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"Pulled into longer assignments today, but wanted to note a few data points on Washington Middle East policymaking and Iran that have come over the transom in the past couple days, to be fully unravelled later:
The NSC's Senior Director for the Central Region Dennis Ross has raised the Israel Palestine peace issue in several recent discussions with regional experts and diplomats, in conversations primarily geared towards Iran. Hear from several sources today that Ross is playing a larger role on Israel Palestine issues at the White House as part of his portfolio as the NSC uber Iran/Middle East strategist.
Iran: If no progress in changing Iranian behavior, watch for the real effort to get UN Security Council sanctions issued in February, when France chairs the UN Security Council. Some sense conveyed that with Libya chairing the body in January, that month will be spent in preparations, telegraphing.
On the question of how the U.S. government views the prospect of a possible (and probably unlikely) release of Marwan Barghouti in a possible exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli corporal Gilad Shalit, held by Hamas, sources say U.S. officials repeatedly emphasize the focus to prop up Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
There's some chatter of the U.S. saying something publicly in the coming days or weeks on the issue of East Jerusalem, further to Clinton and Mitchell's remarks last week on the occasion of Netanyahu's announcement of a 10 month moratorium on new construction in the West Bank.
Syrian and Lebanese sources anticipate that the U.S. will shortly announce its ambassador to Syria. Diplomatic source said a name has already been sent to the White House.
Finally, Prince Feisel of Jordan is in town, for meetings at the Defense Department and on the Hill, sources say. Not clear what exactly is the reason, but Iran would seem to be relevant."
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