Israel’s Wars and Military Operations — Between the Torah and Political Consciousness

( AlAkhbar newspaper)

Written by : Dawla Haidar Ahmad

Wednesday, 3rd 2026

The article argues that Israeli military operations are not named randomly. Rather, the names often draw on Biblical, religious, historical, and symbolic references, creating a narrative that frames wars not merely as military actions but as part of a broader historical and ideological struggle.

Main Thesis

Since 1948, Israel has increasingly integrated Torah-based symbolism, Jewish holidays, and historical memory into military discourse. The naming of wars and operations serves psychological, political, and ideological purposes, helping to:

Mobilize Israeli society.

Legitimize military action.

Shape international perceptions.

Present conflicts as defensive or historically necessary.

Connect contemporary wars to ancient Jewish narratives.

Key Operations, Wars, and Their Symbols

Iron Swords : refers to the war launched after 7 October 2023. The name is framed as a symbol of overwhelming force, resolve, and a legitimized “decisive” confrontation, presenting the campaign as existential and unavoidable.

Rising Lion: describes an Israeli operation against Iran in 2025. It draws on Biblical imagery of the lion as a symbol of power and awakening strength, suggesting a divinely or historically sanctioned confrontation with enemies.

Roar of the Lion: extends the same symbolic framework into subsequent operations that reached Lebanon, reinforcing the idea of continuous strength projection through the recurring “lion” metaphor.

Days of Repentance: was the designation used for an Israeli strike against Iran in October 2024. The name references the sacred period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, embedding the military action within a religious calendar associated with judgment, repentance, and moral justification.

Arrows of the North: refers to operations targeting Lebanon. The name combines geographic orientation with offensive symbolism, implying precision strikes directed toward a defined northern front.

Eternal Darkness: is associated with heavy bombardment campaigns in Lebanon. Its symbolic value lies in projecting total destruction and psychological dominance rather than tactical description.

Guardian of the Walls : was used in the Gaza context. It frames the operation as defensive, portraying Israel as protecting its borders and population rather than conducting offensive warfare.

Protective Edge : also linked to Gaza, similarly emphasizes resilience and defense, constructing the operation as necessary protection against external threats.

Iron Wall / Iron Barrier : describes operations in the West Bank. The symbolism is one of permanent containment and rigid control, suggesting an impenetrable security architecture.

Breaking the Waves : is another West Bank-related operation name. It conveys the idea of pre-emptively stopping threats before they accumulate force, reflecting a preventive security doctrine.

Mowing the Grass : is not a single operation but a strategic doctrine. It reflects periodic military interventions designed to repeatedly weaken adversaries rather than eliminate them permanently.

Summer Camps : is a West Bank operation name that uses a deliberately neutral, almost bureaucratic term to mask the coercive military reality on the ground.

White City and Black Flag are associated with operations in Yemen. These names combine symbolic polarity—light versus darkness, purity versus threat—to construct moral and political framing of military action.

Opera / Tammuz : refers to the 1981 strike on Iraq’s nuclear reactor. This operation became a foundational reference point for Israel’s doctrine of preventive strikes, embedding the logic of pre-emption into its strategic identity.

Jewish Holidays Mentioned and Their Military Significance

1. Shavuot

Celebrates the giving of the Torah to Moses at Sinai.

Coincided with:

The 1981 Iraqi reactor strike (Operation Opera).

Military mobilization narratives within Israel.

Often linked to themes of covenant, destiny, and national mission.

2. Purim

Commemorates the story of Esther in ancient Persia.

Holds particular relevance in narratives concerning Iran because the Biblical story takes place in the Persian Empire.

Associated with defeating existential threats to Jews.

3. Hanukkah

Celebrates the Maccabean revolt against foreign rule.

Increasingly invoked in military contexts as a symbol of Jewish sovereignty and resistance.

4. Days of Repentance & Yom Kippur

Symbolize judgment, accountability, and redemption.

Used to frame military actions as morally justified responses to threats.

Historical and Biblical Symbols Frequently Used

The Lion

The most prominent symbol discussed in the article.

Represents:

Strength.

Divine favor.

Victory over enemies.

The Biblical image of Israel as a lion that rises to attack.

Examples:

Rising Lion.

Roar of the Lion.

Amalek

A Biblical enemy of ancient Israel.

In modern political discourse, some Israeli religious-nationalist circles invoke Amalek as a symbolic representation of contemporary enemies, making it one of the most controversial religious references in Israeli war rhetoric.

Judah and Samaria

The Biblical term used by many Israeli right-wing and religious groups instead of “West Bank.”

This article argues that this terminology serves a political function by connecting territorial claims to Biblical narratives.

Core Conclusion of the Article

The author argues that Israel’s military naming practices constitute a form of “warfare of language.” According to this view, names such as Iron Swords, Rising Lion, Guardian of the Walls, and Days of Repentance are not merely operational labels but strategic tools designed to:

Embed military action within Biblical and historical narratives.

Shape public consciousness.

Generate legitimacy for military campaigns.

Reinforce national identity.

Present contemporary conflicts as part of a longer historical struggle.

The article concludes that language itself has become a battlefield, where military operations are framed through symbols, religious memory, and historical mythology in order to influence both domestic and international audiences.