What has changed since May and July, since we had the negotiations and they failed?

Well, first of all, the access of resistance has been basically evaporated, and Hamas is isolated.

That's a political element.

Another political element is now that Netanyahu can actually survive a deal, and the government

is not going to fall.

We're on the verge of a breakthrough.

I'm saying this carefully, but we have more and more reports coming both from Hamas and from Israeli officials

that conditions have matured into the possibility of a deal in a matter of a week or two.

Thank you. a week or two. It's 10 o'clock a.m. on Monday, December 9th, here in New York City. It's 5 o'clock p.m. on Monday, December 9th, in Israel, as Israelis are

winding down their day, and it is 6 o'clock p.m. on Monday, December 9th in Damascus.

Before we get into today's episode, just another housekeeping note to look out for the new art on our icon, our poster art for this

podcast in your feed in Thursday's episode. That's where it will first appear, just so you're not

confused when you are used to seeing the traditional call me back art and it will no longer appear.

I don't want you to think the podcast, our podcast, will no longer appear.

Now on to today's conversation. As we witness Iran's proxy system collapsing at a pretty

rapid clip, there appears to be an opportunity for a new hostage deal and temporary ceasefire in Gaza.

Consider the milestones of just the past five months.

Muhammad Def, one of the leaders of Hamas and one of the architects of the October 7th massacre

was killed on July 13th.

Ismail Hania, another leader of Hamas, was killed on July 13th. Ismail Hanea, another leader of Hamas, was killed on July 31st in Tehran.

Three thousand Hezbollah fighters were taken out of action in the Pager attack on September 17th.

Operation Northern Arrows crippled Hezbollah's military stockpiles on September 23rd.

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