Press Review – February 15, 2019

“In the Glass House Called Syria, Iran Has Thrown One Too Many Stones” (analysis)

Amos Harel, Haaretz

As Haaretz reported, Iran seems to be moving its activity away from Damascus Airport. But its weapons will still be in Israel’s striking range. Read more…

“Beyond Energy: The Significance of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum” (analysis)

Ofir Winter, Gallia Lindenstrauss, INSS Insight

While the subject of energy is the basis for the forum, there are also broader geostrategic processes that led to its establishment, and they reflect the regional states’ shared perceptions regarding the importance of the Eastern Mediterranean to their national security. Read more…

“Will Warsaw summit unite US, EU against Iran?” (analysis)

Heidarali Masoudi, Al-Monitor

The Warsaw summit holds the possibility of being a starting point for a European-American consensus against Iran down the line. Read more…

“The Progressive Assault on Israel” (opinion)

Bret Stephens, New York Times

A movement that can detect a racist dog-whistle from miles away is strangely deaf when it comes to some of the barking on its own side of the fence. Read more…

“It’s Time to Acknowledge the Arab Heritage of Many Israeli Jews” (opinion)

Gila Gamliel, Newsweek

Israel’s Minister of Social Equality writes about the need to speak about the story of the Jews from the Arab countries—both the good and the bad—which was left largely untold both in Israel and around the world. Read more…

“America’s Mideast retreat” (analysis)

Paul Salem, Chatham House

Paul Salem looks at how the region will fare if Trump carries out his threatened withdrawal from Syria and Afghanistan. Read more…

“Hamas Will Try to Draw Israel Into Full-out Gaza War, Israeli Intel Assessment Says” (report)

Yaniv Kubovich, Haaretz

Intel report says Palestinian group may risk all-out confrontation to obtain international involvement in Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Read more…

“IDF believes Iran pulling forces in Syria away from Israel border due to strikes” (report)

Judah Ari Gross, Times of Israel

But Intel report says Tehran not giving up on plans to threaten Israel; army assesses Tehran abiding by 2015 nuclear deal, but could create atomic bomb within 2 years. Read more…