Syria Blocks "Facebook" Access to Thwart Israeli Infiltration

Syrian authorities have blocked Facebook, the popular Internet hangout,
over what seems to be fears of Israeli "infiltration" of Syrian social
networks on the Net, according to residents and media re****ts.

Residents of Damascus said that they have not been able to enter
Facebook for more than two weeks. An Associated Press re****ter got a
blank page when he tried to open Facebook's home page Friday from the
Syrian capital.

Syrian officials were not available for comment Friday because of the
Muslim weekend, but some re****ts have suggested that the ban was
intended to prevent Israeli users from infiltrating Syrian social
networks.

Lebanon's daily As-Safir re****ted that Facebook was blocked on Nov. 18.
It said the authorities took the step because Israelis have been
entering Syria-based groups.

Human rights groups have regularly criticized Syrian authorities for
blocking opposition sites and Internet sites critical of President
Bashar Assad's government.

Former President Hafez Assad's death in 2000 after three decades of
authoritarian rule raised hopes of a freer society under his
British-educated son and successor.

But the younger Assad cracked down on political opponents and human
rights activists, putting many of them in jail.

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