The Destruction That Comes With War-time

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                                       

                                                                           

  Heavy destruction in Beirut's  Dahiyeh neighborhood following Israeli bombing, May 6, 2026

Trump was concerned by the fact that Israel had killed so many civilians in Lebanon, and objected to the Israelis knocking down buildings to take out a single Hezbollah commander.  Israel has conducted several targeted airstrikes that knocked down buildings to eliminate senior Hezbollah commanders in Lebanon, most notably targeting underground bunkers beneath civilian apartment blocks in the southern suburbs of Beirut (Dahiyeh). 

Before they do, they, as in the past,  would let the people in the building know that Israeli IDF were there and what they had to do.  They would tell the people to get out, where to go for safety, and give advice as to where they could settle.  To do that they would use every means possible from bull horns to email to dropping leaflets, telephone calls.  They were not there to take lives.  However, it would be impossible to tell Hezbollah terrorists and civilians apart.  

        Beirut, Lebanon from a drone

Traditional & Low-Rise Materials: In historic or semi-urban areas of countries like Israel and Palestine, three-to-five-story walk-up apartments are common. These are often built with standard concrete frames, but feature exteriors clad in local stone (such as Jerusalem stone). In highly historic or rural environments, materials can even include mud-brick or slate. 

Who can rebuild the buildings in Lebanon after war destroys them?

 United Nations Agencies: The UN Debris Taskforce (DTF)—comprising UN-Habitat, UNDP, and others—leads safe debris removal, environmental cleanup, and urban recovery planning.

Hezbollah: In areas where they hold political dominance, such as Beirut's southern suburbs and parts of South Lebanon, Hezbollah has historically created specialized engineering and reconstruction units to rebuild damaged or destroyed housing for residents.  They are the cause of the destruction and then they will profit somehow in the re-construction of the building from the many groups that will step in.

Private Contractors & Engineering Firms: Private Lebanese construction firms and architecture agencies are hired by the government, NGOs, or private homeowners to execute the physical reconstruction.

The Diaspora: The Lebanese expatriate community frequently provides financial backing, direct investments, and remittances to help individual families rebuild their homes and restart local businesses. 

I have my young Syrian engineer friend who had his own building business, but seemed to run into difficulties with the president,  Bashar al-Assad, who served from July 17, 2000, until his regime was overthrown and he fled the country on December 8, 2024l.  My friend has since left Syria, too, after being picked up and put in their prison and beaten;  a political reason.  These countries are different from the West.  I don't think Hezbollah was in Syria but Assad was bad enough.  

How many Lebanese have died during Israel's bombing?  It depends on who you ask. Lebanon's population is approximately 5.8 to 5.9 million people. This figure places Lebanon 116th in global population rankings.

The current population of Lebanon is 5,889,236 as of Wednesday, June 3, 2026, based on Worldometer's elaboration of the latest United Nations data1.

Lebanon 2026 population is estimated at 5,897,467 people at mid-year.

Lebanon population is equivalent to 0.071% of the total world population.

Lebanon ranks number 116 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population.

The population density in Lebanon is 576 per Km² (1,493 people per mi²).

The total land area is 10,230 Km² (3,950 sq. miles).

84.41% of the population is urban (4,978,043 people in 2026)

The median age in Lebanon is 29 years.

1. U.N. Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs - Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium-fertility.

Israel responded with an air campaign across Lebanon and a ground invasion in the south, which has been escalating in recent weeks. At least 3,468 people have been killed in Lebanon since the start of the war, according to the country's health ministry.

The Gaza war sparked a renewed Israel–Hezbollah conflict, beginning one day after the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel. The conflict initially consisted of tit-for-tat airstrikes and shelling. The conflict escalated in September 2024, beginning with the Israeli explosion of Lebanese pagers and walkie talkies. Israel then began an aerial bombing campaign throughout Lebanon, killing at least 569 people on 23 September; the largest conflict-related loss of life in a single day in Lebanon since the Civil War. 

 Hezbollah terrorists are in these buildings.  That's why Israel is bombing them, though today they usually can pinpoint a target, but these that they are after are in the bottom area of a building.  They most likely live in the upper chambers, so could be anyplace.  

Resource:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli%E2%80%93Lebanese_conflict

Beaufort Castle

 Nadene Goldfoot                                            

                         Beaufort Castle as it looked in 2022

Israel captured Beaufort Castle (known locally as Qalaat al-Shaqif or Shaqif Arnoun), a 900-year-old medieval hilltop fortress located in southern Lebanon. 

The seizure of the Crusader-era castle was a major strategic and symbolic move during Israel's expanded ground offensive. The hilltop fortress has a long, contested history: 

• Strategic Location: The castle sits just a few miles from the Israeli border and offers commanding views of southern Lebanon and northern Israel. 
  
  IDF soldiers operating in Lebanon's Beaufort Ridge, shared by the military on May 31, 2026.
  (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)
• Prior Occupation: Israeli forces previously captured the castle in 1982 and used it as a military base for nearly two decades before their withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000. 

• The castle's strategic location, which affords a view of much of southern Lebanon and northern Israel, has caused it to be a focus for recent conflicts. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) held the castle from 1976 onwards, during the Lebanese Civil War and consequentially it was attacked by Israeli forces dozens of times within a timespan of five years.

  On 6 June 1982, at the start of Operation Peace for Galilee (the 1982 Lebanon War), the PLO position on Beaufort Castle was heavily shelled by the Israelis before it was captured by the Israeli forces two days later in the Battle of the Beaufort. The fighting caused damage to the castle, and in the aftermath the Israeli army adapted the site for their own use by building a large forward operations base adjacent to the fort's western wall. As a result of the prior presence of the PLO and the fear of IEDs, Israeli soldiers manning the base were allowed to tour the upper floors of the fortress but prevented from accessing the lower parts. During the 18 years of occupation, the Beaufort castle, along with the Israeli forces, was heavily shelled by the PLO and Hezbollah. Numerous attempts were made to recapture it, primarily through the use of suicide bombings and mortars.

When Ethiopians Jews Were Brought to Live in Our town of Safed

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                                                                           

They were flown to Israel in Operation Moses.  Operation Moses (Hebrew: מִבְצָע מֹשֶׁה, Mivtza Moshe) was the covert evacuation of Ethiopian Jews (known as the "Beta Israel" community or the derogatory "Falashas") from Sudan during a civil war that caused a famine in 1984. Originally called Gur Aryeh Yehuda ("Cub of the Lion of Judah") by Israelis, the United Jewish Appeal changed the name to "Operation Moses."

Operation Moses was also a mission that had to be done in secret. The Sudanese government did not want their neighbors or allies to know that they were working with the Israeli government to assist in rescuing these Jews. 

The mission was one of joy, coming home as well as to a vibrant society, unlike the atmosphere of a long-lasting civil war. Though, on the way to Israel, it is estimated that as many as 4,000 Ethiopian Jews passed away.  On Friday, January 5, 1985, President Shimon Peres held a press conference where he confirmed that the State of Israel had been airlifting Ethiopian Jews from Sudan and bringing them home to the Land of Israel. Once the news had reached the Arab states, Sudan immediately canceled cooperation on the airlift. 

In 1991, the State of Israel attempted to bring in more Ethiopian Jews, . The Israeli government as well as the Israel Defense Forces, brought over 14,000 Ethiopian Jews in less than 36 hours. The mission was given the name “Operation Solomon.”

The operation, named after the biblical figure Moses, was a cooperative effort between the Israel Defense Forces, the Central Intelligence Agency, the United States embassy in Khartoum, mercenaries, and Sudanese state security forces. Years after the operation completed, it was revealed that Sudanese Muslims and the secret police of Sudan also played a role in facilitating the mass migration of Ethiopian Jews out of Sudan.Operation Moses was the brainchild of then Associate U.S. Coordinator for Refugee Affairs, Richard Krieger. After receiving accounts of the persecution of Ethiopian Jews in the refugee camps, Krieger came up with the idea of an airlift and met with Mossad and Sudanese representatives to facilitate the Operation.  

                              Safed, Israel, built on a mountain

I was living there in Safed, when they were brought to live in our town.  Ethiopian Jews (Beta Israel) were first moved to the city of Safed (Tzfat) in late 1984 and early 1985. During the covert military operation known as Operation Moses. The Ethiopian Jews who settled in Safed (Tzfat) were brought over to Israel during Operation Moses in 1984, that really impressed me.  I lived right across the street from their apartments that had been standing empty.   Hundreds of apartments in the southern part of the city—specifically in the Ganai Hadar and Tzahal neighborhoods—served as some of the first Ethiopian Absorption Centers in the country. The Israeli government set up some of the country’s first dedicated absorption centers there to welcome the new immigrants.

The community was integrated into the city via several key phases:

• Arrival: As I remember, many were taken to the hospital first to help them as some came in pretty bad  physical condition.  They needed medical assistance.  
• Education & Integration: The city set up Hebrew language and cultural classes (ulpanim) for adults and enrolled the children into the local Safed school system. 
• Community Aid: The rapid transition was heavily aided by non-profit groups and local citizens who rallied together to offer housing support and social integration assistance.  A room or rooms were set up in an apartment building holding used donated clothing.  Racks were set up to make it look like a store.  The people could pick out clothing, as they came as they were, without any.  Before you knew it, they were in the supermarkets, shopping just like the rest of the people. 
• Why had these Jews been objects of hatred?  Religious Persecution & The "Christ-Killer" Trope: Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity's foundational national epic, the Kebra Nagast, asserted that Ethiopia was the true Zion because the Jews were deemed "unworthy" and "enemies of God". This theological prejudice laid the groundwork for centuries of marginalization.   
• The "Buda" Myth: Christians historically viewed Jews as practitioners of buda, an occult, satanic power. Jews were frequently scapegoated for misfortunes, diseases, and crop failures. 
• Land Dispossession: In the 15th century, Emperor Yeshaq stripped the Beta Israel of their land rights, forcing them to convert or lose their property. Because they were barred from farming, they were forced into mobile and artisanal professions like blacksmithing and pottery, which were viewed with suspicion and superstition. 
These historic conditions led to systemic persecution, forcing the vast majority of the community to emigrate to Israel in late 20th-century airlifts like Operation Moses and Operation Solomon. You can explore more on the community's history and challenges through resources provided by organizations.



Operation Moses utilized a covert fleet of Boeing 707 aircraft operated by the Belgian charter carrier Trans European Airways (TEA).
These specific Boeing 707s were used to maintain strict secrecy during the 1984–1985 mission. Because TEA was widely contracted to fly Sudanese pilgrims to Mecca, the aircraft easily blended in at Khartoum Airport without arousing the suspicion of Sudanese authorities or other Arab nations. 
To see photos of the aircraft used during the operation, browse the historical aviation photographs available in the ⁠Alamy Operation Moses Collection or explore the historical records housed in the National Library of Israel.
(For context, when Ethiopian Jews were airlifted to Israel decades later in 1991 during Operation Solomon, the Israeli Air Force and airlines simply stripped the planes of seats to fit as many passengers as possible on the floor, but cooking fires were not the primary concern on those flights which happened with airlift of (Yemenite Jews in 1949-1950 In Operation Magic Carpet.)


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How Iran is Calling The Shots With Trump

 Nadene Goldfoot                                          

A person riding a scooter carries a flag with an image depicting Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, as displaced people make their way to return to their homes after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, at the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon. (photo credit: MOHAMED AZAKIR/REUTERS)  June Truce: On June 1, Lebanon announced a new partial ceasefire arrangement to halt strikes on Beirut in exchange for an end to Hezbollah's rocket fire, though fighting and localized incursion operations persisted.(Reuters)

Israel is fighting Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon.  This is causing Trump a great problem in his planning. Whenever Iran feels the pinch, they use their "get out of jail card", Lebanon-Israel, and Trump caves in.    

 Needless to say, Israel is tired of fighting Hezbollah terrorists wherever they are !!!  Since its joint attack with the U.S. on Saturday, Israel has come under fire from Iran and its proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah. It has rattled a country still reeling from the Oct. 7.  PBS explained:  Israelis take shelter as Iran and Hezbollah launch attacks.  Here, the wars don't end.

The major conflict phase between Israel and Hezbollah in 2026 lasted exactly three months, from March 2 to June 2. The fighting formally ceased following a U.S.-brokered partial truce intended to halt hostilities in Beirut and limit engagements in southern Lebanon. 

However, because the conflict involved multiple rolling ceasefires, the length of previous lulls in 2026 varied:

• April Truce: A cessation of hostilities began on April 16.
• May Extension: That April truce was officially extended by 45 days in mid-May to allow for continued diplomatic negotiations in Washington, D.C.. 

"President Trump lashed out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel's escalation in Lebanon in an expletive-laden call on Monday, two U.S. officials and a third source briefed on the call told Axios.   Earlier on Monday, Iran threatened to abandon the negotiations with the U.S. over Israel's actions in Lebanon. On the call, Trump called Netanyahu "crazy" and accused him of ingratitude, according to two of the sources. He also put the brakes on Israel's plan to strike Beirut.  

   June 2, 2026, Southern Beirut, Lebanon on one building

Summarizing Trump's remarks to Netanyahu, the U.S. official said: "You're fucking crazy. You'd be in prison if it weren't for me. I'm saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this."

• A second source briefed on the call said Trump was "pissed" and at one point yelled at Netanyahu: "What the fuck are you doing?"  The U.S. official said Trump knew Hezbollah had been shooting at Israel and that Israel needed to defend itself, but felt in recent days that Netanyahu was escalating in a disproportionate way.Another U.S. official said Trump was concerned by the fact that Israel had killed so many civilians in Lebanon, and objected to the Israelis knocking down buildings to take out a single Hezbollah commander.
  
• New York Times reported:  On May 7, 2026, the Israeli military struck a building in the southern suburbs of Beirut, killing a commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan force, probably Ahmed Ali Balout.   Israel has conducted several targeted airstrikes that knocked down buildings to eliminate senior Hezbollah commanders in Lebanon, most notably targeting underground bunkers beneath civilian apartment blocks in the southern suburbs of Beirut (Dahiyeh). from wikipedia:  May 7, 2026 — For the Israeli army, he was involved in the preparation and direction of dozens of attacks against Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon.  
• In addition to the threats on Beirut, Israel has been expanding its ground operation in southern Lebanon.  Israel no longer plans to strike Hezbollah targets in Beirut, an Israeli official told Axios.
• Trump's anger appeared to be driven by the fact that Netanyahu's decision to escalate in Lebanon was threatening to implode his negotiations with Iran.   Trump and Netanyahu have had several tense calls in the past but have still coordinated closely on Iran and other issues. One official said this was one of Trump's worst calls with Netanyahu since he returned to office.
• After the call, Trump posted on Truth Social that the Iran talks were "continuing, at a rapid pace."

The other side: Netanyahu released a statement after the call saying he'd told Trump that Israel would attack targets in Beirut if Hezbollah did not stop attacking Israel, and that in the meantime Israel would continue its operations in southern Lebanon.  

However, Netanyahu has frequently pushed back against the perception that the U.S. dictates Israeli security policy. This tension became particularly visible during a public address in October 2025 where he asserted, "We are not a protectorate of the United States. Israel is the one that will decide on its security". Furthermore, after receiving pressure from U.S. leadership regarding military actions in the Middle East, he and his coalition have firmly reiterated that Israel is an independent state and "not a banana republic". Good for him.  He's not about to become one of these chopped liver states.  

Resource:

https://jewishbubba.blogspot.com/2026/05/why-israel-and-lebanon-have-been-at-war.html

https://en.lasicilia.it/news/italy-world/3038350/who-was-ahmed-ali-balout-the-commander-of-the-radwan-force-killed-by-israel.html