Examining artifacts discovered in the Negev in the 1930s, Israeli archaeologists have identified in an ancient lamp a linen wick from around the 6th century CE. Amanda Borschel-Dan explains the find’s significance:

Microscopic analysis . . . showed that the wick was made of linen, a cloth derived from flax. Naama Sukenik of the Israel Antiquities Authority said that only two other examples of flax wicks have been discovered inside similar [lamps] in Israel, and that such wicks are very rare finds around the world.

Flax was cultivated in the Levant for thousands of years, and people in the region were very familiar with its uses, she said. The earliest examples of flax garments and thread [in Israel] date from some 10,000 years ago. . . .

In addition to being mentioned in the Bible, the cultivation of flax also appears in the famed Gezer inscription from ca. 100 BCE. Sukenik noted as well that flax’s use as a wick is attested in the second chapter of the talmudic tractate Shabbat, which is read as part of the Friday-night liturgy in [many Jewish communities]. This particular passage deals with what material is acceptable for lighting lamps on the Sabbath, and rules that combed flax (as opposed to uncombed flax) is acceptable.

Tamir Hayman analyzes the latest reports about an offer by Hamas to release three female soldiers in exchange for 150 captured terrorists, of whom 90 have received life sentences; then, if that exchange happens successfully, a second stage of the deal will begin.

If this does happen, Israel will release all the serious prisoners who had been sentenced to life and who are associated with Hamas, which will leave Israel without any bargaining chips for the second stage. In practice, Israel will release everyone who is important to Hamas without getting back all the hostages. In this situation, it’s evident that Israel will approach the second stage of the negotiations in the most unfavorable way possible. Hamas will achieve all its demands in the first stage, except for a commitment from Israel to end the war completely.

How does this relate to the fighting in Rafah? Hayman explains:

In the absence of an agreement or compromise by Hamas, it is detrimental for Israel to continue the static situation we were in. It is positive that new energy has entered the campaign. . . . The [capture of the] border of the Gaza Strip and the Rafah crossing are extremely important achievements, while the ongoing dismantling of the battalions is of secondary importance.

That being said, Hayman is critical of the approach to negotiations taken so far:

Gradual hostage trades don’t work. We must adopt a different concept of a single deal in which Israel offers a complete cessation of the war in exchange for all the hostages.