The perceived shift from chaos to an evolving order in Syria presents a challenge to Israel’s policy of limited intervention. Iran’s growing influence in Syria and its efforts to improve Hezbollah’s strategic capacities presents Israeli decision-makers with a sense of urgency to act now while the future settlement in Syria is still being shaped in order to avoid a fait accompli of an Iranian st...

Syria is a country with a population of 23 millions. The first kidney transplant in Syria was performed in 1979 at Harasta Hospital in Damascus. The donor was a living relative; the recipient received simple immunosuppressants comprising of azathioprine and steroids as the transplantation took place prior to the cyclosporine era. However, the renal allograft remained functional for more than 25...

Electronic Government (hereafter eGov) is a transformative agent upon political and civic activity: it involves the provision and use of information and services by citizens, businesses and governments; and thus has the potential to increase civic efficiency and transparency; to facilitate interaction between public, private and government entities; and ultimately to promote democracy and polit...

INTRODUCTION The association between education and wealth, as fundamental determinants of health, and smoking is well-established. Yet, social inequalities have received little attention in the expanding field of tobacco research in the Arab region. In this study, we examine inequalities in cigarette smoking by education and wealth in four Arab countries. METHODS Utilizing the most recently a...

OBJECTIVES To describe trends in major communicable diseases in Syria during the ongoing conflict, and the challenges to communicable disease surveillance and control in the context of dynamic, large-scale population displacement, unplanned mass gatherings, and disruption to critical infrastructure. METHODS A rapid review of the peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed literature from 2005 to 2015...

The humanitarian situation in Syria is dire, and government forces have now violated global norms and conventions prohibiting the use of chemical weapons against civilian populations. There is a controversy about whether the responsibility to protect can be met in a context where there is not a well-articulated or plausible path from humanitarian intervention to resolution of the conflict or ev...

Most people interested in Syrian affairs used to believe that the country was extremely stable. The regime's media fed this belief, constantly reiterating the assertion that Syria was the most secure and stable country in the world. Infact, however, this stability was merely a veneer. In reality, cracks and rifts appeared that damaged the Syrian society, undermined its cohesion, and created num...