Pillar of Defense
Warfare on Shabbat: The Legacy of the MaccabeesFriday, December 14, 2012 by Moshe Sokolow | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
Ezra and Nehemiah were so successful in instilling Shabbat observance that Jews refused to take up arms on Shabbat to defend themselves—with disastrous results.
Editors' Picks
Reassessing Iron Dome Avi Kober, Begin-Sadat Center. Iron Dome has been praised for its role in protecting civilians during the recent war in Gaza, but it cannot shield those closest to the border—and it has proven ineffective as a deterrent.
All Quiet on the Gaza Front? Armin Rosen, Atlantic. Since Operation Pillar of Defense, Sderot has been free of rocket fire from Gaza for the first time since 2004. But it will take more than that for the town to return to normal.
The Story of Iron Dome Charles Levinson, Adam Entous, Wall Street Journal. It was opposed by the top brass and dismissed by American officials; but in seven years, Iron Dome went from a pipe dream to Israel's greatest defensive asset.
Why Was There War in Gaza? Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post. Israel has once again succeeded in defending itself. But with Hamas’s new rocketry and new Arab Spring allies, the next round will follow, as night follows day.
Operation Pillar of Defense: the Live Blog , Times of Israel. Israel scored an early victory, eliminating eliminated Ahmed Jabari and most of Hamas' medium-range rockets. But Hamas won't give up without a prize of its own.