The latest news on Israel and Iran. Israel's latest offensive against Iran has been officially named "Operation Rising Lion," and we now know this is a title drawn from a passage in the Hebrew Bible that evokes national strength and victory.
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The expression comes from verse 23:24 of the Book of Numbers in the Bible: "Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain."
The government released an image of a note placed by the PM at the Western Wall, quoting a verse likening the people to a lion rising for battle. The symbolism appears to align with the country's strategic messaging during a period of heightened regional tension.