Hello and welcome to Background Briefing, available 24-7 at Background Briefing.org. I'm Ian Masters,

and today we'll look into a number of stories and issues in the news.

We'll begin with an update on the war between Israel and Hamas,

with the possibility of an escalation on the northern border with Lebanon,

following an exchange of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.

Joining us is Dr. Gai Ziv, a professor in the Department of Foreign Policy and Global Security

at American University School of Foreign Policy and Global Security

at American University School of International Service and Associate Director of the Meltzer

Schwartzberg Center for Israel Studies at American University, where he teaches courses

on U.S.-Israeli relations and Israel-Palestinian peacemaking.

He has worked in the United States Department of State on Capitol Hill

and for leading non-profit organizations that promote American involvement in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking

and is the author of Why Hawks Become Doves, Shimon Peres, and Foreign Policy Change in Israel.

And his forthcoming book out soon is Netanyahu versus the generals,

the battle for Israel's future. Then we'll examine the colossal intelligence failure on the 50th

anniversary of another Israeli intelligence failure, resulting in the deaths of 600 Israelis and up to 100

held hostage, and speak with Daniel Beman, who is a professor at the

School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic

and International Studies, and editor of the Lawfare blog. He served on the 9-11 commission staff

and is the author of a number of books, including a high price, the triumphs and failures of

Israeli counterterrorism, and road warriors, foreign fighters in the armies of jihad.

His latest book is Spreading Hate, the Global Rise of White Supremicist Terrorism.

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