“Israel must remain clear-eyed and recognize that Syria remains unstable, the Syrian regime does not exercise full control over its territory, and it does not enjoy full legitimacy. Accordingly, Israel must be strategically and operationally prepared for a scenario in which the current regime may fail to meet its commitments.” — Carmit Valensi
SHABBAT READING:
Balaam Sets His Face Towards the Calf—A Targum Tradition: Dr. Shlomi Efrati, The Torah.com, no date — The Jewish Aramaic renderings of the Hebrew Bible, collectively known as “Targum”—the Hebrew/Aramaic word for both “interpretation” and “translation”—were composed over several centuries, in various places and for different purposes. While the earliest Targums for the Pentateuch and the Prophets, known as Onqelos and Jonathan respectively, were presumably composed during the first centuries of the common era in an Aramaic speaking environment,[1] the latest Targums—for (most of) the books of the Writings—were probably composed sometime towards the end of the first millennium C.E., in a place and time where Aramaic was no longer a spoken language.[2] ***
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From a “Jihadist in a Suit” to Hummus in Damascus? Shifts in Israeli Policy Toward Syria: Carmit Valensi, INSS Insight No. 2010, July 10, 2025
After Decades as Enemies, Syria and Israel Now Share a Common Foe: Christina Goldbaum, Adam Rasgon and Aaron Boxerman, NY Times, July 9, 2025
Exclusive-UN Report Sees No Active Syrian State Links to Al Qaeda: Michelle Nichols, Yahoo News, July 10, 2025
Turkey and Syria Engage in Secret Talks on Maritime Border Agreement: Abdullah Bozkurt, Nordic Monitor, July 3, 2025
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FOR FURTHER REFERENCE:
Israel in ‘Advanced Talks’ for Deal to End Hostilities with Syria, Says Senior Official: Lazar Berman, Times of Israel, June 30, 2025 — Israel and Syria are holding “advanced talks” on a bilateral agreement halting hostilities between the countries, a senior Israeli official told The Times of Israel on Monday.
Syria Signals Readiness to Resume 1974 Pact with Israel: Israel National News, July 5, 2025 — Syria has signaled its readiness to cooperate with the United States in reimplementing the 1974 disengagement agreement with Israel, a pact that established a UN-patrolled buffer zone separating the two nations’ forces, AFP reported on Friday.
Netanyahu, Sharaa, Plan to meet in Washington in September – Report: JP Staff, Jerusalem Post, July 8, 2025 — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa are expected to meet at the White House ahead of the UN General Assembly in September, i24NEWS reported on Tuesday, citing a Syrian source close to Sharaa.
Syria May Join Abraham Accords: Why Ahmed Al-Sharaa is Moving Close to Israel: Ajish P. Joy, The Week, June 27, 2025 — The Trump administration has expressed optimism that Syria may soon join the Abraham Accords, marking a potential expansion of the landmark regional normalisation initiative.