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Daybreak: Syrian Unrest

Plus Rafah slammed shut, and more in the news

by
Marc Tracy
June 06, 2011
The ceasefire line yesterday.(Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)
The ceasefire line yesterday.(Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

• Yesterday, on Naksa Day, many protesters, mostly Palestinian, tried to enter the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, and Israeli troops fired back. Syrian news reported 22 deaths, a figure the IDF said was exaggerated. [NYT]

• Meanwhile, Syrian forces killed 38 Syrians as part of the continued put-down of the anti-regime uprising. [NYT]

• Soon after Egypt closed its side of the Rafah Crossing into Gaza (shortly after opening it), Hamas closed its side; apparently the Egyptian move took Hamas by surprise. [Haaretz]

• Defense Minister Barak slammed former Mossad chief Meir Dagan for criticizing military action against Iran, saying he was harming Israel’s “ability to deter.” [Haaretz]

• The United States reportedly offered to give Turkey a major role in brokering Mideast talks if it agreed to stop the flotilla set to sail for Gaza this month. [Haaretz]

• Iranian President Ahmadinejad reiterated his regional analysis, namely that Israel is the obstacle to peace. [Ynet]

Marc Tracy is a staff writer at The New Republic, and was previously a staff writer at Tablet. He tweets @marcatracy.