Arlene Kushner | March 2, 2026
Image via Youtube
This past Shabbat was Shabbat Zahor. On that Shabbat, we are required to read a specific section from a second scroll, in addition to the regular Torah reading:
Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey, after you left Egypt how, undeterred by fear of God, he surprised you on the march, when you were famished and weary, and cut down all the stragglers in your rear. Therefore, when your God grants you safety from all your enemies around you, in the land that your God is giving you as a hereditary portion, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget. (Deuteronomy 25: 17-19)
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Israel’s first strike, the most powerful air strike in Israel’s history, involved 200 planes:
“Two hundred fighter jets streaked across Israel’s skies with a thunderous roar, in ‘the largest military flyover’ in Israeli Air Force history, the Israel Defense Forces said on Saturday.”
The attack was against the missile array and defense systems of the Iranian regime in western and central Iran.
The operation, which was based on high-quality military intelligence, “involved hundreds of munitions targeting roughly 500 objectives, including surface-to-surface missile launchers and aerial defense systems.”
https://www.jns.org/historic-israeli-air-force-operation-200-fighter-jets-hammer-iran/
“Strike your targets—you are making history,” IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir told the Israeli pilots before they took off.
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At the same time, top Iranian leaders were targeted. Of critical importance is the fact that Khomeini was taken out. After Israel intelligence identified his location and that of many other top leaders, there was a joint Israeli – US bombing of the compound where they were scheduled to meet; bunker busters were employed. Subsequently, Khomeini’s death was confirmed and reportedly as many as 40 other leaders were taken out.
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Early in the operation the Israeli Air Force secured air superiority in the approach to Tehran and over the airspace of the capital. This eased the way for attacks.
In the first two days of the Operation, Israel dropped 2,000 bombs on Iran.
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The war has been named Operation Roaring Lion by Israel; the prime minister’s office has put out a logo:
Image via PMO
Said Netanyahu:
“With God’s help, the roar of the lion of our soldiers, our pilots and our citizens will be heard throughout the world—the entire world knows that Am Yisrael Chai [‘The nation of Israel lives’].”
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A huge part of what has transpired with this operation is that the US is fully participating. After serious questions as to whether Trump, a transactionalist, actually understood the irredeemable nature of evil… After the weeks of apparent vacillation by Trump, which kept even very savvy analysts in the dark about his intentions… After a continuation of negotiations between the US and Iran, with another session to take place this week… It turns out that Netanyahu and Trump planned this operation months ago. Even Netanyahu’s recent visit to the US was for the purpose of discussing details of the plan. What is more, there were high level discussions between Israeli and American top military personnel as well.
Every step of this operation had been carefully coordinated. The launch date was reportedly set weeks ago. “We are operating in close cooperation with our most important partner—the United States of America,” said Chief of Staff Zamir.
This sheds a new light on Donald Trump, who is being celebrated for his strength.
See Jonathan Tobin, editor-in-chief of JNS on this (emphasis added):
“Every U.S. president for the last quarter-century has asserted that America will never let Iran get a nuclear weapon and was prepared to use force to prevent that from happening. But only Trump seems to have fully grasped the stark nature of the threat that Tehran poses to the United States—and the world.
“And now, after last year’s U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran’s nuclear program, followed by a renewed effort at diplomacy that predictably failed due to the Islamists’ intransigence, he has faced up to the choice that the West has always confronted with respect to Iran…
“Trump has shown that he dares to defy the conventional wisdom that the Washington liberal establishment has used to justify inaction or appeasement of Iran. …the president is again correct to refuse to listen to his critics. Though the path ahead will present grave challenges and dangers the administration and its Israeli allies must successfully navigate, the decision to strike—and to topple the mullahs—was both wise and necessary.”
https://www.jns.org/trumps-courageous-decision-to-face-tehran-head-on/
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In announcing the operation, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform:
“A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. A vicious group of very hard, terrible people. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world.
“For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted Death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries…
“From Lebanon to Yemen and Syria to Iraq, the regime has armed, trained and funded terrorist militias that have soaked the earth with blood and guts. And it was Iran’s proxy, Hamas, that launched the monstrous Oct. 7 attacks on Israel…It was brutal, something like the world has never seen before.
“Iran is the world’s number one state sponsor of terror, and just recently killed tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as they protested…
“They’ve rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore. Instead, they attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing the long-range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland.
“For these reasons, the United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests. We’re going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground…And we will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. It’s a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon.”
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/read-trumps-full-statement-on-iran-attack
He makes a very solid case.
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And so, we are at war. The people of Israel understand what is at stake and solidly support this action. None-the-less, we are stressed and fatigued. It could hardly be otherwise, as we have been barraged by missiles that require a speedy entrance to a safe space – whether a private safe room or a public shelter – sometimes in the middle of the night. As I write on Monday, the number of missiles being launched seems perhaps a bit diminished, likely in part because some 50% of the launchers has been taken out.
Our Home Front Command system, with an app entered into cell phones, is effective. Messages come in according to city or region. There is a pre-warning: An alert will be coming very soon, be near a safe place. And then a second warning in our phones immediately before a siren begins.
Most of the time missiles or drones are successfully taken out, sometimes before reaching Israeli air space. But our defensive system is not perfect.
One woman was killed on Saturday night in a missile attack in Tel Aviv. On Monday, a missile hit in Beit Shemesh. It damaged a number of buildings and hit directly on the roof of a public shelter. In all, nine people were killed and some 15 injured.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-888332
First Responders removing bodily remains from a missile strike in Beit Shemesh, Mar 1, 2026. Screengrab via X
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Iran’s behavior is frantic and injudicious, suggesting a state of panic. As they warned they would, they have launched missiles at Arab states that host American bases: Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Jordan, and Oman.
Additionally, two ballistic missiles were launched by Iran towards Cyprus but fell short, landing in the sea. This is the first attack on a member of the EU. Britain maintains two bases on Cyprus and assesses that they were the targets of the missile attack. Shortly after, one of these bases was hit by a drone that the British believe was launched by Iran – this was immediately after Prime Minister Keir Starmer had authorized the United States to conduct “defensive strikes” against Iranian missile sites from British bases on the island.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bk4nq00fkbg
Yesterday (Sunday) France, Germany and the UK all declared they were prepared to defend their interests and those of its allies in the Gulf if necessary by taking “defensive action” against Iran.
Whether this will materialize into anything beyond a declaration remains to be seen.
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In any event, this is not going to be short operation, and we here in Israel are prepared for the long haul. How long? It’s impossible to say.
Netanyahu – who has no illusions about successful negotiations with Iran – is clearly determined to see this through, hopefully to a successful conclusion. It is fervently hoped that the regime can be brought down and replaced by a moderate one. But in Israel there is clarity about the necessity of weakening Iran, even if it is not actually brought down.
An (unidentified) Israeli official cited by Israel Hayom said, “There was an operational necessity to take action now because of what they built over the past six months, driven by their irrational belief that Israel must be destroyed….Therefore, even if the regime does not fall – there is supreme justification for the operation.” (Emphasis added)
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/03/01/israel-confirms-lions-roar-goal-topple-iranian-regime/
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As to Trump, there remains an aura of doubt as to how long he will hold fast – especially as there are objections within the US regarding his conduct, advanced without Congressional approval. (In Israel the Security Cabinet gave its unanimous approval and even the opposition stands strongly with Netanyahu.)
Yesterday, the president said the conflict might continue for four to five weeks. I want to trust him, to believe that he will be good to his word and see through this conflict.
At the same time, there remains a sense of unease because at heart he is someone who favors deals. Not unsurprisingly, Iran is now declaring a readiness for negotiations. And quotes by Trump are emerging from various sources that suggest that he might consider reverting to negotiations once again:
“Much easier now than it was a day ago, obviously. Because they are getting beat up badly.”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-diplomatic-solution-in-iran-remains-possible-and-much-easier-now/
None of these quotes, which may have been taken out of context or promoted by elements against the war, actually indicate that he intends to call a halt to the fighting. And so I will give him the benefit of the doubt right now and will watch closely as matters unfold.
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Tonight we begin the celebration of Purim (with Shushan Purim a day later in Jerusalem). The parallel has hardly escaped our notice: what we celebrate is the victory of the Jews of Persia over the evil intentions of Haman, intent on destroying us. Modern day Iran is Persia.
As you celebrate, wherever you are, pray that Israel may achieve the same full victory that the Jews of Persia did.
The Almighty is not mentioned in the Megillah that tells this story – which we read evening and morning – but it is understood by the sages that while he is hidden, he is present in protecting us. So may it be today.
~~~~~~Arlene Kushner~~~~
©Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
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