Syria prevented the circulation of the Saudi newspaper Al Hayat this past Tuesday because of an article that ridiculed Syria for joining the new French-sponsored Mediterranean Union. The article charged that Syrian President Bashar Assad talks about challenging Israel. "It goes out in angry demonstrations, but then, in the end, it becomes clear that it serves the interests of the occupier," Al Hayat reported.

The official Syrian daily Al Watan took the offensive the following day with an article attacking Arabs "who are picking fights with Syria."