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Lilian Handlin's avatar

no need to quote Thomas Friedman, in Hebrew he would belong to the category titled LeSheavarim - those whose selll by date passed long. not a moment too soon given his latest. what a cretin.

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Michael Segal's avatar

For those wondering about the name of Israel's operation it is from the bible, Numbers 23:24, translated to English as "a people that rises like a lioness". Google Translate botches the translation of the name of the operation, "מבצע עם כלביא", translating it as "Operation with a dog". Large Language Models are good, but don't expect great accuracy.

Also of note is that a few lines later in the next chapter are the words "Those who bless you shall be blessed, and those who curse you shall be cursed." This quote is the theological basis for Christian support for Israel, and the connection with not be lost on Ambassador Huckabee.

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Les Vitailles's avatar

I believe this is from Genesis 12.3

"And I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed"

https://biblehub.com/genesis/12-3.htm

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Michael Segal's avatar

It is in more than one place, but the Number 24:9 version is the continuation of the Balak account from which the name of the operation is taken, and is "Those who bless you shall be blessed, and those who curse you shall be cursed."

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Michael Segal's avatar

The theme of lions also figured in a previous article from The Editors: "Generation of Lions Will Usher in 50 Years of Prosperity, Former Israeli Premier Predicts" https://www.theeditors.com/p/generation-of-lions-will-usher-in-prosperity-israel-naftali-bennett-harvard-chabad-protest-business-school-prime-minister-israel-ukraine-russia

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Michael Segal's avatar

This is not over yet. Iran might load uranium into a ballistic missile to release radiation in populated areas of Israel. One wonders what Israel will do if such a dirty bomb explodes in Israel or is shot down over Jordan.

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Ira Stoll's avatar

Don't give the Iranians any ideas! Seriously though, the nightmare scenarios— "White House envoy Steve Witkoff privately warned top Senate Republicans last week that Iran could unleash a mass casualty response if Israel bombs their nuclear facilities...The U.S. is concerned Israel's air defenses would not be able to handle an Iranian response involving hundreds of missiles" per Barak Ravid/Axios—seem like the ones frequently used by advocates of inaction/status quo. That said, an earlier or better executed strategy of Iranian-people-led-regime change might have made the strikes against the nuclear program, and the attendant risks, unnecessary.

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Michael Segal's avatar

The dirty bomb scenario has long been discussed publicly: https://www.aei.org/op-eds/iran-could-build-a-dirty-bomb-today/

Since many of the drones and missiles would be shot down over Jordan, using that route brings major risks for Iran.

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Les Vitailles's avatar

I think the ayatollahs have enough problems as it is, without having to deal with an Israeli response to a weapon of mass destruction, as a dirty bomb surely is.

Best to think about Swiss bank accounts and second homes now that Israel has begun attacks on energy infrastructure

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ov4tuqnhr#autoplay

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Michael Segal's avatar

PM Netanyahu suggests that the leadership is packing its bags: https://x.com/IsraeliPM/status/1933915108134052305

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