My third annual list of best books on Israeli and Jewish matters, ranging from diplomacy and history to Torah commentary.

The Sand Curtain between Israel and the Arab world has fallen, but some of the world has difficulty rejoicing in the breakthrough. The Left assiduously is poking holes in the Abraham Accords and making sourpuss faces whenever the Roadrunner-fast advances in Gulf-Israel ties are mentioned.

To be a “Doresh Tzion,” a seeker of Jerusalem, is to stake material, spiritual and national claims to the city. A column marking Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Liberation Day, which is today).

As raw anti-Semitism around the world has risen and morphed into virulent anti-Israel sentiment—making the two phenomena almost indistinguishable—the State of Israel has moved from indifference to active involvement in the struggle against such hate.

A political-diplomatic forecast for the year ahead: A fourth election in Israel, Trump victorious, Jerusalem expands into E-1, and regrettably, more antisemitism.

A new JISS report says that Israel must be ready to tackle Iran militarily on its own and fight a pre-emptive war with Hizballah.

Prolonged political uncertainty poses two different dangers: that Israel’s enemies will be tempted to take advantage of Israel’s infirmity, and that Israel will be unable to take advantage of emerging grand diplomatic opportunities.

A pre-Rosh Hashana political quiz: Calculate what Israeli and Jewish future you need to be prepared for in 5780…

Arens upheld the policy principal that Israel must always retaliate for attacks on its soil. He wasn’t prepared to bend to US diplomatic or defense pressures when Zionist fundamentals were at stake.

Netanyahu has managed to stave off elections for now. He should use the time to restore Israeli deterrence, build in strategic areas, improve civil defense readiness, expel hostile U.N. agencies, and make diplomatic gains. Eight policy initiatives for the coming half-year.