[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Syria Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week's roundup to syria@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every week.]
International and Regional Perspectives
Russian Embassy in Beirut Becomes Hub for Syria Diplomacy
The ‘Go-Slow’ Caucus Gayle Tzemach Lemmon says “a picture emerges that when it comes to intervention into a murky and dangerous conflict in Syria, the consensus in the Obama administration appears to be that caution is the better part of valor.”
America’s Hidden Agenda in Syria’s War Phil Sands reports that intelligence officers met with rebels groups in Jordan six months ago and tasked them with killing members of extremist group Jabhat Al Nusra.
New Dangers for Opposition Kurds Mohammed Sergie writes: “in reductive, ethno-sectarian analyses of Syria, the Kurds are presented as a monolithic bloc seeking an independent state. Reality is far more complex, however, and Kurds have proven to be as fractured as other components of Syrian society.”
Hermel: A Welcoming Abode for the Refugees Rameh Hamieh says the Syrian refugee conditions in this Lebanese district seem to be better than in the rest of the country.
Lessons of Domiz Refugee Camp Reem Alsalem meets with Syrian Kurdish refugees in Iraqi Kurdistan
Syrian Refugees Fleeing Violence Find Home at Restaurant in Cairo According to Julia Simon, the neighborhood is increasingly known as “Little Syria.”
Life “No Longer Bearable” in Syria, Says Palestinian Refugee Rami Almeghari meets with Palestinian refugees in Cairo.
Syria Conflict: Why Did my Tunisian Son Join the Rebels? Ahmed Maher meets with the mother of one of the alleged 800 Tunisian citizens who left to fight in Syria.
Saudis Overtaking Qatar in Sponsoring Syria Rebels Hassan Hassan explains that “Riyadh is said to have promised increased support - but only if the opposition agreed to expand the coalition to include minorities.”
Hizballah Calvacade: What is the Liwa’a Abu Fadl al-Abbas (LAFA)?: Assessing Syria’s Shia “International Brigade” Through Their Social Media Presence An online investigation by Phillip Smyth
Syrian Narratives
Why There Is No Military Solution to the Syrian Conflict, argued byAsli U Bali and Aziz Rana
Syria’s Disabled Future Edward Thomas on the politicization of the Syrian healthcare system
Amidst a Violent Conflict, Syria’s Students Struggle for an Education Tadween editors on the ongoing struggle that Syrians endure to seek a coherent education in times of war.
Former SNC Chief says Islamic Hardliners Should be Included Phils Sands on Moaz Al Khatib’s proposal to initiate formal contacts with Jabhat al Nusra, which was allegedly never presented to John Kerry.
Excitement Fades to Despair in Rebel-Held Syria as War Grinds On Tom A Peter claims that, “faced with unchecked lawlessness, Syrians say they find the honest, evenhanded approach of Islamist groups reassuring”
All Sides in Syria Have Weapons ‘Except the Good Guys,’ says British official., upholding the government’s stance that lifting the embargo on arms would prevent a rapid descent into extremism.
Rise of Radical Jihadist Setback for Syria Nervana Mahmoud writes :” any military intervention, particularly without boots on the ground, would not prevent such atrocities from happening; it might reduce its extent, but not enough to stop the cycle of revenge that would follow the collapse of the current regime.”
Do the Massacres in Bayda and Banyas Portend Ethnic Cleansing to Create an Alawite State? Joshua Landis’ take on the significance of the massacre in Bayda and Banyas and the policy impacts it will have.
An Atrocity in Syria, With No Victim Too Small Anne Barnard attempts to reconstructs the Bayda and Banyas massacre.
Assad Forces Gaining Ground in Syria Liz Sly reports: “the advances have been made in strategically important locations and point to a new level of direction and energy previously unseen in the army’s performance, military analysts, rebels and Syrians close to the government say.”
Cannibalism in Syria: Why is This a Bigger Story Than the Routine Slaughter of Children Richard Spencer says “there is a tension sometimes between journalistic and moral narratives.”
Brigade Fighting in Homs Implicated in Atrocities Human Rights Watch releases a statement confirming the authenticity of the video.
Is This the Most Disgusting Atrocity Filmed in the Syrian War? Human Rights Watch’s Peter Bouckaert provides background information on video and its perpetrator.
When I Met the Syrian Rebel Who ‘Ate Soldier’s Heart’ - Mani recounts his earlier encounter with the man during his time in Homs, and recalls never having felt safe with him.
‘We Will Slaughter all of Them’. The Rebel Behind the Syrian Atrocity Video Aryn Baker meets with “Abu Sakkar” over Skype.
Inside Syria
Civilians Come Under Fire From Rebels Tim Marshall witnesses a protest in Damascus, in which Yarmouk residents are shot at by rebels for protesting the presence of armed men in the camp.
Secret Syrian Field Hospital Where a Boy Called Sultan Defied a Line on a Wall Phil Sands on the challenges faced by a small Aleppo hospital having a great influx of patients.
Syria’s Protracted Conflict Shows no Sign of Abating Paul Danahar on the fragmentation of the armed opposition, the Gulf interests in the conflict and the transformation of Syrian society.
Cherry Season in Aleppo A photo essay by Mackenzie Knowles-Coursin
Arts and Social Media
‘Syria Untold’: The Story Telling of the Syrian Revolution “Syria Untold is an independent digital media project exploring the storytelling of the Syrian struggle and the diverse forms of resistance.”
MIG“This movie is about the Palestinian refugee camp "al Yarmouk" on December 16th, when it was attacked by the Syrian regime's "MiGs", as a punishment for sheltering displaced Syrians & Palestinians whom lost their neighborhoods due to previous attacks”
In Mideast Version of ‘American Idol’, Region’s Troubles, Syria War Often Commandeer the Stage Two Syrian contestants, from very different backgrounds, use the show as a platform to express their stance on the crisis.
The Interview: Syrian Rock Band Pressure Pot Alison Tahmizian Meuse speaks with three young rockers from Damascus now exiled to Beirut who feel that “ the situation of this generation is a pressure pot coming to its boiling point.”
Social Media Buzz - Hezbollah + The Shadow of Sunni-Shiite Battle Mohammed Sergie’s weekly assessment of what was circulated widely on social media.
Ali Ferzat at the Oslo Freedom Forum, an event that was held between May 13-15.
Jenan Moussa at the Oslo Freedom Forum, an event that was held between May 13-15.
Policy and Reports
Death from the Skies: Deliberate and Indiscriminate Air Strikes on Civilians
Human Rights Watch’s report documenting the latest human rights violations.
The Muslim Brotherhood Prepares for a Comeback in Syria A Carnegie Endowment for International Peace report by Raphael Lefevre.
Arabic
Munther Khaddam criticises certain "intellectual" Syrian politicians and media reporters.
Michel Kilo on the daily massacres that occur in Syria.
Asad Abu Khalil on the Israeli attack in Damascus and its general involvement in the situation in Syria.
التدخل في سوريا: معركة تحالف واحد و مصير مشترك
Samir Al-Hassan writes about the history of imperial influence in the region, particularly in the context of the current Syrian struggle.
Mohammad Saif Addin cynically argues that the American influence in the "Arab Spring" is being revealed, while suggesting that the roots of its events, for the most part, have proven to be artificial.
ما لا جل" أو "دار الشعب": مؤسسات للادارة المحلية في القامشلي
Massoud Mahmoud Hassan sheds light on the local Kurdish administration committees in Qamishli.
أراء معارضة من دمشق: لنجد بديلا عن "الائتلاف الوطني"
Mariam Abdallah writes about the views inside Syria on the opposition outside the country, and especially the National Coalition.
سوريا: فقراء الطوائف في مواجهة بعضهم … بالحديد و النار
Ward Kasouha criticises the actions of the armed factions of the opposition.