Is Israel's longest serving prime minister a net asset -- or a net liability -- at this point, when it comes to the country's security?

In favor of Benjamin Netanyahu -- explicitly speaking out in favor of his being pardoned by Israel's president -- is the widely published rabbi, Shmuley Boteach.

Replying to those pro-Bibi opinions: a law professor at Reichman University in Israel, Prof. Yaniv Roznai, a constitutional law expert.

Hear some bitter, but intelligently reasoned, arguments -- on The Mossad Files with Dan Raviv.

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.

Gaza's next stage and Turkey's role. Those issues spell trouble in the seemingly rosy Florida lovefest of Donald Trump and Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu.

Days after their 6th meeting of 2025, a former Israeli ambassador to Washington tells Dan how these summits work -- and he can tell what the real issues were behind the Mar-a-Lago platitudes.

Sure, the Israeli prime minister and American president praised each other to the skies, but there are still "troubling" differences over Gaza -- Phase 2 of the Trump peace plan -- and over Turkey (Turkiye). Trump wants to give his friend, Turkish president Erdogan a role in both Gaza and Syria. Netanyahu definitely opposes that.

Dan's guest is Michael Herzog, former Israeli ambassador (during the Biden years) in Washington and the brother and son of two Presidents of the State of Israel. A retired Brigadier General in the IDF, Michael Herzog is a distinguished fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

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 reports there's a lot going on, when it comes to Israeli intelligence, security, and politics. There's a rare statement from the Mossad, on why its director met with Qatar. Arab news media claim a kidnapping in Lebanon by the Mossad.

And -- the next big strategic event for Israel: Prime Minister Netanyahu will visit President Trump at Mar-a-Lago for talks on December 29. Netanyahu (according to Senator Lindsey Graham, heard in the podcast) wants a green light to strike Iran.

But there are indications that Trump will push Netanyahu to speed up execution of the Trump plan for peace in Gaza. Dan's primary interviewee is Nimrod Novik, Distinguished Fellow at Israel Policy Forum (IPF), who says -- writing for IPF and for Commanders for Israel's Security -- that Trump should put pressure on Netanyahu at the Florida meeting. An open effort by Israelis to see a foreign leader twist the arm of Israel's leader.

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.