THE MOSSAD FILES with Dan Raviv

Dan's guest is Jonathan Tobin, the prolific Editor-in-Chief of JNS -- Jewish News Syndicate. In American politics, there's no doubt that Tobin is on the Right side of the spectrum. His analysis is clear and strong, as it increasingly emerges that Israel has a problem: a sharp decline in popularity and support in the United States.

Tobin argues, as many do, that the unpopularity is mostly found on the Left.

Enjoy the vibrant discussion and intelligent conversation. This is the 67th weekly episode of The Mossad Files, and some of Dan's interviews may be found in video form on YouTube.

Please comment on X at @danraviv. Also on BlueSky, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

Dan's most recent book -- with Israeli espionage/defense expert Yossi Melman -- is a low-priced e-book, "Target: Iran -- How the Mossad Penetrated Iran to Smash the Nuclear Program."  For Kindle: https://levantbooks.short.gy/hGLRKs 

Also the Raviv-Melman history of the Mossad is "Spies Against Armageddon: Inside Israel's Secret Wars" -- You may purchase it at http://bit.ly/41j1Sc3 in Kindle or paperback (and on all e-book platforms).  

AND: Dan Raviv is co-author of a new book --with social psychologist Prof. Arie Kruglanski -- "The Quest for Significance: Harnessing the Need that Makes the World Go Round." It explains how every person has a need for respect and dignity, and the book advises how you can figure out yourself and the people around you, to give them a measure of Significance. To buy: https://amzn.to/3Y2cawj

 (You can watch or listen, also, to THE QUEST FOR SIGNIFICANCE PODCAST series.)

Our music for THE MOSSAD FILES podcast is Clock is Ticking, by Braden Deal, from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/braden-deal/clock-is-ticking -- License code: YY2MEPOUFX6P7MIH.

Who's in charge in Iran? Who's left, after U.S. and Israeli air strikes killed top leaders?  Is there really a chance that the Islamic Republic regime will fall?

Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at FDD (Foundation for the Defense of Deocracies) and senior director of that think tank's Iran Program, answers Dan's questions -- and sheds light on how Iran's hardline regime seems to be standing up to U.S. pressure.

This episode also features Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, insisting that Israel isn't directing this war -- it's all Donald Trump.  And retired Admiral William McRaven discusses what military experts must have told President Trump. McRaven says you can't bomb your way to victory in Iran.

Please comment on X at @danraviv. Also on BlueSky, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

Dan's most recent book -- with Israeli espionage/defense expert Yossi Melman -- is a low-priced e-book, "Target: Iran -- How the Mossad Penetrated Iran to Smash the Nuclear Program."  For Kindle: https://levantbooks.short.gy/hGLRKs 

Also the Raviv-Melman history of the Mossad is "Spies Against Armageddon: Inside Israel's Secret Wars" -- You may purchase it at http://bit.ly/41j1Sc3 in Kindle or paperback (and on all e-book platforms).  

AND: Dan Raviv is co-author of a new book --with social psychologist Prof. Arie Kruglanski -- "The Quest for Significance: Harnessing the Need that Makes the World Go Round." It explains how every person has a need for respect and dignity, and the book advises how you can figure out yourself and the people around you, to give them a measure of Significance. To buy: https://amzn.to/3Y2cawj

 (You can watch or listen, also, to THE QUEST FOR SIGNIFICANCE PODCAST series.)

Our music for THE MOSSAD FILES podcast is Clock is Ticking, by Braden Deal, from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/braden-deal/clock-is-ticking -- License code: YY2MEPOUFX6P7MIH.

Dan plays audio clips from the annual Ceremony of Commendations at Mossad headquarters near Tel Aviv, where spymaster David "Dedi" Barnea -- whose 5-year term as Director of the Mossad ends next month -- delivered hint after hint of what the spy agency has been doing in Iran and Lebanon.

We then hear Elliott Abrams, longtime U.S. official in Republican administrations, analyzing the mysteries of war and peace in Iran -- including Donald Trump's communications flaws.  Mr. Abrams, now at the Council on Foreign Relations, was speaking on the ROPEScast, an interview series from the non-profit organization ROPES.

The Mossad Files podcast then turns to Lebanon -- and an optimistic pundit who's originally from the Shiite Muslim villages of Southern Lebanon.  Hanin Ghaddar is now a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.  She spoke with Nadine Epstein, editor in chief of Moment Magazine, on one of the many Moment zoominars that can be found at momentmag.com.

Please comment on X at @danraviv. Also on BlueSky, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

Dan's most recent book -- with Israeli espionage/defense expert Yossi Melman -- is a low-priced e-book, "Target: Iran -- How the Mossad Penetrated Iran to Smash the Nuclear Program."  For Kindle: https://levantbooks.short.gy/hGLRKs 

Also the Raviv-Melman history of the Mossad is "Spies Against Armageddon: Inside Israel's Secret Wars" -- You may purchase it at http://bit.ly/41j1Sc3 in Kindle or paperback (and on all e-book platforms).  

AND: Dan Raviv is co-author of a new book --with social psychologist Prof. Arie Kruglanski -- "The Quest for Significance: Harnessing the Need that Makes the World Go Round." It explains how every person has a need for respect and dignity, and the book advises how you can figure out yourself and the people around you, to give them a measure of Significance. To buy: https://amzn.to/3Y2cawj

 (You can watch or listen, also, to THE QUEST FOR SIGNIFICANCE PODCAST series.)

Our music for THE MOSSAD FILES podcast is Clock is Ticking, by Braden Deal, from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/braden-deal/clock-is-ticking -- License code: YY2MEPOUFX6P7MIH.

As Israel celebrated its 78th birthday, Independence Day was preceded -- as every year -- by a somber Memorial Day in tribute to IDF soldiers killed in action and to victims of terrorism. Among the many speeches -- heard, in part, on this Mossad Files episode -- were strong statements by Mossad director David (Dedi) Barnea and his predecessor at the spy agency, Yossi Cohen.  

Israel's spymasters are pointing at more warfare expected, in Iran.

Dan's guest is Marc Schulman, an American-born Israeli who writes columns for Newsweek and for his own Substack, "Tel Aviv Diary." Schulman also is founder and editor-in-chief of HistoryCentral.com. Dan and Marc disagree, on Benjamin Netanyahu's chances of remaining prime minister after the Israeli election expected in October.

Please comment on X at @danraviv. Also on BlueSky, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

Dan's most recent book -- with Israeli espionage/defense expert Yossi Melman -- is a low-priced e-book, "Target: Iran -- How the Mossad Penetrated Iran to Smash the Nuclear Program."  For Kindle: https://levantbooks.short.gy/hGLRKs 

Also the Raviv-Melman history of the Mossad is "Spies Against Armageddon: Inside Israel's Secret Wars" -- You may purchase it at http://bit.ly/41j1Sc3 in Kindle or paperback (and on all e-book platforms).  

AND: Dan Raviv is co-author of a new book --with social psychologist Prof. Arie Kruglanski -- "The Quest for Significance: Harnessing the Need that Makes the World Go Round." It explains how every person has a need for respect and dignity, and the book advises how you can figure out yourself and the people around you, to give them a measure of Significance. To buy: https://amzn.to/3Y2cawj

 (You can watch or listen, also, to THE QUEST FOR SIGNIFICANCE PODCAST series.)

Our music for THE MOSSAD FILES podcast is Clock is Ticking, by Braden Deal, from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/braden-deal/clock-is-ticking -- License code: YY2MEPOUFX6P7MIH.

Dan Raviv interviews Joel Rubin -- a Democratic Party strategist, former State Department official, who has a Substack called "The Briefing Book," focused on the nexis between foreign affairs and U.S. politics.

Rubin says his fellow Democrats aren't giving enough credit to what could be good developments in the Middle East. After all, a majority of the party wants to cut-off U.S. military aid to Israel.

But Donald Trump's statements claiming deals have been reached with Iran -- and perhaps even with Lebanon's Hezbollah -- cause confusion, all around the world.

Find Joel Rubin's writing and video clips at:  https://joelrubin.substack.com/

Please comment on X at @danraviv. Also on BlueSky, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

Dan's most recent book -- with Israeli espionage/defense expert Yossi Melman -- is a low-priced e-book, "Target: Iran -- How the Mossad Penetrated Iran to Smash the Nuclear Program."  For Kindle: https://levantbooks.short.gy/hGLRKs 

Also the Raviv-Melman history of the Mossad is "Spies Against Armageddon: Inside Israel's Secret Wars" -- You may purchase it at http://bit.ly/41j1Sc3 in Kindle or paperback (and on all e-book platforms).  

AND: Dan Raviv is co-author of a new book --with social psychologist Prof. Arie Kruglanski -- "The Quest for Significance: Harnessing the Need that Makes the World Go Round." It explains how every person has a need for respect and dignity, and the book advises how you can figure out yourself and the people around you, to give them a measure of Significance. To buy: https://amzn.to/3Y2cawj

 (You can watch or listen, also, to THE QUEST FOR SIGNIFICANCE PODCAST series.)

Our music for THE MOSSAD FILES podcast is Clock is Ticking, by Braden Deal, from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/braden-deal/clock-is-ticking -- License code: YY2MEPOUFX6P7MIH.

The start of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran was sudden, on February 28. The ceasefire that may have ended the war was sudden, just when Donald Trump was threatening to destroy Iranian civilization. 

A 39-day war (some call it "The 40-Day War") -- Was it worth it? Israelis are asking. And, in Tel Aviv, Israel Policy Forum distinguished fellow Nimrod Novik -- longtime senior advisor to the late Prime Minister Shimon Peres -- brings his detailed, clear-headed analysis to The Mossad Files. 

Dan Raviv guides the conversation also to the unfinished business of the Gaza war, which Novik contends has had an Iran-like ambiguous, cloudy ending. So how can there be a return to progress on the Palestinian issue? Novik says this year's Israeli election could affect how the West Bank and Gaza are treated.

Please comment on X at @danraviv. Also on BlueSky, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

Dan's most recent book -- with Israeli espionage/defense expert Yossi Melman -- is a low-priced e-book, "Target: Iran -- How the Mossad Penetrated Iran to Smash the Nuclear Program."  For Kindle: https://levantbooks.short.gy/hGLRKs 

Also the Raviv-Melman history of the Mossad is "Spies Against Armageddon: Inside Israel's Secret Wars" -- You may purchase it at http://bit.ly/41j1Sc3 in Kindle or paperback (and on all e-book platforms).  

AND: Dan Raviv is co-author of a new book --with social psychologist Prof. Arie Kruglanski -- "The Quest for Significance: Harnessing the Need that Makes the World Go Round." It explains how every person has a need for respect and dignity, and the book advises how you can figure out yourself and the people around you, to give them a measure of Significance. To buy: https://amzn.to/3Y2cawj

 (You can watch or listen, also, to THE QUEST FOR SIGNIFICANCE PODCAST series.)

Our music for THE MOSSAD FILES podcast is Clock is Ticking, by Braden Deal, from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/braden-deal/clock-is-ticking -- License code: YY2MEPOUFX6P7MIH.

Dan's co-author (on six books about Israeli intelligence and strategy) Yossi Melman breaks the news -- that the Mossad is no longer in charge of the overall Israeli plan for defeating Iran's nuclear program and ballistic missiles.

As Israel prepared for war against Iran (with President Trump's full participation), Prime Minister Netanyahu gave the leadership to Aman -- the huge military intelligence agency, with a giant role for Unit 8200, the legendary SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) eavesdroppers.  

Also in this episode: Jonathan Pollard, the Jewish American arrested in Washington DC in 1985 for spying for Israel, speaks about his visit to the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem -- saying the CIA ratted him out -- and his disdain for Netanyahu.

Dan also speaks with Prof. Arie Kruglanski, a widely honored social psychologist at the University of Maryland -- expert on human motivation, terrorism, and Israeli society. They discuss why Israel felt compelled to hit hard against its enemies in Gaza and Iran, to "restore Significance" after the humiliation of October 7. Also: what it takes for a person to be a spy.  (Raviv and Kruglanski are co-authors of a book, THE QUEST FOR SIGNIFICANCE -- https://bit.ly/47E9eea)

Please comment on X at @danraviv. Also on BlueSky, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

Dan's most recent book -- with Israeli espionage/defense expert Yossi Melman -- is a low-priced e-book, "Target: Iran -- How the Mossad Penetrated Iran to Smash the Nuclear Program."  For Kindle: https://levantbooks.short.gy/hGLRKs 

Also the Raviv-Melman history of the Mossad is "Spies Against Armageddon: Inside Israel's Secret Wars" -- You may purchase it at http://bit.ly/41j1Sc3 in Kindle or paperback (and on all e-book platforms).  

AND: Dan Raviv is co-author of a new book --with social psychologist Prof. Arie Kruglanski -- "The Quest for Significance: Harnessing the Need that Makes the World Go Round." It explains how every person has a need for respect and dignity, and the book advises how you can figure out yourself and the people around you, to give them a measure of Significance. To buy: https://amzn.to/3Y2cawj

 (You can watch or listen, also, to THE QUEST FOR SIGNIFICANCE PODCAST series.)

Our music for THE MOSSAD FILES podcast is Clock is Ticking, by Braden Deal, from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/braden-deal/clock-is-ticking -- License code: YY2MEPOUFX6P7MIH.

Dan's guest is Steve Herman, retired Voice of America correspondent who reported from the White House.  He's the author of a new book "Behind the White House Curtain," on his career and why news coverage of the American president is so important.

Together they assess the importance -- if any -- of knowing whether he's telling the truth or not: this week, whether the war the United States and Israel are waging against Iran really was about to end.  Or get bigger.

Please comment on X at @danraviv. Also on BlueSky, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

Dan's most recent book -- with Israeli espionage/defense expert Yossi Melman -- is a low-priced e-book, "Target: Iran -- How the Mossad Penetrated Iran to Smash the Nuclear Program."  For Kindle: https://levantbooks.short.gy/hGLRKs 

Also the Raviv-Melman history of the Mossad is "Spies Against Armageddon: Inside Israel's Secret Wars" -- You may purchase it at http://bit.ly/41j1Sc3 in Kindle or paperback (and on all e-book platforms).  

AND: Dan Raviv is co-author of a new book --with social psychologist Prof. Arie Kruglanski -- "The Quest for Significance: Harnessing the Need that Makes the World Go Round." It explains how every person has a need for respect and dignity, and the book advises how you can figure out yourself and the people around you, to give them a measure of Significance. To buy: https://amzn.to/3Y2cawj

 (You can watch or listen, also, to THE QUEST FOR SIGNIFICANCE PODCAST series.)

Our music for THE MOSSAD FILES podcast is Clock is Ticking, by Braden Deal, from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/braden-deal/clock-is-ticking -- License code: YY2MEPOUFX6P7MIH.

Dan's guest is Danny Ayalon, who was Israel's ambassador in Washington in 2002-2007 and then served as Deputy Foreign Minister. They discuss how Israel is living its dream -- having full U.S. support for attacking Iran to destroy its nuclear program and its long-range missile arsenal.

But could it become Israel's nightmare, if Donald Trump decides to end the war?

Ambassador Ayalon offers a thorough and thought-provoking analysis, based on the history of U.S.-Israeli relations and Iran's history of supporting terrorism.

Did Israel "drag" Trump into this war? That's the charge made by anti-Israel activists on both the Right and Left sides of American politics.

Also, Dan discusses some Netanyahu soundbites -- with angles on the Iran war that major media may be missing.

Please comment on X at @danraviv. Also on BlueSky, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

Dan's most recent book -- with Israeli espionage/defense expert Yossi Melman -- is a low-priced e-book, "Target: Iran -- How the Mossad Penetrated Iran to Smash the Nuclear Program."  For Kindle: https://levantbooks.short.gy/hGLRKs 

Also the Raviv-Melman history of the Mossad is "Spies Against Armageddon: Inside Israel's Secret Wars" -- You may purchase it at http://bit.ly/41j1Sc3 in Kindle or paperback (and on all e-book platforms).  

AND: Dan Raviv is co-author of a new book --with social psychologist Prof. Arie Kruglanski -- "The Quest for Significance: Harnessing the Need that Makes the World Go Round." It explains how every person has a need for respect and dignity, and the book advises how you can figure out yourself and the people around you, to give them a measure of Significance. To buy: https://amzn.to/3Y2cawj

 (You can watch or listen, also, to THE QUEST FOR SIGNIFICANCE PODCAST series.)

Our music for THE MOSSAD FILES podcast is Clock is Ticking, by Braden Deal, from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/braden-deal/clock-is-ticking -- License code: YY2MEPOUFX6P7MIH.

This is no 6-Day War -- no lightning victory when the enemy is large, stubborn, radical Iran.  

On the weekly audio podcast, hear Jonathan Conricus -- a Lt.Col. in the IDF reserves and the Israeli military's former international spokesman -- talk about the threat of Iran-backed terrorism worldwide as attempted retaliation.

Conricus is optimistic about countering that, and (you will hear) he is upbeat about the positive possibilities for the Middle East if Islamic Iran is defeated.

[Conricus is heard, courtesy of the international educational organization "Stand With Us" (standwithus.com) that supports Israel and combats antisemitism.]

Also, Dan speaks with a Mossad veteran -- former head of the agency's counter-terrorism division -- about the challenges this war poses.  He says if the Iranian regime doesn't collapse, then the whole war was for nothing!

Please comment on X at @danraviv. Also on BlueSky, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

Dan's most recent book -- with Israeli espionage/defense expert Yossi Melman -- is a low-priced e-book, "Target: Iran -- How the Mossad Penetrated Iran to Smash the Nuclear Program."  For Kindle: https://levantbooks.short.gy/hGLRKs 

Also the Raviv-Melman history of the Mossad is "Spies Against Armageddon: Inside Israel's Secret Wars" -- You may purchase it at http://bit.ly/41j1Sc3 in Kindle or paperback (and on all e-book platforms).  

AND: Dan Raviv is co-author of a new book --with social psychologist Prof. Arie Kruglanski -- "The Quest for Significance: Harnessing the Need that Makes the World Go Round." It explains how every person has a need for respect and dignity, and the book advises how you can figure out yourself and the people around you, to give them a measure of Significance. To buy: https://amzn.to/3Y2cawj

 (You can watch or listen, also, to THE QUEST FOR SIGNIFICANCE PODCAST series.)

Our music for THE MOSSAD FILES podcast is Clock is Ticking, by Braden Deal, from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/braden-deal/clock-is-ticking -- License code: YY2MEPOUFX6P7MIH.