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Daybreak: U.N. Bloc Moves Against Syria

Plus, further Gaza warring, bulking Southern defenses, and more in the news

by
Marc Tracy
August 24, 2011
Defense Minister Barak in front of an Iron Dome launcher.(David Buimovitch/AFP/Getty )
Defense Minister Barak in front of an Iron Dome launcher.(David Buimovitch/AFP/Getty )

• Led by the United States, Western countries are circulating a U.N. Security Council draft resolution that would impose additional sanctions on top Syrian officials, including President Assad, and dictate that those responsible for civilians deaths “be held accountable.” Russia, a major arms-trader with Syria, is staunchly opposed. [Turtle Bay]

• Israel launched airstrikes into Gaza and killed the Islamic Jihad member who bankrolled last week’s attacks; in response, rockets were launched from Gaza. [AP/WP]

• Israel also moved to fortify its southern defenses. [Haaretz]

• Meanwhile, Egypt is reportedly planning to destroy some of the smuggling tunnels to Gaza. [JPost]

• The Jewish Museum chose Claudia Gould, whose background is contemporary art and who grew up in an interfaith household, as its new head. [NYT]

• Omri Casspi will in fact not play for his old club, Maccabi Tel Aviv, during the NBA lockout due to the high taxes he would face as an Israeli. [Haaretz]

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