The Telegraph, The Independent and The Associated Press report that Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz told the Israeli newspaper Ynet that “Israel is ready to attack Iran, yes.” His warning as Iran’s new President, Ebrahim Raisi, a hardline judge known as the “butcher of Tehran”, was sworn into office. Gantz’s warning comes amid heightened between the two countries following an Iranian attack on an Israeli owned ship that killed a British and Romanian national. Iranian Foreign Minister spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh described the threat as “another violation of international law and malign behavior.” Khatibzadeh later tweeted “We state this clearly: ANY foolish act against Iran will be met with a DECISIVE response. Don’t test us.”

The Times reports on the first remarks made by Iran’s newly sworn in president, Ebrahim Raisi. While Raisi insisted the Islamic Republic was not attempting to build a nuclear weapon, Israeli sources have warned that the country is 10 weeks away from a bomb. Raisi said that while the goal of the country is to bring about security, “threats made by dominating powers and tyrants” would be met with force.

BBC News reports that the United States called on Iran’s new president to resume the Vienna talks about reviving the JCPOA nuclear deal. A spokesperson for the US State Department said the window for diplomacy would not remain open indefinitely. The spokesperson said “We urge Iran to return to the negotiations soon so that we can seek to conclude our work. Our message to President Raisi is the same as our message to his predecessors… the US will defend and advance our national security interests and those of our partners. We hope that Iran seizes the opportunity now to advance diplomatic solutions.”

Daniel DePetris writes for The Spectator about whether Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi can make peace with Saudi Arabia. He writes: “As the Middle East’s two largest powers economically, militarily and spiritually, Iran and Saudi Arabia possess a unique responsibility in working toward a mechanism which would allow both to at least tolerate one another… Nobody can be certain what Ebrahim Raisi’s foreign policy will look like, nor can we predict what crises or catastrophes may occur on his watch. But what can be said with clarity and conviction is that the costs of returning to an era of maximum pressure cloud out whatever benefits the U.S., Iran, and the region as a whole perceive.”

The Economists examines the what Ebrahim Raisi’s presidency means for Iran’s relations with the West, especially as he assumes office amid growing maritime tensions with Israel, the UK and US, and ongoing talks to revive the JCPOA nuclear deal.

Kaveh Madani writes for The Guardian about how Iranian leaders are to blame for the country’s water crisis. Madani, the former deputy vice-president of Iran writes that: “Even if climate change stopped and Iran cut its carbon emissions by 100% right now, its water bankruptcy and many other environmental problems would not be solved immediately. This does not mean that we should give up the climate fight. But alongside that global struggle, we must remember that local decision-makers are liable for avoidable failures of environmental management that result in the degradation and suffering we are now seeing in Iran.”

The Times reports that Syria has claimed that Israeli airstrikes destroyed evidence linking Assad regime forces to the 2018 chemical weapons attack in Douma. Assad backed forces were suspecting of dropping chlorine gas bombs in the rebel-held down in April of 2018, resulting in 40 deaths and over 100 injuries. The Syrian authorities have repeatedly failed to adequately comply with an investigation into the incident. Britain’s ambassador to the UN said it “represents not only the highly concerning failure by Syria to comply with important [Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons] requests, but also unauthorised interference with evidence central to an ongoing high-profile investigation.”

The Economist reflects on the devastating impact of the Beirut blast one year on, and how things have only gotten worse across Lebanon. The report describes the dire situation: “The country feels exhausted. Beirutis wander the streets glassy-eyed; no one is sleeping well, without even a fan to cut the heat and humidity. Everyone seems to have caught a stomach bug this summer from food spoiled by power cuts. A small, well-heeled elite is still hosting lavish weddings and expensive lunches by the sea, but for most Lebanese the days are a brew of rage and despair. Once again, it is hard to imagine things could get any worse. Once again, they probably will.”

This morning all the Israeli media cover rocket sirens sounding in the north of Israel.  According to Channel 12 News around 10 rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome, with sirens heard in the area of Neve Ativ and Ein Kenia in the northern Golan Heights and Kibbutz Snir in the Galilee. More rockets landed in open areas, with no reports of injuries.

All the Israeli media report on the threat of a fourth lockdown as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. According to the latest data, 3,058 individuals tested positive yesterday, a slight dip from the previous day. However, the number of those hospitalized in serious condition rose from 235 to 262. Kan Radio News reports that a decision on a fourth lockdown will be made in two weeks, at which point officials will have data on the impact of the third booster shot. Health Ministry Director General Prof Nachman Ash warned of hospitals coming under increased pressure while coping with a shortage of staff and beds. The Green Certificate will be reinstated on Sunday, requiring individuals to show proof of vaccination for sporting events, conferences, cultural events, restaurants, bars, gyms, hotels and movie theatres.

Sima Kadmon calls out the 1.1 million unvaccinated Israelis writing in Yediot Ahronot: “Who do you think you are? Who are you, who would have spared the million and a half seniors from getting vaccinated for the third time if you had gotten vaccinated yourselves? Do you have grandmothers and grandfathers? Parents? Small children? Did you serve in the military, do you perform reserve duty, pay taxes? Do you send your children to school every day and go to the grocery store, to work, to a show? Do you always have complaints about Israeli society’s lack of solidarity and mutual responsibility?” She proposes that instead of threatening a lockdown on everyone, it should apply only to the unvaccinated and writes: “There probably won’t be a lockdown, but if you’re going to make threats, then at least threaten the right people.”

In Yediot Ahronot Itamar Eichner and Adir Yanko write about the COVID-19 exception for synagogues which stipulates that if there are less than 50 worshippers, a green certificate would not be required for entry because “freedom of worship was a fundamental right, like the right to demonstrate.” Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said the exception was not made because of pressure from the Ultra-Orthodox. Several ministers objected to this exception, including Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman, Economy Minister Orna Barbivai, Public Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev and Education Minister Yifat Shasha-Biton.

Tal Lev Ram writes in Maariv about the latest escalation on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, and while the Israeli security establishment believes Palestinian operatives, not Hezbollah will continue launching rockets, the situation is unlikely to escalate: “The IDF also believes that if its intelligence can identify the Palestinian terrorist operatives before or after another bout of rocket fire and hit them, Hezbollah will be in no hurry to retaliate and clash with Israel. As far as Hezbollah is concerned, they are Sunni Palestinians and unrelated to it… Yesterday’s air strike was meant to send a message to what remains of the Lebanese government, and mainly to its military establishment, which is still functioning on the ground: a strike on Lebanese infrastructure is also an option, if the rocket fire at Israel continues.”

Haaretz reports Michael Herzog, the brother of President Isaac Herzog, is the leading candidate to be the next Israeli ambassadors to the US.  Both Prime Minister Bennett and Foreign Minister Lapid agreed to his appointment.  Herzog will replace Gilad Erdan, a former Likud minister who was appointed by former Prime Minister Netanyahu, is expected to remain as Israel’s ambassador to the UN.

Israel Hayom reports that Palestinian Authority (PA) banks are delaying the transfer of Qatari funds to Gaza because they are concerned they could be exposed to lawsuits if the money goes to fund terrorism. The PA agreed to transfer the Qatari funds under supervision of the Palestinian Monetary Fund. Gaza-based Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has threatened a resumption of violence should the transfer of funds be blocked.