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.]
Inside Syria
Syrian charities battle corruption
Corruption in Syria’s health ministry has resulted in a shortage of medication for cancer patients. Syrians who have health complications are suffering the most from this war.
Syria`s Assad depending on Iran financial aid
With the Syrian economy in a decline, Assad’s government is dependant on loans and aid from Iran and Russia.
Is Al Jazeera changing its tune on Syria?
Syrian coverage has begun to decrease, and it seems as though the Syrian crisis has started to become marginalized.
Syrian opposition coalition elects new leader
Some developments on Syria’s current opposition
Syria tells U.N. that McCain and former diplomats visited illegally
Reuters reports that Syria complained to the UN that McCain, Kouchner, and Galbraith separate visits to the country without visas are cases of violation of its sovereignty.
Damascus’ stifled voice from the left
Budour Hassan provides her perspective on the story of the Syrian Revolutionary Youth.
Footnotes on the SSNP—Comments from Nouhad Samaan, Head of SSNP in Homs
John Eibner comments on Joel Veldkamp’s recent article about The Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) for Syria Comment.
New Scheme to Reclaim Land on Mount Hass
Ahmad al-Akla writes about a new local council project on opposition-held Mount Hass in Aleppo governorate to divide plots equally among local residents.
The Corridor of Death
Syrian doctor Zaher Sahloul described life and work among Aleppo’s snipers.
Regional and International Perspectives
Turkey strengthens rights of Syrian refugees
Syrian refugees have begun to receive new ID cards that allow for basic health and education services.
Russia and Iran step into Syria’s diplomatic vacuum
Russia and Iran make an effort to “seize the initiative” and open a new door for a new political deal in Syria. Syria’s changing political scene has caused Russian and Iran to face “new economic constraints.”
Lebanon to impose visa restrictions on Syrians starting January 5
Unprecedented visa restrictions on Syrians entering Lebanon starting January 5th to maintain rapid population growth.
2014: The Year ISIS Won the Propaganda Battle
Markham Nolan writes about the ways in which ISIS has been documenting its progress throughout 2014 in a constant stream of propaganda.
Hezbollah television denies Nusra overrunning posts near Lebanon border
The Daily Star reports on how Hezbollah`s Al-Manar television denied Al-Nusra Front advance in the Syrian village of Flita near the border with Lebanon.
Syria Year-End Predictions and Analysis – by Joshua Landis (28 December 2014)
Josh Landis makes predictions for the coming year in Syria.
Policy and Reports
Syrian Kurds control 70 percent of besieged Kobani: monitor
Kurdish forces make further advancements and regain control of most of Kobani.
Vanguard of Syria’s uprising, now on the run from ISIS, weighs a bleak future
Anne Barnard on Syria’s “lost generation” and the former fighters exhausted by the continuous clashes and years of war.
Assad Strikes Damascus
This report details the course of the conflict as it engulfed Damascus in 2013 with a focus on discussing the Syrian regime’s strategy in the battlefield.
Sample Concepts of a Christian-Shi’a Alliance in Iraq
Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi discusses Christians’ strategies to form alliances in Iraq and Syria.
Ten new year resolution ideas for a healthier American role in Syria and the Middle East in 2015 | Part III of a discussion with Ambassador Robert Ford
Camille Otrakji provides his perspective on U.S. interests in Syria following a discussion with Former Ambassador Robert Ford about Syria and America’s foreign policy.
Economy and Agriculture
To put food on the table in Turkey, enterprising Syrians sell `Taste of Home`
“Syrian refugees in Turkey are importing coffee, cigarettes, and other simple and inexpensive products from their homeland to sell to fellow refugees. The extra income barely covers costs for many households.”
Economic effects of the Syrian war and the spread of the Islamic State on the Levant
Report on Syria’s economic decline, including Syria’s GDP decline, which is estimated at 30%.
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
`Our Hearts Are Breaking`: Volunteers Fight for Refugees
Lina Sergie Attar and Kinda Hibrawi launch a U.S. charity in order to aid Syrians in need.
Dispatch: Syria rebels `burned down churches and destroyed Christian graves`
Ruth Sherlock reports from Kessab about the destruction of Christian sites by Syrian rebels groups in this ancient Armenian town.
Dispatch: Syria rebels `burned down churches and destroyed Christian graves`
Insurgents storm Kessab, destroy ancient Christian sites, and scrawl Islamic slogans on the walls of homes and shops.
Arabic:
(إشكالات تغرق فيها المنظمات السورية (نظرة من الداخل
Birouz Brik evaluates the work of the civil society organization that were established after the Syrian Uprising.
اللجوء السوري في الاردن بالارقام
This infographic illustrates the number of Syrian refugees in Jordan.
الرئيس السوري يزور حي جوبر على أطراف دمشق
This BBC article reports the visit of Bashar Al-Assad to Jobar neighborhood on the outskirts of Damascus.
التهديد بالترحيل: مداهمات أمنية لمؤسسات تجارية
Firas Alhecar discusses the recent developments regarding threats of forced deportation of Syrians in Lebanon.
الحرب في سوريا فتكت بأكثر من 76 ألف شخص في 2014
Throughout 2014, 76,000 Syrians had been killed in the ongoing conflict.
في مخيمات اللجوء.. شقق مزينة داخل الخيام
Amenah Riad shares the stories of how Syrian refugees in Lebanon decorate their camps as a way of resisting hardship and displacement.
(يوميات في حمص الثورة.. رأس السنة 2011-2012 (1 من 2
Fadwa Suleiman writes about her experiences as an activist in Homs city around New Year’s Eve 2012 (part 1).
(يوميات في حمص الثورة.. رأس السنة 2011-2012 (2 من 2
Fadwa Suleiman writes about her experiences as an activist in Homs city around 2012 New Year’s Eve 2012 (part 2).
«الدعوة إلى «موسكو - 1» تتجاهل «الهيئة الانتقالية» وتتمسك بـ «محاربة الإرهاب
Ibrahim Hamidi reports about The Russian Foreign Ministry invitations to around 30 Syrian opposition figures to participate in talks in Moscow later in January.
!الفيزا اللبنانية: انتقام الجبناء
Elias Khoury criticizes Lebanon`s new decision that requires Syrians to have a visa to enter Lebanon.
خالد خوجة.. "محرّك" الدعم للشعب السوري
Adnan Ali writes about the election of Khaled Khoja as the new president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces.