Syrian Revolt

Israeli press is silent about the ongoing revolt in Syria. We have mixed feelings: the two-generation old dictatorship has ensured quiet in the frontier, which is all we want. On the other hand, the lack of some kind of legitimate opposition creates underground extremist movements, most probably anti-Israeli. Syria is ethnically diverse and people seems to have accepted the bargain offered by Assad of mild dictatorship in return for stability. With disorder in Lebanon and Iraq, most Syrians may be reticent to engage in actions that might lead to instability and open ethnic war as in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Bahrain. The ignorant press attributes the revolt to the drought, yet winter grain production appears normal.