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Last update - 10:20 10/09/2007 Analysis: Syria fumes as the rest of the Arab world stays silent By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Syria, Arab states, Internet  There is a joke in Damascus about a bus that carries passengers to distant parts of the country. In every town where the bus stops, the driver announces its name and opens the door to let passengers on or off. Between two villages, he stops and cries out: "Secret missile base." At that point, two soldiers disembark. Public opinion in Syria, and in the Arab world in general, is demanding detailed explanations. It is hard to gauge Syrian public opinion from a distance, but the Internet exposes some of what Syrian citizens are feeling. "For 60 years, we have heard the slogan that a war will not be imposed on us at a time and place that is not suitable for us," an Arab Internet surfer wrote last week, echoing analysts' statements. On the web site of the official daily Al-Thawra, another wrote: "Would not the best timing and the most appropriate response be to shoot down one of the attacking aircraft?" Advertisement Meanwhile, official Damascus is slowly preparing for a diplomatic offensive. Senior Syrian officials are counting their friends. The official Syrian news agency SANA is collating every condemnation: political parties from Yemen, individuals from Lebanon, the Arab League, some lukewarm statements from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. On Sunday, Libya joined in, with a Foreign Ministry source calling for a unified Arab stance - which seems to be more distant than ever. There is considerable frustration in Damascus that key Arab countries have not bothered to denounce Israel and express their support for Syria. The editor-in-chief of the daily Tishrin, Isam Dari, reflected this frustration. In an editorial on Saturday, he wrote that what is disheartening is not what the enemy is doing, but the response of Syria's Arab brothers. "They remain silent in face of Israeli piracy, as if this had happened on Mars or Jupiter," he said. The fact that countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the Gulf states and the Maghreb states have not expressed their support for Syria reflects its isolation in the Arab world. These countries, often termed "moderate," have major differences with Syria - not only about Lebanon, but also about its strategic decisions, particularly its alliance with Iran, which they consider a threat to the Arab world in general. Nonetheless, all the states in the region, including Israel, are still waiting for a clear Syrian response. Will it make do with a passive reaction through diplomatic channels, or will it opt for something else? Past experience suggests that Syria will avoid direct confrontation with Israel at any price. The border between the two has been Israel's calmest ever since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Syria's advantage lies elsewhere: In recent years, it has put together a long list of dubious allies that serve as subcontractors for its military operations. Thus one possibility is that Syria's response to the Israeli challenge will take a different form and come from in a different place. Bookmark to del.icio.us   West Bank shooting Kiryat Sefer man, 40, sustains wounds when terrorists open fire from passing car. Fighting words Barak vows to expand IDF operations against Qassam fire.   1.   Syrian Payback:I guess there will be a shortage of condoms in Isr 11:04  |  Heirich Mc Clock 10/09/07   2.   why is syria fuming? 11:20  |  zebulun 10/09/07   3.   Earth to Syria. Everyone knows you killed Harari. 11:22  |  David Stoler 10/09/07   4.   English bacis 12:11  |  Shlomo 10/09/07   5.   Correction: English basics 12:12  |  Shlomo 10/09/07   6.   Arabs Don`t Care About Iranian Tool Syria 12:25  |  Yoram 10/09/07   7.   #3 Earth to Israel.Everyone knows you killed Harari 12:46  |  Dav 10/09/07   8.   PLEASE SPEAKE WITH THE LANGUAGE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS 12:47  |  indrajaya 10/09/07   9.   Fake Indrajaya? 13:20  |  Uri 10/09/07   10.   To David Stoler 13:34  |  Lebanese 10/09/07   11.   So why? 13:48  |  Mark Lincoln 10/09/07   12.   Why? Of course 14:12  |  Ronnbo 10/09/07   13.   Syria 14:14  |  Del 10/09/07   14.   Syria 14:17  |  Uzi 10/09/07   15.   # 10 Lebanese 14:20  |  Lynn 10/09/07   16.   Mark Lincoln # 11 14:22  |  Lynn 10/09/07   17.   # 13 Del 14:23  |  Lynn 10/09/07   18.   #3, david stoler, and you? 14:27  |  VIPER 10/09/07   19.   WHY... 14:32  |  ravi 10/09/07   20.   y....a....w.....n, still waiting 14:47  |  Israeli 10/09/07   21.   ravi of punjab 16:51  |  Lynn 10/09/07   22.   Toothless bull dog 17:54  |  piper kelly 10/09/07   23.   Syria has nothing 03:28  |  mehmetk 11/09/07   24.   re: toothless dog 08:45  |  Mista Geddon 11/09/07   25.   Earth to America: Everyone knows you want the Oil 17:59  |  Arab 18/01/08   26.   Syria NEEDS Iran 17:59  |  Analyst 18/01/08

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