In this edition of our monthly digest MEMO identifies five issues which received extensive media coverage in Britain throughout February; the verbal exchanges and threats between Israeli and Syrian officials; Mossad's murder of Mahmoud Al Mabhouh in Dubai and the resultant passport scandal; Israel's continued efforts to lobby for a change of British laws on universal jurisdiction (ostensibly to protect its officials); attempts by Israeli lobbyists to bar pro-Palestinian academics from speaking on British campuses; and the financial/sex scandal that engulfed the upper strata of the Palestinian Authority following disclosures by a former anti-corruption chief.

In addition, we take a look at how the New York Times has been covering events in Palestine-Israel, and focus on what the Israeli media reported - or chose not to report - to enlighten their readers, including the first known mainstream media reference to MEMO in the Zionist state.


The 60 Year Face-off Continues; Renewed Tensions between Syria and Israel 
 
Tensions between long time adversaries Syria and Israel came to a head this month following an outburst of incendiary remarks and threats by the ultra-nationalist Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. This development has led to speculation of the region being plunged into another war. 
 
Commenting on the remarks Syria's foreign minister, Walid Moallem, stated that should war break out at this particular point in time, even if it were waged just against Syria or Southern Lebanon, it would become widespread.
 
Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, in an apparent attempt to diffuse the situation asked all ministers to refrain from commenting on the Syrian issue. His office also released a statement reiterating Israel's interest in pursuing peace and carrying out diplomatic negotiations with Syria without preconditions. It also stated that Israel will continue to act decisively against any threats.
 
The recent spat has brought a number of key regional issues to the fore. Israel's political leadership and defence establishment are deeply divided over the methods of securing peace with Syria. While senior members in the military believe it can be achieved through a deal to include the return of Syria's Golan Heights and thereby remove it from its current alliance with Iran and Hezbollah, others, such as Avigdor Lieberman, are of the opinion that force should be used to break the alliance. Although the Prime Minister would like a peace deal, he does not want to return the Golan Heights. The alternative to a peace deal appears to be a very risky war for Israel on three fronts; Lebanon, Syria and Iran. Syria is prepared to go to the negotiating table with Israel providing it accedes to its demand but is equally prepared to go to war.

The turn of the Year marked the one year anniversary of war crimes committed against the Palestinians in Gaza. This month the Palestinians remembered another nation ravaged by devastation and human loss - Haiti. The extensive global media coverage was commendable and justified - the severity of the earthquake was enormous, however for many, it only highlighted the selectiveness of the mainstream media when remembering the coverage of Gaza's Israeli-inflicted crisis last year. Mainstream British media has been extremely lacking this month with minute coverage of the EU delegation of over 60 parliamentarians, together with the BBC's biased Newsnight report on the Gaza incursion. MEMO further highlights the tensions in Jerusalem, stalemate in negotiations and Turkey-Israel's worn out relationship.

Israel's 'rescue mission' to Haiti

Much controversy has surrounded Israel's high profiled rescue mission to Haiti following the devastating earthquake there earlier this month. An exceptionally well equipped and staffed field hospital was speedily dispatched to the region along with a military relief team including evacuation and recovery experts as well as a technical division. However, many contend that the motivations behind this rescue effort were wholly cynical - an unprecedented public relations campaign and propaganda tool aimed at diverting international attention away from its culpability in war crimes perpetrated in Gaza among other things.

As the global community approaches the anniversary of Operation Cast Lead, commentators, bloggers and analysts reflect on the year gone; events in the Middle East were played out before an international audience, who have been vociferous on several issues throughout the year. In this edition the Middle East Monitor (MEMO) focuses on the key issues that caught our attention this month.  They include; the continuous settler violence in the West Bank, the EU discussion on the future of East Jerusalem, Israel-UK relationship after Britain demanded clearer labelling of goods produced in the Occupied West Bank and the issue of an arrest warrant for the former Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni. We also focus the spotlight on Egypt’s construction of an underground steel wall on its border with the Gaza Strip and the progress of the Viva Palestina convoy on its way to the besieged territory.

As the month draws to an end the issue of the prisoners exchange is still being debated. Their release hangs delicately in the balance, with many political analysts and those involved in the negotiations, suggesting Christmas weekend will see the release of Gilad Shalit and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The tensions between new right wing recruits and the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) continue, with high ranking rabbis and Israeli officials in constant discussion over the Zionist authenticity and future of the IDF.

Settler violence

Settler violence has continued unabated with their attacks culminating this month in the burning of a new mosque complex in the city of Yasuf. The violence has not been limited to Palestinians, although they bear the brunt on most occasions. These past few months have seen right wing extremists turn on their Israeli Zionist counterparts, with reports of attacks against housing inspectors and IDF soldiers.

This month the domestic and international challenges for the way forward in the Middle East are briefly analysed looking at issues from right-wing extremism rife in Israel to the ill-effects of American mediation in the Israeli- Palestinian conflict.

Settlements stand-off

For the last ten months, in accordance with the Palestinian position, international law and the 2003 'Road Map', the Obama administration has maintained its stance on the illegality of continued Israeli settlement expansion and the necessity for a complete freeze on construction as a pre-condition to the resumption of peace talks. However, during a visit to Jerusalem earlier this month, in what appeared to be a major about turn in U.S policy, Hilary Clinton indicated that this was no longer a U.S demand and backed Israeli assertions that a freeze is not necessary. In addition she praised the Israeli offer to curb some settlement expansion as 'unprecedented' and called for the unconditional resumption of peace talks.