US hostage envoy defends talks with terror group, says deal possible in weeks * Foreign minister tells Europeans to 'wake up' on ties with Syria after Alawites massacred * Iran open to nuclear weaponi

Only seven Jews believed to remain in Syrian capital, once one of the world's largest Jewish communities; New York family seeks to rebuild destroyed synagogues

AIPAC and AJC are taking a cautiously hopeful approach to the new government in Damascus, while Israel is growing increasingly alarmed by the regime

Security cabinet to meet Sunday • Iran rejects Arab Gaza plan • Hamas says it sees 'positive indicators' over deal talks • IAF strikes Hezbollah terrorists

The Israeli military is targeting more areas of southern Syria, and Israel is lobbying world powers to keep the central government in Damascus weak.

Israel’s defense ministry says the military has been instructed to prepare to defend a Druze settlement in the suburbs of Damascus in neighboring Syria.

Following last week’s strikes just south of Damascus, Israel’s military said it conducted another round of strikes on Monday on military targets in northwestern Syria.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will not allow Syria’s new army or the insurgent group that led the ouster of former President Bashar Assad to “enter the area south of Damascus”

Tel Aviv targeting more areas in southern Syria while lobbying world powers to keep central government in Damascus weak, according to Wall Street Journal

The latest attacks came a week after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel demanded the demilitarization of much of southern Syria, stoking fears of conflict with the country’s new leadership.

Israel’s defense minister says minority Druze in Jaramana a town south of Damascus, were under attack from the new Syrian regime and that he ordered Israeli forces to be poised to help protect them if necessary.