Surveying the work of Israeli archaeologists during 2020—conducted despite numerous pandemic-related obstacles—Lawrence Schiffman highlights some of the most important discoveries:

Five years ago, I walked . . . through the subterranean system of chambers beneath the lobby of the Western Wall tunnels, just north of [Wall itself]. Finally, this past May 22 on Yom Yerushalayim—the anniversary of the day that the city [of Jerusalem] was unified in 1967—archaeologists announced that explorations [of these chambers] were set to begin.

The ruins date to the early Roman period, just before the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. They contain a system of rooms—an open courtyard and two rooms on each of three levels, one above the other, connected by staircases carved into stone. Cooking pots, lamps, and other household effects have been found in the rooms. Some have suggested that the complex may have housed a very large mikveh [ritual bath], although it is impossible to say for certain.

The entire area was hidden by a building that was erected there some 1,400 years ago during the Byzantine period. . . . The upper structure had collapse in an earthquake in 1035 CE and was then rebuilt. In the early Middle Ages, there was a synagogue very close to this newly excavated complex. A letter from the Cairo Genizah tells us something about the rebuilding of this synagogue after the same disaster. So while we are not entirely sure what this complex of rooms was used for, it certainly shows us the continuity of Jewish life in Jerusalem in ancient and medieval times.

On Tuesday, a Hizballah drone attack injured three people in northern Israel. The next day, another attack, targeting an IDF base, injured eighteen people, six of them seriously, in Arab al-Amshe, also in the north. This second attack involved the simultaneous use of drones carrying explosives and guided antitank missiles. In both cases, the defensive systems that performed so successfully last weekend failed to stop the drones and missiles. Ron Ben-Yishai has a straightforward explanation as to why: the Lebanon-backed terrorist group is getting better at evading Israel defenses. He explains the three basis systems used to pilot these unmanned aircraft, and their practical effects:

These systems allow drones to act similarly to fighter jets, using “dead zones”—areas not visible to radar or other optical detection—to approach targets. They fly low initially, then ascend just before crashing and detonating on the target. The terrain of southern Lebanon is particularly conducive to such attacks.

But this requires skills that the terror group has honed over months of fighting against Israel. The latest attacks involved a large drone capable of carrying over 50 kg (110 lbs.) of explosives. The terrorists have likely analyzed Israel’s alert and interception systems, recognizing that shooting down their drones requires early detection to allow sufficient time for launching interceptors.

The IDF tries to detect any incoming drones on its radar, as it had done prior to the war. Despite Hizballah’s learning curve, the IDF’s technological edge offers an advantage. However, the military must recognize that any measure it takes is quickly observed and analyzed, and even the most effective defenses can be incomplete. The terrain near the Lebanon-Israel border continues to pose a challenge, necessitating technological solutions and significant financial investment.