Following the suspension of Syria from the Arab League for its continuous crackdown on protests, approximately another 70 people were killed across the country this week. The EU has reacted by adding antoher 18 Syrian officials to the list of people affected by the travel ban and asset freeze. Germany, France and the UK has drafted a resolution condemning the Syrian regime, which is now expected to be presented at the UN General Assembly, perhaps backed by Arab countries. Also this week King Abdullah of Jordan was the first Arab leader to call explicitly for the Syrian President to step down - “I believe, if I were in his shoes, I would step down.”

The head of Syrian National Council, Burhan Ghalioun, announced that his attempt to convince the Russian government to back the Syrian opposition’s calls for President Assad’s resignation were not successful. Meanwhile, defectors allegedly attacked an air force military base in Harasta, near Damascus. If confirmed, it would be the biggest action undertaken by the Free Syrian Army since its establishment.

In Egypt, the Higher Administrative Court has decided, despite criticism from many Egyptian activists, to overturn the recent ban on former National Democratic Party members running for the upcoming elections. By joining other parties or running as independents, ex-members of the NDP can now participate in the process that will lead to the formation of an assembly which will write the new constitution. Late this week clashes have been reported in Cairo among residents and Christian Copts marching to end discrimination against them.

In Israel members of Kadima Party, the main opposition party, protested after the Knesset approved bills that, in their opinion, would seriously tilt the balance of the Supreme Court to the right, and by doing so undermining the independence of the judicial power. This package came a day after a cabinet committee backed measures that would end foreign funding for Israeli human right groups that are against the building of new settlements.

Hamas and Fatah have agreed to hold elections in May 2012. According to Azzam al-Ahmad, a Fatah official, the two main Palestinian factions have agreed to form a committee that would lead to elections then. This marks a turning point in the four year rift between the two, which started when Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in 2007.

Six Palestinian activists (calling themselves ‘Freedom Riders’) were detained by Israeli police after they boarded a bus only allowed for use by Jewish settlers to take them to Jerusalem.

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As widely expected, China and Russia vetoed a UN resolution condemning the Syrian regime its continuing crackdown on current uprisings. Although the draft proposed by European states removed provisions on sanctions against Syria (although imposed by Turkey) with a more accommodating version referring to ‘targeted measures’, the governments of Beijing and Moscow rejected it for not clearly removing a direct reference against any military action. Following the decision, which effectively neutralised US and European joint efforts to deal with the Syrian crisis, the US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice strongly criticised the veto and walked out. Russian officials defined the resolution as ‘unacceptable’, expressing concerns about a possible military intervention. However, in a press conference held in Istanbul, the fragmented opposition finally united into the Syrian National Council (including both religious and secularist groups. This is a crucial development and allows them to pursue effective changes and the right to  be recognised and supported by foreign countries. In addition to that, more Syrians are opting to arm themselves and together with defectors are now establishing rebel ‘armies’.

The US Defence of Secretary, Leon Panetta, affirmed that Netanyahu’s government is partly responsible for Israel’s current isolation in the Middle East, with particular reference to its relations with Turkey and Egypt. Mr Panetta pointed out that military supremacy cannot be pursued on its own at the expense of diplomatic relations. As shown by the fact that the Israeli ambassador in Ankara was recently expelled after the flotilla-case of 2010; likewise, Israeli diplomats in Egypt had to be evacuated after protests out of the embassy in Cairo. Meanwhile on Monday, a mosque in Northern Israel was attacked and set fire to in a so-called 'Price-Tag’ attack, a term used in a campaign by Jewish settlers aimed at tackling any policy concerning a reduction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Such violent acts have been increasing in number recently, and have been condemned by Prime Minister Netanyahu as ‘against the values of the state of Israel, which places supreme importance on freedom of religion and freedom of worship’.

In Egypt a meeting between the military council and activists ended unsuccessfully. Following mass protests in Tahrir Square, politicians asked the military rulers to cede power shortly, abolishing the 30 year-long state of emergency. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) has promised to review the legislation and to take a decision within the next two weeks, including whether or not to ban former National Democratic Party members from running in elections for two years. Six candidates have called today for presidential elections to be held by April 2012.

In Jordan, King Abdullah II approved on Friday a decree concerning important constitutional amendments, following demonstrations. As part of this, the King introduced the establishment of a constitutional court and an independent body tasked to supervise elections. However, the two houses of parliament decided to keep the State Security Court, which is tasked with solving disputes concerning treason and terrorism. The Muslim Brotherhood, called for the abolishment of such institutions, and for there to be a direct election for the upper house of parliament, instead of nominees being appointed by King.

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A second truce between militants in Gaza and Israel has been signed after the first one was broken two days after the first treaty was signed. Troubles started late last week when Israeli targets were attacked in the Sinai late which resulted in the deaths of 8 Israeli nationals. Five members of the Egyptian army were killed as Israeli security forces hunted down suspected militants, which has led to an escalation of tensions between the two countries. Egyptians have taken to the streets today to protest outside the Israeli Embassy in Cairo. Meanwhile Israel has given the green light to the deployment of thousands of Egyptian soldiers to the Sinai region to increase security.

Pressure has yet again stepped against President Bashar Al Assad as leaders in the West united to call for his removal at the beginning of the week. Sanctions have also been stepped up as the regime continues to use military means against protesters. Two of the biggest stories to come out in the late this week is the attack on Syria’s famous cartoonist, Ali Ferzat, by state security forces, meanwhile, the UN has reported that over 2,200 people have died since the crackdown began.

Social protests continue across Israel as some activists are now taking to squatting in government owned buildings.  The recent unrest in the Sinai and rockets being fired from Gaza has done little to quell support for the protests.

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This week the Israeli Interior Ministry approved the construction of 1,600 new homes in East Jerusalem. The announcement came just a few weeks before the Palestinian Authority is to ask the UN to approve their bid for statehood. A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry stated that the approval was made purely for economic, not political, reasons. The UN stated that the ‘provocative’ action ‘undermines’ any attempt at future peace negotiations.

Popular marches and protests have continued across Israel for the fourth week. The protests are predominantly directed at the increasing cost of living in Israel. The protests spread to Haifa for this first time this week, organised by Israeli-Arabs. Last Saturday saw the largest protest yet as 250,000 took to the streets of Tel Aviv.

A large rally was held in Lebanon on Tuesday in solidarity with neighbouring Syria, it was attended by a number of Lebanese actors, musicians, intellectuals and former militants. A government crackdown on protestors has intensified in recent weeks as the Assad-regime attempts to suppress growing resistance. Last week, Lebanon distanced itself from UN condemnation of Syrian actions stating it did not want to meddle in the internal affairs of Syria. The Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, of which Syria has traditionally been a strong supporter, risks losing an important ally in the region if the Assad regime were to fall.  

Internal support for the Assad regime in Syria has shown more signs of weakening, as former politicians and businessmen distance themselves from their leadership. Externally, the US government has imposed further sanctions on the government, though it has not yet stated that Assad must step down. The government crackdown has now expanded into the cities of Saraqib near the border of Turkey, and Qusair closer to the Lebanese border.  

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Hezbollah has threatened retaliation against Israel after it accused Israel of plotting to steal Lebanon’s maritime oil and gas resources. The maritime border has long been a point of contention between the two countries and both have submitted (conflicting) boundary proposals to the UN as they do not maintain diplomatic relations. Israel had also threatened to use force to defend the gas fields, which were only discovered in the past two years. The reserves are thought to contain enough natural gas to keep Israel energy self-sufficient for decades.

As the potential UN vote for Palestinian recognition approaches plans are being made to hold peaceful marches in the West Bank in late September. Already labelled the ‘Palestine 194’ marches, in hopes of becoming the 194th member of the UN, Palestinians hope that international recognition from the UN would give them improved status is future negotiations. The Arab League met on this week to finalise the bid, while Israel fears that this vote will undermine Israel’s standing in the eyes of the world. America has thus far hinted it would veto such a vote in the UN Security Council and President Netanyahu has been making plenty of foreign visits to secure such a veto.

Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak pleaded not guilty of the charge of ordering the killing of protestors in January or February or abusing his position as leader during his thirty year rule at his trial in Cairo, which started this week. Mubarak, who spoke from a hospital bed which was wheeled into a defendant’s cage for the court proceedings, reportedly suffered a heart attack when informed of the charges. Protests held outside the courtroom injured a number of people. Mubarak is on trial with seven co-defendants, including his sons, security chief and police officials.

Thursday saw Israel face a number of large-scale protests throughout the country, which have been dismissed by President Netanyahu as ‘a populist wave’. Some grievances of the protestors are the high costs of rent, raising children, fuel as well as problems with the education system. The most significant protests (estimated at 100,000 last Saturday) have thus far focussed on a controversial housing bill which would require the establishment of national committees to approve new housing projects. Opponents of the bill say that that it could take away affordable housing and environmental standards could suffer.

For the first time in five months, there has been international agreement from the UN on President Assad’s violent crackdowns in Syria. The UN condemned Syria’s violations of human rights and extreme use of force against civilians. Lebanon was the only country to distance itself from the statement, while Syria’s Turkish neighbour issued its harshest statement yet calling the events in Hama “an atrocity”. The UN has not yet passed any resolutions or applied international sanctions to Syria.

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