By Jerusalem Post— The United States, Russia and Israel have reportedly reached a consensus on the need to restrict and eventually expel pro-Iranian forces from gaining influence in Syria, the Kuwati daily newspaper Al-Rai reported Saturday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the Arab outlet, has reached an understanding with Washington and Moscow that pro-Iranian…
By Daniel Greenfield— Tonight the celebration of the holiday of Purim begins. Purim is a Jewish holiday often neglected outside the more religious communities in America and the State of Israel because it commemorates an attempt to exterminate the Jews. And we all know that stopped being a problem long ago. If Purim had culminated…
By Debka— Syria stands on the threshold of dramatic changes that will directly impact on the strategic and military situation along the Syrian borders with Israel and Jordan, DEBKAfile reports exclusively. They derive from a deal struck this week by US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to establish US, Russian and Turkish…
By Barney Breen-Portnoy, Algemeiner— US President-elect Donald Trump will need to “formulate a grand strategy for the Middle East” with the primary question being “whether the United States intends on playing a more active or even more proactive role” in the region than it did during outgoing President Barack Obama’s time in office, a former…
By Times of Israel— Iran’s sole Jewish parliamentarian said the Islamic Republic is not seeking war with Israel and asserted that Tehran knows that launching an attack on the Jewish state would amount to “suicide.” “Iran does not want to start a war against Israel, because they know that everyone who starts a war in…
By Moshe Ya’alon, LA Times— U.S. political leaders of both parties argue that destroying Islamic State is America’s top priority in the Middle East. In reality, that’s not nearly as important as confronting the challenge posed by Iran. The nuclear deal that went into effect a year ago may have postponed the danger of an…
By Michael Wilner, Jpost— For seven and a half years, the policy advocates of J Street have felt blessed. Lobbying for diplomatic flexibility with Iran and for a tougher US line against Israel’s settlement activity, the liberal Jewish-American group has been repeatedly bolstered by a president who, prior to taking office, had a short track…
By Or Heller, Israel Defense— Anyone travelling this summer through the northern part of Israel or, more specifically along the northern border, will see another, different border. The sun beats down hard when you drive along the border, but if you listen to the assessments of senior IDF officers, this summer will only be hot…
By Debkafile— The talks between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Reccep Erdogen in St. Petersburg scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 9, are causing trepidation among Israel’s policy-makers and military leaders. Their summit takes place on the sidelines of the G-20 summit, concluding nine months of hostility between the two capitals that was sparked by Turkish jets shooting…
By World Israel News— The Israel Defense Ministry released a strong statement in direct response to President Obama’s contention that Israel now acknowledges the benefits of the nuclear deal with Iran, comparing the deal to the failed Munich pact with the Nazis prior to World War II. “The Israeli defense establishment believes that agreements have…