BREAKING NEWS

EU faces Syria sanctions crunch over push to arm rebels

By REUTERS

MAY 26, 2013 18:49

BRUSSELS - The European Union may end this week either helping Syrian rebels or the Damascus government they detest, depending on how EU ministers resolve differences over a package of sanctions on Syria that is about to lapse.

At a meeting in Brussels on Monday, the main EU military powers, Britain and France, will argue forcefully for easing some of that embargo to help channel weapons to rebels fighting President Bashar Assad. But Austria, Sweden and several others will defend maintaining the sanctions across the board.

Failure to find a compromise could mean the entire package simply vanishes when it expires on Saturday, June 1 - London has already raised the stakes by threatening to veto a full renewal.

But it is unlikely the EU will offer such a shot in the arm to Assad by giving up on measures intended to cripple his government's ability to trade and raise money and also to curb the movements and personal wealth of his family and confidants.

EU officials see compromise - possibly by delaying an easing of the arms embargo until after peace talks or by limiting the types of weapon allowed and which rebel groups may receive them.

IDF, Hezbollah exchange fire on Lebanon border

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

04/26/2024 01:22 AM

Bernie Sanders to Netanyahu: you are using antisemitism as a distraction

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

04/26/2024 12:33 AM

Yeshiva University re-opens admissions amid safety concerns on campuses

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

04/26/2024 12:19 AM

US preparing to announce $6b in weapons for Ukraine, Politico reports

By REUTERS

04/26/2024 12:12 AM