Mar 2, 2026, 1:45 p.mMar 2, 2026, 1:45 p.m
Benjamin Netanyahu, son of a historian, likes to use historical and biblical images, figures and stories to convey political messages and reinforce his narrative.
He gave the new military operation against Iran the name “Lion’s Roar”. The name comes from this memorial statue:
The statue stands in Tel Chai and commemorates the deaths of eight Jews in the Battle of Tel Chai in 1920, including the Russian-Jewish folk hero Joseph Trumpeldor.
The life of Trumpeldor was marked by battles. Born in what was then the Russian Empire, Joseph Trumpeldor originally wanted to become a dentist, but decided to voluntarily join the army. In the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) he took part in the Siege of Port Arthur Part, lost his left arm and was captured. He later received several awards for his bravery.
As a veteran, he fought in the First World War in the so-called “Jewish Legion” on the side of the British. In 1920, together with Jewish settlers, he defended the small town of Tel Chai in the Galilee against attacks by Arab fighters. The Jewish settlement was founded after the Second World War during the British Mandate period. Trumpeldor fell in battle.
The Russian-Jewish Zionist Joseph Trumpeldor around 1904/1905. Image: public domain
The Battle of Tel Chai became a symbol of courage, self-defense and sacrifice in Zionist memory. The memorial with the lion statue was later built on the site. The nearby town of Kiryat Shemona (City of Eight) was named after the eight fallen.
According to the Jewish calendar, Joseph Trumpeldor is honored annually on the 11th of Adar – the day he died in 1920. This year, the 11th of Adar fell on the 106th anniversary of his death on March 1st – one day after the attack.
Netanyahu not only likes history, but also staging: During a telephone conversation with Donald Trump, he had his photo taken with the book “Allies at War: The Politics of Defeating Hitler” by historian Jonathan Dimbleby on his desk.
The work deals with the complicated alliance of Nazi Germany’s opponents in World War II, particularly the tensions between Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Josef Stalin. Although they fought together against Hitler, the allies had significant disagreements.