Hi Everybody,

Not necessarily a pleasant thing to comment on – but Israel today has said it has evidence that Syrian Government forces have used chemical weapons in their fight against rebels.

US President Barak Obama has said that if President Bashar Assad were to do such a thing that there would be serious consequences - but can he deliver on that?

Yesterday I reported on the Harvest Show about Jordan being rumored to have opened their skies for drones to be able to fly over in route to Syria to monitor the more than 50 believed sites of storage.

All in all, Syria is believed to have around 1000 tons of Chemical weapons.

These are believed to be mostly nerve agents such as sarin and mustard gas – but there are some who say Syria has invested in the past in creating more potent agents such as VX. These weapons have been made mainly to be delivered by air, missiles, or artillery shell.

The sheer volume of deadly chemical – spread around so much, increases the likelihood that an amount can fall into the hands of terrorists and used against Israel or the West.

Syrian Government forces allegedly guard these locations right now. What happens if they get overrun by rebels – what happens then?

By the time this would be understood, there would be little chance of any foreign power dropping in to secure the highly sensitive material – or what would be left of it. As Chuck mentioned in the news today – there is little chance of NATO getting involved, and America wont open another front in the Middle East in what is a very challenging and complicated situation.

And then there is the whole question of if the rebel army does bring a new governance in Syria – who is to say that they will not want to keep them?

Syria is not part of any Chemical Weapons treaty now, so the rebels may want to use the whole issue as a way to blackmail the West for their wants.

And this leads us back to Israel.

Nobody knows what the face, or faces, of Syria may turn out to be should the Assad Regime go.

Some argue that a new Syria could become a hotbed for radical Islam – right on Israel's doorstep.

Israel is largely believed to have nuclear capabilities, and a new government (like the old regime) will see Chemical weapons as a form of determent against the Jewish State.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello All,

Lets speak today on the talks between western powers and the Iranians over the future of their nuclear program.

Israel is eying these talks – but talking tough that time is running out and they will not tolerate watching Iran play a game of buying time in order to advance their program.

But the Western Powers left off from the last round of talks in Febuary saying that the Iranians were engaging with them and that there was modest progress. Now the West wants Iran talk substance - to negotiate a deal that will satisfy the world that they are not pursuing nuclear weapons.

The pressure clearly is on Iran – and they are talking tough as well prior to the gathering. But the fact is things will be down to give and take on both sides – albeit the West wants Iran to table offers of compromise.

Iran believes it has the right to a nuclear program that will enrich uranium under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). But the West is weary, and Israel flatly rejects this assertion of Iran.

One interpretation put forth is that Iran is going to play this game of putting things off diplomatically while advancing in manufacturing in order to up the incentives the West will offer to Iran.

After crippling sanctions and evidence of unrest in Iran's society and political structure, The West believes it has a degree of leverage in perhaps seeking more tough sanctions against the regime.

Iran wants relief from these sanctions by the global powers before they put forward steps that could be interpreted as compromises.

But the bottom line is that the West wants to see confidence-building measures from Iran to clarify Iran's statements that their nuclear program is peaceful.

Either way, Israel looks not to be satisfied by any outcome – they are suspicious of Iran's intention – and rightly so given the rhetoric that has come from Iranian officials.

Iran, in the last talks, concluded with describing the meeting as a "possible turning point". This weekend will tell if that is in the direction of contrition or confrontation this time around.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Friends,

The 4th round of nuclear talks commenced this afternoon in Kazakhstan between the Iranians and Western powers.

After a 9 month-long break and a new report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the parties are going to talk – with admittedly little hope for optimism to resolve the issue.

There have been several rounds of sanctions leveled against Iran which has seen its oil revenues cut and the value of it's currency fall.

These effects, hoped the Western Powers, would effect Iran's economy in such a way to force the Iranian leadership to back down or be perhaps toppled by civil unrest.

Neither looks like it will occur.

The new US Secretary of State John Kerry has said time for a diplomatic solution is running out.

Others have voiced that opinion too as Iran moves closer to enriched uranium capable for weaponry.

Iran announced they have doubled their enrichment capacity which thus cuts the time needed to produce the uranium needed for a nuclear bomb.

Add to that an earlier announcement this month, that they (Iran) had found major new uranium deposits and have also upgraded their enrichment gear - they are feeling pretty good about their negotiation leverage.

For the West, the report by the IAEA published last week justifies their actions.

In the report it reads that the IAEA can not yet "exclude the existence of possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program".

In this round of talks the West is mainly demanding the halt of all enrichment work; the shutting down of the underground facility of Fordow; and the export out of Iran of enriched uranium.

The karat on the stick is substantial sanctions relief.

But Iran leadership feels that if it cuts the nuke program – it will be seen not only loosing face and backing down, but compromising it's own deterrence and security.

The shadow cast over the table for both sides is the clear intention of Israel to take military action against Iran's nuclear program should these talks fail.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Everyone,

As we move into the weekend the situation in the Middle East doesn't look so pleasant in many places – particularly in Egypt where depending upon how you look at it – the country has the most to gain or loose.

Thousands of people hit the streets again – stating their opposition to Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi.

This may be because it's just after the two year anniversary, or it may be because it is the first anniversary of the football riots in Port Said where 74 people were killed, or because this last week has been the highest loss of life since the first democratically elect President of Egypt came to power. These new and growing protests are the first true test to Mr. Morsi's rule as more and more the anger is turning sectarian with protesters objecting to the Muslim Brotherhood's hijacking of the revolution.

The protesters feel Morsi is imposing authoritarianism upon the Egyptian public.

There have been voices of reason calling out as leaders of some of the political groups have condemned the violence.

But calls by other groups for more rallies and street demonstrations seem to bear more weight.

Protesters also marched to Tahrir Square and on the presidential palace in Cairo in the centre of Cairo. Further rallies were staged rallies in Alexandria up the coast.

Mr. Morsi's supporters say that the opposition is trying to use intimidation and street power to depose the first democratically elected leader.

Both Morsi and the opposition can either find a formula for dialogue or have to use greater force... all this under the eyes of the Egyptian Army who could make or break the situation for either side in Egypt.

I'll have an update for you on Monday's Harvest Show – so be sure to join us!

Brian Bush Middle East Coorespondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Friends,

The situation in Egypt doesn't look good.

President Morsi set a State of Emergency in three provinces and a curfew in three cities.

This was in response to riots and widespread unrest after people reacted to the sentencing to death of 21 individuals held responsible by the Egyptian courts for their roll in a soccer riot that killed 74 people almost a year ago.

Last night the curfew went into effect, but thousands of people in Port Said, Ismailia and Suez cities defied the order to stay in doors and marched in the streets.

Egyptian military, now with special powers to arrest, largely stood on watching as they chanted anti Morsi slogans.

This is a real issue for the new president, as people grow discontent with his leadership and accuse him of being a dictator rather than an elected representative of the people.

But the assemblies and (limited) violence did not only stay in those provinces alone as Egyptians in Cairo also took to the streets in protest supporting their 'brothers' under Morsi's decree.

Egyptians understand that they have power in the masses of the people after the revolution two years ago.

The army understands that the country has a real problem on it's hands again. They stated today that the governance of Egypt was on the state of collapse. This in a way, is a veiled threat to to those who stir up the forces of the opposition - and perhaps Morsi himself.

But what is worrisome is that President Morsi said he wasn't afraid to use greater force against what he termed an unruly force.

If he doesn't come out and 'crush the rebellion' then he will be seen as week.

If he does order his military to forcibly usurp control, or sends thugs on the street to bring control, he'll be no different than ousted leader Hosni Mubarak in the eyes of the people.

The Egyptian on the street is more and more being caught on camera saying that President Morsi has betrayed the revolution that brought him to power.

These coming days will be critical for the future of Egypt.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Everyone!

The late Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat's body has been exhumed today in Ramallah. This as part of an investigation into how he died.

Mr. Arafat led the Palestine Liberation Organization for 35 years and became the first president of the Palestinian Authority in 1996.

After being sieged inside the PA headquarters for an extended period of time by Israeli Prime Minister Aerial Sharon, Arafat fell violently ill in October 2004.

Two weeks later he was flown to a French military hospital in Paris, where he died on November 11 at age 75.

There was no autopsy preformed on his body.

Speculation has always been leveled at Israel for assassinating him, a claim the Israelis deny.

Now, eight years later, a Palestinian doctor has removed in situ from the body in the grave, samples from his bone marrow. Swiss, French and Russian experts have now been given these samples to try and determine if he was poisoned by polonium 210 – a radioactive substance allegedly found upon his personal effects.

This investigative process will take place in the scientists home countries could take several months before we get any answer. Other experts have cast doubt on the theory that Mr. Arafat was poisoned.

Some have stated that doing this procedure now (eight years after death on what is now essentially skeletal remains) will make the determination extremely difficult.

Some who have reviewed the medical records maintain that is unlikely that he had been poisoned.

Arafat's medical records state he had a stroke resulting from a blood disorder.

I will bring you a live update tomorrow on the developments – so tune into The Harvest Show.

Brian Bush Middel East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Greetings All,

Unrest continues in Lebanon after last Friday's car-bomb murder in Beirut of a senior Lebanese intelligence officer.

He was responsible for the arrest this past summer of a former minister who was a strong Lebanese supporter of the present Syrian regime.

He also played a prominent role in the investigation of the 2005 murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, which led to the indictment-in-abstentia of four senior Hezbollah members.

Hezbollah appears to be continuing to do the Syrians' dirty work in Lebanon. But not only in Lebanon, but in Syria as well.

They are sending a message of toughness. They are showing that even if things go from bad to worse for the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad – it wont hurt them, their influence, or their capabilities.

What doesn't get reported on a lot in the western press is the irony in this Syrian conflict – 'perspective'.

The majority of the Syrian people lived 'modern' lives with an influence of western culture before things deteriorated.

Many are fighting now because they refuse to march backwards to radical Islam.

They don't want their lifestyles choked, minorities don't want to be degraded, and women don't want the severe restrictions of Sharia law.

Their perspective is that they are fighting for their freedom from religious constraints, which Assad promises them.

Alternatively, the rebel's message is about revenge against the regime and Sharia law.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hi Everyone,

Terrible news as a car bomb exploded in a Christian neighborhood killing 8 and wounding nearly 100 people.

The Mercedes Benz was on a small street and at this hour no-one has claimed responsibility nor has there been a motive determined in the explosion.

One potential motive is that someone from the Syrian conflict wishes to destabilize the little security and stability in Lebanon.

Things of this nature plunge the country into fear as average Lebanese wish not to see a return of the violence that plagued the country during it's protracted civil war.

Here in Israel, the country will be marking the 17th anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin – an event that did not set off an armed civil war but very much an ideological one in Israeli society.

You may recall that former President Bill Clinton, who was working with Mr. Rabin to clinch a deal with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, has said a few times that if the assassination had not taken place we would have had a peace deal here.

I recall how the country was gripped that night, after a large peace rally in Tel Aviv, and in the following days by the murder.

It's been noted that when the sad event is spoken of in Israel, the killing itself is not the focus, nor the incitement which proceeded it.

I remember the strong terms used by those opposed to a peace deal and the invoking of religion into the arguments.

But it is no longer about the person of Yitzak Rabin, who was a soldier, a leader of people and governance.

Instead strangely, its about the results and the consequences that are still being dealt with, spoken of, and experienced nearly every day.

Israel is changing, and people are not sure what to make of it...

Through it's challenging years after rebirth, Israel has been self portrayed as a secular country. A modern State, constantly providing its citizens with reasons to be proud.

People felt it was progressive, one in which achievements are constantly being touted – a country wishing to live in peace with itself and with its neighbors.

But this isn't the case.

One man, Yigal Amir, altered with his small handgun an optimistic democracy.

And with the country returning to the polls mid January to elect it's government, people feel cold winds of fanaticism coming.

In neighboring countries there are seen the effects of the so called Arab Spring, we may be headed here for an Israeli winter.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hi Everyone,

It came out earlier this week that Israel's Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu may have been working the political backwaters with Syria in cutting an agreement to disengage from the Golan Heights.

Obviously this all went down before Syrian President Bashar Assad's country began to crumble - and, this information could be a victim of distortion in the run-up to early Israeli elections.

This does cast Mr. Netanyahu in a different light, because publically he has been stanchly opposed to a withdrawal from the area captured by Israel during the Six Day War.

Diplomatically, from the West's point of view, to bring Syria out of the so called Axis of Evil, it needed to make peace with Israel.

Negotiations have quietly gone on through several Israeli Prime Ministers, and Netanyahu appears to have been no different. Perhaps Western pressure made him check to see if a deal could be struck.

But the Arab Spring has changed all that.

The riots during the past year in the Arab world, and particularly in the countries around Israel, are morphing into a new Middle East – one that unfortunately may be more radical in it's identity.

There are those here in Israel who are not surprised by the developments – and some say more are on there way.

Be that true or not – the Middle East is a dangerous region right now.

How does Israel live in such an environ of uncertainty?

It identifies dangers in advance, analyzes their significance, and takes decisions to minimize them.

With so much uncertainty and awful bloodshed and destruction - all the masses of displaced Syrians... there is a huge Syrian instability.

Any Prime Minister of Israel will use this their advantage in reference to the Golan Heights issue because Syria will be a mess for years to come.

In any cause, come a new government, or a reconsolidation of President Assad's power, in the end there must come an agreement and peace between the two countries.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting