Still Flowing

Iran's Revolutionary Guard has called for an embargo/boycott on all business relations with Israel for their "uneven war" with Gaza, but to no avail.

A Saudi foreign minister said today that oil shipments will continue to the United States and its allies. "The oil producers who need their income are not going to do that," said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal.

Most of Iran's oil is shipped eastward to Asian clients, perhaps making their calls for a Western embargo ring hallow to many in the region.

Saudi Schools

Suadi Arabia is beginning a large scale plan to modernize and reorganize the nation's education system, implementing the practices and structures of many successful Western nations, reports Arab News.

In the Strip

Israel continues to push further into Gaza, apparently seeking to cut off the strategic Rafah crossing into Egypt, while the humanitarian situation becomes increasingly desperate. The Gaza offensive following an 18-month Israeli-enforced blockade of the strip, basic supplies were low for Gazan citizens going into the conflict.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, for his part, is asking Syria to apply pressure on Hamas to stop rocket fire into Israel.

Staunch Palestinian supporter Saudi Arabia denounced the international communities silent acceptance of the Israeli offensive. They echoed a long narrative of Israel as an imperial force for conquest in the region, and see this as another move in that direction. They called for a pan-Arab unity among the various factions and sects of Muslims and Arabs in the region to defend Palestine.