Despite the efforts of U.S. President Bush to allay Israel's fears concerning Iran's nuclear thrust, there is still a sense in the Jewish state that the megalomaniac dictator in Teheran poses a serious problem for the country he has publicly declared should be removed from the map of the world.

Long-range weaponry is nothing new as we can see from the Torah portion that will be read this Shabbat:

"And I will send the tzirah before you and it will drive out... from before you." (Shmot 23:28)

The tzirah which will drive out so many of Israel's enemies from Eretz Yisrael, explains Rashi, was an unusual insect which shot its poison across the Jordan River at Israel's enemies and killed them, making it easier for the army led by Yehoshua to complete the conquest of the Land.

This was the promise given to our ancestors if they were faithful to the Creator Who promised them their Land. Perhaps the lesson to learn from this is that long-range weapons can be supplied to us by Heaven like in days of old so that we have no fear of hostile long-range weapons threatening the security of Israel forever.

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