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US Vows to Re-Evaluate its Position on Palestinian Organizations

Offices of the Union of Palestinian Women Committees in Ramallah after the Israeli forces raid (EPA)
Offices of the Union of Palestinian Women Committees in Ramallah after the Israeli forces raid (EPA)
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US Vows to Re-Evaluate its Position on Palestinian Organizations

Offices of the Union of Palestinian Women Committees in Ramallah after the Israeli forces raid (EPA)
Offices of the Union of Palestinian Women Committees in Ramallah after the Israeli forces raid (EPA)

The US administration has agreed to re-examine its position in rejecting Tel Aviv's decision to ban the activities of six Palestinian organizations.

A high-ranking Israeli delegation arrived in the US, seeking Washington's support for Tel Aviv's designation of the Palestinian civil society groups as terrorist organizations.

Political sources revealed that the Israeli government has been angered by the statements of US officials expressing concern over Tel Aviv's decision to close the offices of six Palestinian NGOs in the West Bank.

Consequently, Tel Aviv sent a high-ranking delegation to Washington, including military, Shin Bet, and Public Prosecution officials, to meet with US officials.

The sources said the delegation provided new information about the activities of these associations and clarified their alleged role in supporting terrorism.

The delegation also presented a list of 250 other NGOs in the West Bank that Tel Aviv has no problem with, even though most of them are very critical of Israel.

The delegation requested that the US administration change its position and support Israel in its decision to ban the activities of these associations. According to the Israelis, the US did not respond to their request, but it is currently evaluating the additional information.

Israeli forces have raided the ADDAMEER Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Defense for Children International – Palestine, al-Haq, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), and the Union of Palestinian Women Committees, as well as Bisan Center for Research and Development.

They confiscated computers, documents and files, arrested several activists, and prepared a report claiming they were all operating under the leadership of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

The report was addressed to the US administration and the European Union, requesting they stop funding these associations. Following this, European countries examined the Israeli information, concluded there was insufficient evidence to corroborate these accusations, and decided to continue supporting them.

The US expressed its concern and said that it was in contact with the Israeli government to obtain more information about these organizations.

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Syrian Opposition Leader Says Lebanon Truce Opened Door to Aleppo Assault

An anti-regime fighter tears off a poster depicting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) and his brother Maher at the airport in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on December 2, 2024. (AFP)
An anti-regime fighter tears off a poster depicting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) and his brother Maher at the airport in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on December 2, 2024. (AFP)
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Syrian Opposition Leader Says Lebanon Truce Opened Door to Aleppo Assault

An anti-regime fighter tears off a poster depicting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) and his brother Maher at the airport in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on December 2, 2024. (AFP)
An anti-regime fighter tears off a poster depicting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) and his brother Maher at the airport in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on December 2, 2024. (AFP)

Syrian opposition fighters began preparations to seize Aleppo a year ago, but the operation was delayed by war in Gaza and ultimately launched last week when a ceasefire took hold in Lebanon, the head of Syria's main opposition abroad told Reuters.

The factions were able to seize the city and parts of neighboring Idlib province so quickly in part because Hezbollah and other Iran-backed fighters were distracted by their conflict with Israel, Hadi al-Bahra said in an interview on Monday.

The Turkish military, which is allied with some of the opposition and has bases across its southern border in Syria, had heard of the armed groups' plans but made clear it would play no direct role, he added.

The assault in northwestern Syria was launched last Wednesday, the day that Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah began a truce ending more than a year of fighting.

"A year ago they started really training and mobilizing and taking it more seriously," said Bahra, president of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, the internationally-recognized Syrian opposition.

"But the war on Gaza ... then the war in Lebanon delayed it. They felt it wouldn't look good having the war in Lebanon at the same time they were fighting in Syria," he said in his Istanbul office, in the first public comments on the fighters’ preparations by an opposition figure.

"So the moment there was a ceasefire in Lebanon, they found that opportunity ... to start."

The opposition operation is the boldest advance and biggest challenge to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in years in a civil war where front lines had largely been frozen since 2020.

Syrian and allied Russian forces have launched counter attacks, which Bahra said are "destabilizing" Aleppo and Idlib and pose the biggest risk to civilians, given the earlier opposition advances had sought carefully to avoid such casualties.

IRAN, RUSSIA

The opposition retaking of Aleppo also paves the way for hundreds of thousands of Syrians displaced elsewhere in the country and in Türkiye to return home, Bahra said.

"Due to the Lebanese war and decrease in Hezbollah forces, (Assad's) regime has less support," he said, adding Iranian militias also have less resources while Russia is giving less air cover due to its "Ukraine problem".

Damascus, which is also backed by Iran, did not immediately comment on whether the opposition sought to avoid casualties and whether it risks destabilizing the region with air raids. Assad has vowed to crush the fighters and has launched air raids.

Iran-backed Hezbollah did not immediately comment on whether its war with Israel opened the door to Syrian opposition advances in Aleppo, where it also has personnel.

Tehran has pledged to aid the Syrian government and on Monday hundreds of fighters from Iran-backed Iraqi militias crossed into Syria to help fight the factions, Syrian and Iraqi sources said.

A Turkish defense ministry official said last week that Ankara was closely monitoring the mobilization and taking precautions for its troops.

The opposition fighters are a coalition of Türkiye-backed mainstream secular armed groups spearheaded by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group that has been designated a terrorist outfit by Türkiye, the US, Russia and other states.

Bahra's coalition, which does not include HTS, represents anti-Assad groups including the Türkiye-backed Syrian National Army or Free Syrian Army, which took territory north of Idlib over the last week.

It holds regular diplomatic talks with the United Nations and several states.