URGENT: US PPI declines by 0.2% in May    Egypt secures $130m in non-refundable USAID grants    HSBC named Egypt's Best Bank for Diversity, Inclusion by Euromoney    Singapore offers refiners carbon tax rebates for '24, '25    Egypt's CBE offers EGP 4b zero coupon t-bonds    G7 agrees on $50b Ukraine loan from frozen Russian assets    EU dairy faces China tariff threat    Over 12,000 Egyptian pilgrims receive medical care during Hajj: Health Ministry    Egypt's rise as global logistics hub takes centre stage at New Development Bank Seminar    Blinken addresses Hamas ceasefire counterproposal, future governance plans for Gaza    MSMEDA, EABA sign MoU to offer new marketing opportunities for Egyptian SMEs in Africa    Egypt's President Al-Sisi, Equatorial Guinea's Vice President discuss bilateral cooperation, regional Issues    Egypt's Higher Education Minister pledges deeper cooperation with BRICS at Kazan Summit    Gaza death toll rises to 37,164, injuries hit 84,832 amid ongoing Israeli attacks    Egypt's Water Research, Space Agencies join forces to tackle water challenges    BRICS Skate Cup: Skateboarders from Egypt, 22 nations gather in Russia    Pharaohs Edge Out Burkina Faso in World Cup qualifiers Thriller    Egypt's EDA, Zambia sign collaboration pact    Madinaty Sports Club hosts successful 4th Qadya MMA Championship    Amwal Al Ghad Awards 2024 announces Entrepreneurs of the Year    Egyptian President asks Madbouly to form new government, outlines priorities    Egypt's President assigns Madbouly to form new government    Egypt and Tanzania discuss water cooperation    Grand Egyptian Museum opening: Madbouly reviews final preparations    Madinaty's inaugural Skydiving event boosts sports tourism appeal    Tunisia's President Saied reshuffles cabinet amidst political tension    Instagram Celebrates African Women in 'Made by Africa, Loved by the World' 2024 Campaign    Egypt to build 58 hospitals by '25    Swiss freeze on Russian assets dwindles to $6.36b in '23    Egyptian public, private sectors off on Apr 25 marking Sinai Liberation    Debt swaps could unlock $100b for climate action    Financial literacy becomes extremely important – EGX official    Euro area annual inflation up to 2.9% – Eurostat    BYD، Brazil's Sigma Lithium JV likely    UNESCO celebrates World Arabic Language Day    Motaz Azaiza mural in Manchester tribute to Palestinian journalists    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Fearing backlash, Arab states quiet on Syria crisis

CAIRO: Arab states are keeping mum and not taking positions on the Syrian crisis, fearing the unrest there could spill over their borders as they battle their own internal issues, analysts say.
With the Middle East in turmoil, further destabilization of Syria could have serious consequences for its immediate Arab neighbors such as Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and beyond, they say.
Arab capitals have been quiet despite the international community expressing outrage over the Syrian authorities' deadly repression of protests against President Bashar Al-Assad, which according to rights activists has killed more than 600 people since March 15.
The experience in Syria and Libya "demonstrates that rapid change, which was relatively easy in Tunisia and Egypt, is not necessarily replicated elsewhere," said Mustafa Al-Ani of the Gulf Research Center in Dubai.
"Leaders of many countries are reluctant to engage when the situation is still so uncertain. Moreover, a civil war in Syria could bring civil war to Lebanon, increase terrorism in Iraq and undermine Jordanian security."
Syria remains influential in Lebanon through Islamist militant movement Hezbollah in particular, while the Lebanese political classes, whether they support Syria or not, are also worried about a backlash.
"All Lebanese parties are distancing themselves from events in Syria," said Hilal Khashan of the American University of Beirut.
Even the pro-Western Lebanese camp "thinks if it supports the opposition in Syria, it will only worsen the regime's repression," he added.
Antoine Basbous, director of the Observatory of Arab Countries in Paris, said the fear of Syrian retaliation is also keeping these nations quiet.
"The Syrian regime is a pyromaniac that has never hesitated to cause problems for Lebanon, Jordan or Iraq. Some countries are aware of Syria's nuisance value and don't want to provoke it," he said.
Egypt, the most populous nation in the Arab world, is absorbed in its own delicate political transition after the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak and "has no desire to engage in outside quarrels" such as the Syrian crisis, he said.
Indeed, the new Egypt has made clear "it is rather tempted to get closer to Damascus, with whom Mubarak had tense relations," said Sayyed Mustafa Kamel from the University of Cairo.
The Arab League is also in turmoil due to the internal crises in many of its member states and hence has little opportunity to speak assertively on Syria.
The Arab League this week announced the postponement until March 2012 of its annual summit, which was due to be held this month in Baghdad.
Turkey, a key neighbor to the Arab world, is also nervous about the situation in a country that, like itself, has a large Kurdish community, while close ally Iran has kept a low profile concerning the repression in Syria, with whom it says it has "32 years of strong relations."
But Israel, which captured two-thirds of the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 six-day war, fears the unpredictable consequences of instability in its northern neighbor.
"Imagine the consequences for the Arab world if Israel were to intervene in Syria," said Kamel.


Clic here to read the story from its source.