomas Seibert Russia said Syrian air-defence sys- tems shot the plane down shortly after Israeli jets hit the area and Istanbul accused Israel of creating the dan- gerous conditions by failing to srael could face some limits give sufficient notice. The Russian on its ability to strike Iranian Embassy in Tel Aviv spoke of “irre- targets in Syria following the sponsible and unfriendly actions” I downing of a Russian mili- by the Israeli Air Force. tary plane but is unlikely to suf- In 2015, the Kremlin put rela- fer a crippling setback for its war tions with Turkey into the deep within the war in the neighbour- freeze for a year after the Turkish ing country. Air Force shot down a Russian mil- To contain the political and mili- itary plane on the Syrian border. tary fallout from the September 17 Russia, however, shows no inten- incident over northern Syria, Isra- tion of doing the same with Israel el sent its air force chief, Amikam after the loss of the IL-20. Norkin, to Moscow. He briefed Israel says its F-16 fighter jets at- Russian officials on the initial Is- tacked a facility in northern Syria raeli investigation into the crash in to prevent “systems to manufac- which a Russian IL-20 surveillance ture accurate and lethal weapons” Clashes ahead. Israelis look across the border to watch warplanes backing a Syrian government plane went down near Latakia. All from being “transferred on behalf offensive carry out air strikes in the Syrian province of Daraa. (AFP) 15 people on board were killed. of Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon.” The powerful air force of the Alex Vatanka, Jewish state has carried out nu- Prime Minister Binyamin Netanya- hoping Russia would not impose Aviv in recent years, is unlikely a senior fellow merous raids against Iranian tar- hu’s security cabinet, said “decon- further restrictions, such as mak- to risk a confrontation with Israel at the Middle gets in Syria in a campaign de- fliction mechanisms” would be ing regions around Russian instal- by introducing overly restrictive East Institute in signed to counter Tehran’s efforts strengthened. lations in Syria off limits for Israeli rules. “It might limit Israel’s ma- Washington to strengthen military assets close Israel is not prepared to stop its air strikes, because that could be noeuvring space in Syria but that to the Israeli border. military campaign against Iran in exploited by Iran, the Haaretz would not necessarily change the “The Iranians can barely The attacks, which have mostly Syria as such, however. Defence newspaper reported. current dynamics,” Ali Vaez, direc- disguise their hope that this spared assets of the Syrian govern- Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Analysts say Tehran is watching tor of the Iran Project at the Inter- incident will be a watershed ment, have been largely ignored Army Radio the military would closely for any move to scale back national Crisis Group in Washing- moment and Moscow will turn by Russia. Moscow and Tel Aviv “do whatever is necessary to safe- Israel’s ability to strike in Syria. ton, said in an e-mail. on Israel.” worked out a communication guard the security of Israel’s citi- “The Iranians can barely disguise “Iran is still focused on consoli- mechanism to prevent military zens.” their hope that this incident will dating the Assad regime,” Vaez Moscow has been sending mixed confrontations following the start Russia, whose air force rules the be a watershed moment and Mos- added, “and Israel remains stead- messages. On one hand, Russian of the Russian military engage- skies over Syria, might restrict the cow will turn on Israel,” Alex Va- fast in preventing Iran from en- President Vladimir Putin refrained ment in Syria in 2015. freedom of movement for Israel’s tanka, a senior fellow at the Mid- trenching itself in Syria.” from putting all the blame on Isra- Israel says, while its attack near jets. Israeli media reported that dle East Institute in Washington, el, saying the death of the airmen Latakia did not violate those rules, Russia closed the air space off the said via e-mail. Thomas Seibert is an Arab was the result of a chain of tragic it is open for improvements. Naf- northern Syria coast for a week af- However, Russia, which has de- Weekly correspondent. circumstances. On the other hand, tali Bennett, a member of Israeli ter the loss of its plane. Israel was veloped good relations with Tel P2-3,14 Anti-Muslim bias in UK underpins wariness about immigration Mahmud el-Shafey and ethnic minorities too,” said Ro- Kingdom, indicated that 40% of re- across the country. National Health Service (NHS) than sie Carter, a co-author of the report spondents said they did not agree “Anti-Muslim prejudice took dif- they consumed. and a researcher for Hope Not Hate. that diversity benefits British cul- ferent forms, with a tendency to Despite this, dissatisfaction with London The study, which was based on ture and that 52% of those asked stereotype Muslims as a homoge- high levels of immigration was one polling 3,667 nationally representa- said that public services were un- neous community whose values of the main reasons cited by Britons wo major reports highlight- tive adults as part of an overall der strain due to immigrants. and lifestyle are incompatible with who voted to leave the European ed the divisive nature of consultation that involved nearly The report outlined “wide- the British way of life. Union, with many saying the scape- the immigration debate in 20,000 people across the United spread” anti-Muslim sentiment “They believed that British cul- goating of immigrants that was T Britain while the country is ture was under threat because peo- seen during the Brexit campaign dealing with the fallout of the Brex- ple were ‘forced,’ usually by schools has become part of wider political it referendum, outlining the over- and councils, to pander to ‘political discourse. sized fear among Britons towards correctness’ and the sensitivities migrants and the actual effect im- of Muslims. Anti-Muslim prejudice migration has on the country. underpinned broader views about 52% of those asked said A study published September 17 immigration.” that public services were by the British Future think-tank A report commissioned by the under strain due to and the anti-racism group Hope Not British government ahead of Brexit immigrants. Hate stated that four-in-ten Britons stated that migrants, specifically asked said multiculturalism had those from within the European “The Brexit campaign was never undermined British culture and Union, had an overall positive ef- really about the EU or even immi- that migrants were failing to prop- fect on the British economy and gration. It was about foreigners. erly integrate into British society. public services. Foreigners became a scapegoat for “Immigration is a national is- The report by the Migration Advi- all the things that are not working sue but people see it through a lo- sory Committee, released Septem- properly — including in the NHS cal lens. Where people live, and ber 18, said EU citizens living and and in schools,” wrote Rodney their living conditions, makes a working in the United Kingdom Barker, a professor of government real difference — that includes the had little effect on local wages, paid at the London School of Econom- perceived impact of migration on more in taxes, had no adverse effect ics. their community, broader griev- Room for hope. A 2017 file picture shows people attending a vigil on Britons’ education system, were ances about economic insecurity outside Finsbury Park Mosque in north London following a van not linked to increasing crime and Mahmud el-Shafey is an Arab and levels of contact with migrants attack on pedestrians nearby. (AFP) contributed “much more” to the Weekly correspondent in London. 2 September 23, 2018 Cover Story Israel averts crisis with Russia, sees need for better coordination Mamoon Alabbasi onry (to be used) against Israel,” ner with presumed nuclear capa- said Israeli Prime Minister Biny- bilities, situated in the heart of the amin Netanyahu. world’s most turbulent region, it’s London Israel expressed “sorrow” for the also home to about 1.3 million peo- deaths of the Russians but blamed ple born in post-Soviet countries. srael is likely to resume strikes the downing of the plane on “ex- This large diaspora plays a signifi- against Iranian and Lebanese tensive and inaccurate Syrian anti- cant role for Russia when it tailors Hezbollah targets in Syria de- aircraft fire.” It promised to provide its approach to Tel Aviv,” said an I spite the downing of a Russian Russia with “with all necessary unattributed article published on plane but Tel Aviv is expected to information to investigate the inci- the website of the Russian media tread with caution so it won’t an- dent,” said a statement from Netan- outlet RT. tagonise Moscow. yahu’s office. Israel recently confirmed attack- A Russian aircraft was shot down Russian President Vladimir Putin ing Iranian and Hezbollah targets September 17 by Syrian defences eased tensions by describing the inside Syria some 200 times since responding to an Israeli air strike in incident as “a chain of tragic acci- 2017.