„ D i s c o v e r i n g I n t e r n a t i o n a l R e l a t i o n s a n d C o n t e m p o r a r y G l o b a l I s s u e s ” Cultural Relations Policy News and Background November 2012 ICRP Monthly Review Series 2012 About CRP News & Background Cultural Relations Policy News & Background is a part of ICRP Monthly Review Series and an initiative of Institute for Cultural Relations Policy Budapest. Launched in 2012, its mission is to provide information and analysis on key international political events. Each issue covers up-to-date events and analysis of current concerns of international relations on a monthly basis. As an initiative of ICRP, the content of this magazine is written and edited by student authors. The project, as part of the Institute’s Internship Programme provides the opportunity to strengthen professional skills. Editorial Team Andras Lorincz, Series Editor Adam Torok, Author – Issue November 2012 Csilla Morauszki, Executive Publisher © Institute for Cultural Relations Policy ICRP Geopolitika Kft 45 Gyongyosi utca, Budapest 1031 - Hungary Contents 01 Ten days of war between Gaza and Israel 05 Catalonia steps closer to independence 07 Austerity unites Europe 08 Storm ended with acquittal 10 Obama presidency continues 12 Rise of Palestine’s status 14 Diplomatic progress of Syrian opposition 17 Goma in the hands of rebels for 10 days 20 Clashes of religions in Nigeria 22 Al-Shabaab stroke back in Kenya 23 Scramble for oil in the Caribbean 25 Asian summits in Cambodia 28 News in Brief 01 ICRP Monthly Review Series | November 2012 Ten days of war between Gaza and Israel Antagonism of Israel and the Hamas sympathiser Palestinians of the Gaza Strip have been tensioning situations in the Middle East for years and caused a long string of incidents. The eventual firings of Israel’s territory and civilians and the tight blockade of Gaza causing lack of basic goods but could not stop smuggling arms for militants, are the key experiences made the relation of the sides no chance of a Rising smoke in Gaza after it was hit by Israeli airstrikes [Photo: Scott Bobb] real bilateral solution, and the issue and severely operating air strikes on rocket- drastically overshadows Israeli-Arab launching squads in Gaza killing at least collaborations in general. one member. The end of the day, military Relative peace of the region vanished on wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad called 10 November, the day when an anti-tank al-Quds Brigades admitted most of the missile launched from the Strip flew across rocket launches, and responsibility for the border and hit a patrolling military jeep others was taken by other Palestinian of the Israeli Defence Forces, wounding 4 militias, while Hamas firmly condemned soldiers. The incident was a certain proof of Israeli counterattacks and accused they the improving military capabilities of the targeted civilians. Palestinian militants located Gaza. But soon During the following three days, more than after this, a comprehensive attack carried 100 rockets were fired at Israel followed by out with more than 30 rockets put under retaliation actions of its forces. On the terror the Israeli cities of Ashkelon and evening of 13 November, representatives of Ashdod. Some of the missiles were the sides agreed to hold a truce, but they intercepted by Iron Dome defence system, added too, they reserved the right to fire many of them landed outside of inhabited back if they are attacked. The initiative with areas and the remainder ones caused wide international backing could not stop small damage of infrastructure led local violence permanently but achieved power outage but none of the residents noticeable consolidation of the border received an injury. IDF responded quickly region the next day. Prime Minister 02 ICRP Monthly Review Series | November 2012 Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Hamas leaders called Muslim politicians to Ehud Barak visited separately the south of provide diplomatic support for Palestinians Israel to underscore Jerusalem’s support for and this claim regarded especially to the most targeted people. Egyptian leaders. Egyptians’ popular In accordance with continuing casual fire support to the Gazans proved by rallies all from Gaza and their former declaration over the country demonstrating against meant Israel considered Hamas responsible Israel’s bombings and some of them for all attacks come from the Gaza Strip, an expected more commanding presence of Israeli missile killed Ahmed Al-Jabari, leader Cairo. This domestic pressure prompted of Hamas’ military group Izz ad-Din al- President Morsi and the cabinet – both Qassam Brigades, while he was travelling entered office just some months ago – to by car in the city with his son also died in react, and this situation also showed an the targeted assassination on the following opportunity of Egypt to return international day the truce was proclaimed. politics as a strong and stable state has Actions of both sides continued with various specific influence on Middle East. Because intensity. Islamists reached Tel Aviv – the city Egypt and even its recent Islamist president was not rocketed since 1991 – using a long- respect the existing of Israel state, there range Iranian built Fajr-5 missile exploded in was chance of a successful dialogue. After a suburb of the city but no casualties were former reconciliation of Israel, Egypt and reported. Besides the air force carried out the Strip, Cairo’s Prime Minister Hesham bombardments of targets in the Strip Qandil visited Gaza on 16 November. aiming to ruin Palestinian military machine, During his brief presence, only Israel held its the Defence Minister called 30,000 reservists fire while militants launched rockets aiming among armoured vehicles and tanks to at towns north from the border. Qandil’s prepare a ground offensive in the case of statement deepened disappointment since this operation is inevitable. President of he even did not mentioned a cease-fire on Egypt Mohamed Morsi negotiated the issue the horizon, his speech focused on on a telephone conference with the US President and chief of UN Ban Ki-moon. Morsi rejected Israeli operations and withdrew its ambassador from the Jewish state, and urged UN to call an emergency meeting of the Security Council. Parallel with this members of the Arab League also gathered to discuss the case, but these efforts did not affect seriously the current Destruction in Gaza after Israeli bombardment, part of Operation Pillar of Defense violence. [Photo: Scott Bobb] 03 ICRP Monthly Review Series | November 2012 Jerusalem Post and the Haaretz reported that rockets were fired from the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt caused damage of properties in the south of Israel, but the Israel announced military operations on Twitter incident was not reaffirmed by authorities of Cairo or Jerusalem. President Morsi expressing Palestinians support from brokered plans of a cease-fire, both Hamas Egyptians and all Muslims. and Israel declared their conditions of the Violence escalated during the following deal. Israel expected Hamas stop all fire days causing heavy losses. Armed groups in from Gaza, Palestinians demanded the Gaza took serious efforts to improve the end of air strikes and the wipe up of range of their own-made unguided missiles blockade of the enclave. widely named Qassams after the most President Simon Peres welcomed the efforts common operator of them the Izz ad-Din of Morsi to establish an agreement of the al-Qassam. A newly advanced version of sides in the worsening crisis and stated Iran the weapon landed just outside Jerusalem is the only obstructing a truce agreement causing no injuries but the rocket-raid playing a destructive role and shocked the capital. encouraging, supporting militants fire on Israel intensified air strikes of Gaza bombing Israel. Russian Foreign Ministry rejected at least 80 targets on Sunday, 18 violence with no partiality saying „shelling November. They targeted the house of a of the Israeli territory and disproportionate Hamas man, but the explosion killed nine strikes on Gaza, which harms innocent other members of a family including civilians, is unacceptable.” The children. Haaretz Israeli newspaper international background favoured to the reported the target was Yehiya Rabiah announcement of a cease-fire rather than leader of a rocket launching unit, but the an Israeli offensive. Military analysts of strike mistakenly hit a neighbouring house Jerusalem believed that most goals Israel and put policeman Mohamed Dalou and can achieve using military force were his relatives to death. Another attack hit a realized by the air strikes, the involvement media office wounding 6 journalists and destroyed offices of some foreign news agencies. Israel continued concentrate its ground forces and collaborated on a possible peace plan with Egypt, Turkey and the United States. As it is a key ally in the region, President Obama fully supported Israel’s right to defend its citizens and urged an agreement to prevent invasion of IDF. Destruction in Gaza after Israeli bombardment, part of Operation Pillar of Defense Two prominent Israeli newspapers, the [Photo: Scott Bobb] 04 ICRP Monthly Review Series | November 2012 of ground forces would certainly increase Palestinians came to the streets and the casualties on both sides, and the celebrated a victory over the Israeli forces. popularity of this attack was low either in The days of aggression killed 6 Israelis and the army or among civilians. more than 100 Palestinians, and though a As a final act of the violence, an exploding long-lasting solution of the Gaza Strip is not device wounded 28 people travelling on a closer than before, its time to enjoy peace bus in the centre of Tel Aviv.