Daybreak: Israel Preps for Assad Regime’s Fall

Plus, Claude Lanzmann detained, Assad’s emails, and more in the news

Purported Deal Illustrates Importance of Syria

Iran is desperate to prop up Assad regime

For Hezbollah, Keys Open Doors

But might reliance on cocaine trade, backing of Assad also hurt the group?

Fallible

Infiltrated by up to a dozen CIA spies, Hezbollah, the official party of God, is taking hits to its prestige—and revealing its weakness

Energy and Climate Reshape Israel’s ’Hood

And the Dead Sea experiences shrinkage

Eclipsed

U.S. policymakers fear a “Shia crescent,” a regional alliance led by Iran. A dawning “Muslim Brotherhood crescent” is far more threatening.

Israel Well-Situated for Possible Assad Downfall

Arguably first to advocate Syrian regime change, a widely popular position now

Mob Tactics

Egypt captured Israeli-American Ilan Grapel to generate popular support among the volatile anti-Western middle class at home

Everyone’s Son

In opposing the mass release of terrorists in exchange for Gilad Shalit’s freedom, I felt as if I was betraying my own son

Moving On

The movement to free Gilad Shalit, the long-captive IDF soldier soon coming home, was a necessary precursor to this summer’s protests in Israel