In this lively situational briefing, I sit down with John Spencer, Senior Analyst at The MirYam Institute.

Returning from fact-finding trips to Gaza and southern Lebanon, John outlines his reasons for optimism and for concern regarding the "Board of Peace" proposal for Hamas disarmament, highlighting the importance of US verification, civil governance, and phased decommissioning.

I counter with resolute pushback rooted in Israeli security realities and priorities —dismissing unproven acronyms, rejecting Palestinian statehood, and arguing against the fallacy of Jihadist groups disarming.

Together, we debate international stabilization forces, Saudi normalization demands, Egyptian culpability for October 7th, and requirements for long-term regional security.

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## Resources Mentioned

Pre-order John Spencer's new book "Twent Times I Almost Died" via the link below:

https://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Times-Almost-Died-Survival/dp/B0GFX5TQLK

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In this situational briefing, I am joined by MirYam Institute analyst, former MK and Deputy Ambassador to Egypt, Ruth Wasserman-Lande

Together, we assess Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, D.C., including U.S.-Israeli alignment on Iran and the ongoing challenges in Gaza and Judea & Samaria.

Additionally, we address the broader regional geopolitical shifts, including Turkish regional influence, Saudi nuclear ambitions, and normalization agreements.

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In this situational briefing, MirYam's In-House Analyst, Yaakov Lappin, provides an overview of the following security challenges:

• Iran & Strait of Hormuz: Assesses U.S. coastal strikes and urges the prioritization of a naval blockade over diplomacy.
• Pickaxe Mountain: Details centrifuges inside Iran's subterranean site and describes the utility of inspections or military action.
• Lebanon Pilot Program: Outlines skepticism surrounding the Lebanese armed forces’ ability to dismantle Hezbollah in southern test zones.
• Gaza Control: Highlights IDF control over 60% of Gaza and ongoing targeted eliminations.

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In this situational briefing, MirYam's In-House Analyst Yaakov Lappin outlines three security priorities for Israel:

• US-Iran Gulf Conflict: As the MoU lies in tatters and Iran and the U.S. trade strikes, what are the red lines that Israel must declare and strictly enforce.
• Lebanon Pilot Program: A US-brokered test calls for the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (L.A.F.) in southern Lebanon with a view to keeping the area clear of Hezbollah. But can L.A.F. be depended on to do that? 
• IDF Personnel Crisis: Severe troop shortages have prompted societal and military demands for the government to enlist ultra-Orthodox Israelis into the Israel Defense Forces. This is coupled with a written alert from the IDF Chief of Staff warning of the dangers of any legislation that seeks to exempt the ultra-religious from military service.

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In this situational briefing, John Spencer, Senior Analyst at The Miryam Institute, critiques the 14-point US-Iran MOU, arguing the diplomatic pivot squanders critical military leverage. 

He also breaks down Israel's defensive operations in southern Lebanon, explaining why regional appeasement has completely failed. 

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In this situational briefing, Yaakov Lappin explains why Israel is entering the period of the newly announced US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding from a major position of strength, and why Jerusalem will not be bound by any agreement that ignores its core security needs.

Despite the hazy details emerging ahead of Friday's formal signing in Switzerland, one thing is clear: Israel's new security doctrine of proactively dismantling threats and holding territory for as long as needed is here to stay.

Lappin breaks down what this MOU could mean for the region and underscores why flawed diplomacy must not push the public into a state of doom and gloom.

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In this situational briefing, Yaakov Lappin, analyzes the highly dramatic events of the past 24 hours in the Middle East. 

Recently, the Iranian-led Shiite jihadist axis has attempted to bully Israel into accepting new operational "equations" - formulas designed to dictate the boundaries of military action.

This extortion attempt stems from the fact that Hezbollah, Iran's flagship proxy in Lebanon, has been severely degraded. Israel fired back against this Iranian extortion attempt.

As such, Israel successfully reestablished its strategic independence.

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In this situational briefing, I sit down with John Spencer, Senior Analyst at The MirYam Institute. 

We analyze recent US naval engagements in the Strait of Hormuz amid the Operation Epic Fury ceasefire, the shifting military dynamics involving Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the broader geopolitical pressures surrounding Iran's nuclear program.  

Finally, we debate Gaza's strategic future, contrasting a proposed population relocation to the Sinai Peninsula with the absolute isolation and demilitarization of Hamas.

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In this situational briefing, I am joined by Ruth Wasserman-Lande, In-House Analyst at The MirYam Institute.

Together, we assess the likelihood of a return to military hostilities against the Iranian regime.

Additionally, we address the critical importance of Israeli freedom of action against proximate, clear and acute security threats.

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In this situational briefing, Yaakov Lappin, In-House Analyst at The MirYam Institute, explains the paradox of Israel’s growing strategic strength amidst a deteriorating global information war.

Over the past 30 months, Israel has achieved historic strategic victories, working with the U.S. to systematically decimate the Iranian axis—including its nuclear programs, Hamas, and Hezbollah. 

By operationalizing new defense alliances, Israel now serves as a regional "insurance policy" for Gulf states against Iranian fundamentalism. 

However, Israel is simultaneously losing the global information battle because jihadist adversaries deliberately embed their rocket launchers and invasion bases inside hospitals, schools, and residential areas to manipulate the international narrative.

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