In an age where everyone is constantly connected to the Internet—to the extent that now some speak of “smartphone addiction”—Ephraim Mirvis, chief rabbi of the United Kingdom, argues that traditional Sabbath observance provides the perfect antidote. (Interview by John Bingham).

[W]e are finding that society is coming around to appreciate such a day at a time when everybody naturally wants to be connected. . . . [People today] don’t realize that sometimes the more connected one is [electronically], the more disconnected one is from everything that is important. . . .

We are finding that now in our Internet era there are particular advantages to the Sabbath; it is . . . our “digital detox day.” . . . On Shabbat you are dealing with real friends, real people, real challenges. . . .

I want to stress . . . that commercial activity is good; the Internet is good; social media are good; smartphones are good; they are a power for the advancement of mankind in a most spectacular fashion. But I think we need to have an element of self-discipline—and that’s certainly [part of] what Shabbat is about.

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.