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Daybreak: U.S. Steps Up Gulf Presence

Plus Israelis killing Iranian scientists? and more in the news

by
Marc Tracy
July 12, 2012
The new U.S. floating base in the Persian Gulf.(Blake Midnight, U.S. Navy via AP/NYT)
The new U.S. floating base in the Persian Gulf.(Blake Midnight, U.S. Navy via AP/NYT)

• Between mine-clearing drones and a new floating base, the United States is significantly stepping up its military footprint in the Persian Gulf with a clear eye toward Iran. [LAT/NYT]

• There was a fire in a Jerusalem apartment housing Eritreans, which injured two. Signs point to arson. [Ynet]

• The new book by Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv—yes, those guys from yesterday!—is causing a ton of buzz, primarily for its reporting that actual Israeli agents are responsible for the string of Iranian scientist assassinations. [NYT]

• Recently acquitted former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert denied rumors that he would re-join politics, and 70 percent of the country doesn’t want him to. So he should be announcing his return in another few months or so. [JPost]

• Israel is deploying Iron Dome, its missile defense system currently used to shoot down rockets from Gaza, along the Sinai border. [Reuters/Haaretz]

• Some donor must’ve been unhappy? The National Jewish Democratic Council backs down from the anti-Sheldon Adelson campaign. [JTA]

Marc Tracy is a staff writer at The New Republic, and was previously a staff writer at Tablet. He tweets @marcatracy.