Anonymous Israeli security officials told Haaretz newspaper Nov. 23 that they believe Turkey [2] is preparing a military intervention in Syria, seeking to create a secure buffer zone on the border for armed opposition forces. Ankara has already given shelter to some 20,000 refugees fleeing repression by Syrian President Bashar Assad's security forces, and also hosts Syrian opposition groups. Unnamed Israeli officials said that Ankara is expected to set up bases that would be protected by the Turkish army from which Syrian opposition forces can operate. (Haaretz [3], Nov. 23)
The UN General Assembly's Human Rights Committee on Nov. 22 approved a draft resolution condemning recent human rights violations [4] in Syria. The non-binding resolution, drafted by the UK, France and Germany, passed by a vote of 122-13, with 41 abstentions. The resolution "Strongly condemns the continued grave and systematic human rights violations by the Syrian authorities, such as arbitrary executions, excessive use of force and the persecution and killing of protesters and human rights defenders, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, torture and ill treatment of detainees, including children." It also "Calls upon the Syrian authorities to immediately put an end to all human rights violations, to protect their population and to fully comply with their obligations under international human rights law, and calls for an immediate end to all violence in the Syrian Arab Republic." The nations that sponsored the resolution hope it will be a first step in bringing the matter back before the UN Security Council. (Jurist [5], Nov. 23)
See our last posts on Syria [6] and the Arab revolutions [7].
Please leave a tip [8] or answer the Exit Poll [9].
Follow @WW4Report [10]
