The Islamic State's leadership is spent, and its end is nigh. Now the struggle for Syria is at a turning point, and the four diametrically opposed forces that remain must now consolidate their gains on the ground and face each others' ambitions.
With no grand solutions either violent or peaceful at hand, the IDF's preferred option remains conflict management. At its core lies the old, ugly but useful concept that has always been central to Israel's security doctrine: deterrence, writ large.
The announcement on Aug. 13, 2020 that the United Arab Emirates and Israel had agreed to move toward full diplomatic relations surprised much of the world. What culminated last summer had deep roots. My American Jewish Committee colleagues and I, traveling regularly to Gulf capitals since 1994, observed signs of fresh thinking in the region early on—and did our part to encourage it.
This Earth Day is a true moment of opportunity. There are political and economic developments that indicate we are on the cusp of renewed world leadership in the climate crisis. We must seize the day, galvanize humanity, and hold political leaders accountable regarding reduction of carbon emissions, prevention of deforestation, and more to restrain and reverse undeniably catastrophic global warming.