Deciphering the labyrinth of Israel's security challenges
Amidst escalating tensions on Israel's northern border, Lt. Col. (Res.) Sarit Zehavi, founder and president of the Alma Research and Education Center, provides critical insights on Hezbollah threats and the daily realities of life under constant danger.
Nathan J. Minsberg
Israel Hayom
Sep 5, 2024
Lt. Col. (res.) Sarit Zehavi, founder and president of the Alma Research and Education Center.
As the conflict along Israel's northern border enters its twelfth month, the region faces escalating threats from the Iranian Islamic Regime and its proxies, including Hezbollah. Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Sarit Zehavi, founder and president of the Alma Research and Education Center, is at the forefront of efforts to educate and advise on these complex security challenges. With 15 years of experience in Israel's Military Intelligence and an M.A. in Middle East Studies, Zehavi offers invaluable insights into the ongoing crisis. Her role as a resident of the Western Galilee, near the Israeli-Lebanese border, further underscores her connection to the issues at hand.
Zehavi grapples with the challenges of raising a family in this environment, emphasizing how it affects daily life in ways that people outside of the North may not understand.
"I have an 11-year-old daughter, and I don't leave her home alone anymore," Zehavi admitted. "It affects our daily life in so many aspects that people outside of the North don't understand and don't know. We experience this fear every day – the fear of another massacre (like the one witnessed on Oct. 7 in Southern Israel). We fear that we have been forgotten".
Adapting to an evolving threat
In response to the escalating threats from Hezbollah and Iran, the Alma Center has ramped up its expert advice and detailed research. "We hired another researcher with the mission to follow the daily events that are happening here up north and create a platform of databases for statistics," Zehavi explained.
The Alma Center's adaptability and commitment to providing real-time data and analysis have been crucial in navigating the rapidly evolving security landscape. By integrating information from a wide range of sources from the Western and Arab world, the center has become a go-to resource for accurate and comprehensive information about the ongoing conflict.
Zehavi emphasized the importance of this work, stating, "It's not always easy to understand what's happening. There are false alerts, and with Hezbollah attacks, they don't always claim responsibility. Sometimes they lie. When you cross all the information, you get a very good picture of what's going on."
The Alma Center's database also tracks casualties on both sides, providing a clear understanding of the conflict's impact.
To further illustrate the severity of the situation, recent data from the Alma Center reveals the extent of the ongoing conflict. In August 2024 alone, a total of 281 attacks were recorded against Israel's northern communities. These included 176 high-trajectory fire attacks (rockets, mortars), 62 UAV and drone attacks, and 43 attacks involving undisclosed weapons. Additionally, there were 8 anti-tank guided missile attacks, 2 anti-aircraft missile attacks, and 1 sniping incident. On Sept. 2, Hezbollah carried out two attacks involving at least 30 Grad rockets targeting the communities of Ein Ya'akov, Ga'aton, and Yehiam.
Hezbollah's strategies and capabilities
Zehavi's assessment of Hezbollah's current strategies and capabilities offers a nuanced understanding of the challenges Israel faces. While the terrorist organization has suffered significant losses, including the deaths of over 45 senior commanders, it remains a powerful adversary with an arsenal of over 150,000 rockets and missiles.
Zehavi cautioned that Hezbollah likely seeks to recover from these setbacks before attempting to initiate a full-scale campaign against Israel, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and preparedness.
"I think the capabilities of Hezbollah were damaged during the current war," Zehavi noted. "But if you take into account everything that was happening over the past year – definitely the killing of senior commanders – it brings us to the conclusion that Hezbollah's capabilities were damaged but not eliminated."
The human cost of conflict
For Zehavi and the residents of Israel's northern communities, the impact of the ongoing war is felt every day, as over 80,000 Israelis from over 40 communities at a distance of 0 to 5 km from the border have been displaced. From the constant sound of rocket hits and interceptions to the fear of another massacre like the one executed by Hamas in Gaza, the psychological toll of living under the shadow of war is immeasurable.
Connecting the Northern and Southern fronts
The recent tragic killing of 12 Druze Israeli children in Majdal Shams by Hezbollah rockets and the murder of 6 Israeli hostages by Hamas underscore the interconnectedness of Israel's security challenges and the similar ideologies of these terror groups. These incidents highlight not only the physical threat posed by these groups but also their shared strategic goal of undermining Israel's security and sovereignty, demonstrating the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing threats on both fronts.
The Israeli Iron Dome defense system fires to intercept an attack from Lebanon over the Galilee region on Sunday, August 4, 2024
The sight of protesters waving Hezbollah, Hamas, and Houthi flags in Western cities serves as a stark reminder of the distorted narratives that often dominate the discourse surrounding Israel's conflicts. Zehavi emphasized the need for the international community to recognize the true nature of the terrorist organizations Israel faces and to direct pressure accordingly. The Alma Center is doing vital work in educating the world about Hezbollah's radical determination to eradicate Israel.
"The world needs to understand that groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis share the same radical ideology," Zehavi stressed. "Our work at the Alma Center is crucial in educating people about these threats and countering distorted narratives."
Global protests context
The global protests featuring Hezbollah, Hamas, and Houthi flags in Western cities reflect a concerning trend of misinformation and radicalization. These demonstrations not only provide moral support to terrorist organizations but also contribute to the normalization of anti-Israel sentiment in the international community. This phenomenon poses significant challenges to Israel's public diplomacy efforts and underscores the importance of organizations like the Alma Center in providing accurate, fact-based information to counter these narratives.
Evolving perspectives and the importance of education
Drawing on her extensive military intelligence background, Zehavi stressed the importance of understanding the enemy's capabilities and ideology to anticipate their actions. She highlighted the necessity for educating the public and decision-makers before emergencies occur. This proactive approach is crucial in countering the manipulation of truth by Iran's proxies, which often derails public opinion through various channels.
"Oct. 7 taught us that we cannot predict the intentions of our enemies because we cannot understand them. They think so differently than us. They have different values, different perceptions," Zehavi reflected. "My conclusion is that Israeli intelligence should look at the capabilities, should listen to the ideologies, and combine that with goals and capabilities. That way, we can understand where the enemy is heading. We should be prepared for the worst-case scenario. I think this is something we all forgot, and it's part of the IDF's basic principles."
In a world where misinformation and distorted narratives often obscure the truth, Sarit Zehavi's voice provides essential clarity on the complex realities facing Israel's northern communities. Her insights, born of a unique blend of military expertise, academic rigor, and personal experience, offer a path forward in the quest for understanding and security. As the nation grapples with the consequences of the ongoing conflict, Zehavi's work at the Alma Research and Education Center underscores the importance of educating the international community about the true nature of the threats Israel faces.
Sarit Zehavi's work, through the Alma Research and Education Center, plays a pivotal role in shaping public understanding and influencing policy decisions related to Israel's security challenges. By providing comprehensive, data-driven analysis and firsthand insights, Zehavi and her team contribute significantly to the global discourse on Middle Eastern geopolitics and Israel's strategic position.
"Finding resilience is truly a challenge," Zehavi admitted. "Part of it is the motivation to continue what I do, knowing that it's important and that we are kind of a single voice. Whenever I see how people volunteer for the state of Israel and for Israelis, it really gives me motivation to continue."
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