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.