Syria bans Facebook over Israeli 'spies'

Syria has blocked access to the social networking internet site Facebook over fears of Israeli “infiltration”.

Residents in Damascus said that they have not been able to enter Facebook for more than two weeks.

Syrian officials were not available for comment but some reports have suggested that the ban was made to prevent Israeli users from infiltrating Syrian social networks.

Lebanon’s daily newspaper As-Safir said that Facebook was blocked on November 18 because many Israelis have been entering Syria-based groups.

Human rights groups have regularly criticised Syrian authorities for blocking opposition websites and those 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 later cracked down on political opponents and human rights activists putting many of them in jail.