The Physics of the Last Kilometer

 Explanation and Context: 

“The Last Kilometer Syndrome” is a concept that originates in the worlds of logistics and communications – the final, short, and most expensive segment in which a resource, service, or asset must travel from an intermediate destination to the end recipient. However, in the worlds of management, strategy, history, and art, the “last kilometer” is not a geographic or technical obstacle, but a psychological, cognitive, and systemic one.

This is the stage at which the classical resources (planning, resources, raw materials, script, intelligence) have already been completed to 90%, yet the system encounters a paradox: the closer one gets to the finish line, the higher the cost of decision, the greater the attrition, and the ability to execute the final leap beyond the line becomes more difficult to realize.

Below is an analysis of the four main dimensions of the syndrome, leading to the formulation of the complete article:

The policy and geopolitical arena (the United States and Iran): The planning of advanced military moves or sanctions gets stuck in the complex transition from the application of military/political force to a “war-ending” doctrine (Exit Strategy). The gap between tactical victory and shaping the reality of the day after is precisely the last kilometer in which great powers fear taking the decisive risk.

The national decision-making failure (the events of October 7): On the intelligence and systemic plane, the information and warnings (“the indicative signs”) largely existed within the system. The failure was not in obtaining the information (the first kilometers), but in refining it into a resolute and practical operational decision (the last kilometer) – the place where the clustering of conceptions, excessive caution, and unwillingness to shake the system prevented crossing the finish line.

The temporal-cultural plane (late August and the threshold of a new year): The month of August represents the point of emotional and organizational wear – heat, fatigue, a sense of “end of season,” and anticipation of the new beginning of Elul, September, and the holidays. This is the interval in which systems and individuals tend to postpone difficult decisions until “after the holidays,” and thereby become trapped in a delaying stay in the last kilometer of the outgoing year.

The world of independent creation and cinema (marketing, distribution, and screening): After investing one hundred percent of the energy in creating the film (editing, soundtrack, narrative), the mind experiences emotional depletion and a dissonant transition from a creative phase to a marketing/sales phase. The feeling of “I don’t have the energy” and the fear of exposure create a barrier that nullifies or delays the fruit of the labor at the finish line.

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The Last Kilometer Syndrome: From Geopolitics, Through the Failure of Decision, to the Creator’s Exhaustion at the Finish Line

Introduction: The Paradox of the Finish Line

In every complex system – whether it is a great power managing a strategic confrontation, a general staff processing golden intelligence, or a film director sitting in front of an edited and completed project – the most complex, dangerous, and exhausting stage is neither the beginning nor the middle of the road. The hardest stage of all is the last kilometer.

“The Last Kilometer Syndrome” is the failure point at which knowledge, planning, resources, and creation already exist, yet the transition from a ready asset to a realized action gets stuck. This is the narrow and frustrating distance between the finished draft and the premiere screening, between the intelligence datum and the operational order, and between the application of military pressure and a comprehensive political settlement. At this stage, accumulated fatigue, fear of friction with reality, and the difficulty of changing cognitive phase produce paralysis.

A. The Strategic Plane: The United States, Iran, and the Paradox of Exiting a War

In the worlds of geopolitics, the last kilometer is expressed in the inherent difficulty of great powers to translate tactical and operational achievements into a final strategic decision.

In Washington, the discussion surrounding the Iran issue does not stop at calculating military capability or striking infrastructure; the real challenge lies in the day after. The system knows how to move aircraft, impose sanctions, and generate initial deterrence – yet it recoils from crossing the last kilometer: formulating the terms of termination, extracting the required price, and presenting a stable alternative to the regime.

The fear of unintended consequences, the anxiety of prolonged entanglement, and the lack of willingness to pay the political price required at the finish line turn the final step into something far more complex than the management of the campaign itself. The United States, like many powers throughout history, finds itself time and again arriving at the threshold of decision, yet retreating from crossing the strategic finish line.

B. The Systemic-Intelligence Plane: The Decision Failure of October 7

If in the international arena the last kilometer is the difficulty of formulating an exit strategy, then in Israel’s national-security arena on the eve of October 7, the last kilometer was the failure of translation from information into action.

In retrospect it became clear that the intelligence raw materials, observations, documents, and warnings were lying on the table. The system did not suffer from total blindness; it suffered from paralysis in the last kilometer. The transition from accumulating abundant and high-quality information into a dramatic decision – changing the defense conception, mobilizing reserves, or a preemptive strike – required a cognitive paradigm shift.

Decision-makers and senior command were trapped in a conception that prevented them from taking the decisive step. The cost of the warning (false alarm, economic costs, disruption of routine) was perceived as too high relative to the possibility that the signs would dissipate on their own. The system got stuck one step away from understanding the complete picture, because the last kilometer of decision-making requires public and leadership courage, not merely data collection.

C. The Temporal and Psychological Plane: The August Staff and the Threshold of the New Year

The Last Kilometer Syndrome is not reserved only for wars and failures; it is present in the natural cyclicality of the year.

The month of August is the last kilometer of the civil and educational year, and according to the Hebrew calendar – the margins of the outgoing year toward the month of Elul and the new year. This is a time of dense heat, accumulated fatigue, and depleted mental resources.

In this period, relationships, organizational projects, and personal processes reach saturation. The natural tendency of the individual and the system in late August is to declare a “decision recess” and shift the weight to “after the holidays” or “the beginning of the school year in September.” Yet this lingering in the twilight zone of the end of the year can produce unnecessary attrition: instead of finishing and closing loose ends from a position of strength, the system is dragged to the finish line already exhausted.

D. The Artistic Plane: The Creator’s Drama and the Distribution Barrier (“I Don’t Have the Energy”)

Within this fabric of decision-making and systemic fatigue stands the intimate drama of the independent creator, director, and writer.

After months or years of Sisyphean work – writing a script, filming, composing, complex editing of maps, sounds, and plots – the moment arrives when the film is ready. The finished file sits on the computer. This is the last kilometer: marketing, distribution, the encounter with the audience, and exposure to the world.

Here precisely the physics of the creator’s fatigue is revealed:

• The switching of cylinders in the brain: the sharp transition from a creative, philosophical, and emotional mode to an administrative, aggressive, flat, and technical marketing mode.
• Emotional Burnout: the feeling that all the energy has already been invested inside the creation itself, and nothing remains for the “wrapper.”
• The unconscious defense mechanism: the statement “I don’t have the energy to market” sometimes serves as a protective wall against the deep fear of criticism and rejection at the moment the creation leaves the protected private domain and enters the public domain.

Practical Bypass Mechanisms to Circumvent the Barrier

In order not to allow the enormous work to go to waste at the finish line, an orderly and structured strategy (Workflow) is required:

• Cooling-off Period: Do not market on the day editing is completed. Set the project aside for a week or two, allow the physiological and emotional reservoirs to refill, and return to it with the fresh eyes of a producer.
• Baby Steps: Break the threatening marketing task into tiny steps. One day writing a one-line synopsis; the next day choosing a single frame as a poster; the day after uploading in private mode.
• Built-in Marketing: Use existing raw materials (music segments, maps, splits) as ready-made promos, without the need to create marketing content from scratch.
• Passing the Baton and Outsourcing: Delegating technical authorities, using automatic scheduling tools, or seeking external assistance in order to leave the creator in the role of director and not in the role of technical distributor.

Summary: Crossing the Finish Line

The Last Kilometer Syndrome is a universal human, strategic, and creative challenge. Whether it concerns a difficult political decision, a fateful intelligence assessment, the threshold of a new year, or the distribution of a personal work of art – the finish line demands an entirely different quality of energy: no longer planning, production, or collection, but courage, willingness to shed residue, and determination to bring the process to full realization.

When one understands that the fatigue and resistance at the finish line are not a personal or operational failure, but a natural physiological and systemic phenomenon, it becomes possible to replace paralysis with intelligent work tactics – and to cross the last kilometer safely.

The Last Kilometer Syndrome: When the Finish Line Becomes the Greatest Obstacle

We are in the middle of August 2026. Summer is drawing to a close, the new school year is about to begin, and the Hebrew calendar is approaching Rosh Hashanah – a natural transition point between the end of one cycle and the beginning of a new one. This is a time when many feel the accumulated fatigue of the past year, and at the same time the urgency to “finish” things before the page turns. Precisely at such moments, the Last Kilometer Syndrome is revealed in all its intensity – that familiar phenomenon in which the hardest part of the journey is not the beginning or the middle, but the final meters before the finish line.

The syndrome is known from logistics (the “last mile” problem in distribution), from sports (the last kilometer of a marathon when the body is already depleted), and from personal and professional projects. It is not merely physical fatigue. It is a combination of a mental role shift, emotional depletion, fear of exposure, and difficulty in making a decisive decision at the moment of truth. And it appears at every scale – from personal creation to national geopolitical decisions.

In the World of Creation: When the Film Is Ready but “I Don’t Have the Energy” to Market It

There is a well-known saying in the world of creators: “Making the film is one art, but marketing it is an entirely different art – and far more exhausting.”

What happens at the end of creating a film or video is a completely natural psychological and physiological process. During the writing, filming, and editing, the brain operates in a creative, artistic, and philosophical mode. The moment the film is finished, a sharp shift is required into an administrative, technical, marketing, and aggressive mode. This abrupt transition creates enormous internal resistance.

At the same time, emotional reservoir depletion occurs: when a creation is completed – especially a deep 90-minute film with maps, music, and a complex plot – 100% of the energy and passion have already been invested in the finished file. The next stage of distribution, uploading, posts, and promotion is perceived as an exhausting wrapper. “Just let me rest, I don’t have the energy.” In addition, as long as the film is in the editing room it is “protected.” Marketing is the moment it goes out into the world and is exposed to criticism. The feeling of “I don’t have the energy” sometimes becomes an unconscious defense mechanism that postpones that exposure.

How do we bypass the barrier? First – separate the times. Do not try to market on the day you finished editing. Close the project, take a week or two of complete cooling-off, and allow your creative energy reservoir to refill. Second – break the marketing down into tiny steps: one day just write a short descriptive sentence, the next day choose one nice frame for the poster, the third day upload the file privately, and only then publish. Third – use materials that were already created in the process (promo clips, stickers, behind-the-scenes shots) instead of inventing everything from scratch. And fourth – hand over the technical part to others or to automation. The creator does not also have to be the salesperson for every single detail.

The feeling of “I don’t have the energy” is not a personal shortcoming. It is a sign that you gave everything to the creation. With breathing space and small steps, it is possible to cross the last kilometer and bring the creation into the light.

In the Geopolitical Arena: The American Deliberation on How to End the War in Iran

The same dynamic appears at the national and international level as well. Today, in August 2026, the United States is grappling with the question of how to end the war with Iran. The combined operation (known among other names as “Roar of the Lion”) began in February, reached peaks of strikes, and then passed through a memorandum of understanding in June that was intended to open a 60-day diplomatic track. Since then there have been pauses, renewed strikes, indirect negotiations, and repeated threats.

The American public, according to polls, largely believes the war was not worth the cost. President Trump has declared that the war “can’t go on much longer” and that it is nearing its end, yet in practice the deliberations continue: whether to return to full-scale strikes in order to “finish the job,” whether to compromise on critical clauses, whether to extend the negotiation window. There is fear of escalation that would harm the chances of a diplomatic settlement, concern over ammunition stockpiles, and political anxiety ahead of elections. The result is a kind of “systemic fatigue” – everyone knows it needs to end, but the transition from fighting to a final settlement requires a sharp mental role shift, painful decisions, and exposure to criticism. This is precisely the last kilometer: not a lack of military capability, but the difficulty of forming a decisive decision and closing the circle.

In Decision-Making Leading Up to October 7: When the Information Was There but the Decision Was Not Formed

The Israeli context is even closer. In the lead-up to October 7, 2023, information accumulated – detailed attack plans (“Jericho Wall”), operational signs, tactical warnings – yet the system failed to form an agreement or a decisive decision on how to deal with it. Preconceived assumptions (that Hamas was deterred, that it was incapable of such an operation, that the main threat was elsewhere) created conceptual rigidity. Warnings from junior analysts were dismissed. In emergency meetings on the night before the attack, unusual signs were discussed, but it was decided to “check in the morning.” No decisive warning was issued, forces were not raised, readiness was not changed.

This is the Last Kilometer Syndrome in decision-making: the information was already there; the critical stage was translating the information into action. Systemic fatigue, fear of error, and the sharp transition from “collection and assessment” to “decision and activation” created paralysis. The result is known and painful. The lesson is clear: even when the information is ready, without a mechanism that forces a decisive decision in time – the last kilometer remains blocked.

August as a Transition Point: End of a Period and Beginning of a New Cycle

And here we are again in August. End of summer, eve of a new school year, eve of the Hebrew New Year. This is a time when people, organizations, and nations feel the fatigue of what has already been done, and at the same time the need to “finish” before the page turns. Whether it is a creative project, a diplomatic negotiation, or a personal learning process – the last kilometer requires us to acknowledge the fatigue, not to fight it, and to give it space. Cooling-off, breaking tasks into small steps, partially transferring responsibility to others, and recognizing that the transition from “creation/fighting/collection” to “distribution/completion/decision” is a separate stage that requires different energy.

The Last Kilometer Syndrome is not an inevitable fate. It is a recurring human phenomenon. Anyone who identifies it in time – in creation, in policy, or in personal life – can bypass it. Not by additional forceful pushing, but by breathing room, small steps, and a conscious decision to cross the line. Because in the end, the creation, the settlement, or the new year deserve to be brought all the way to the finish – exactly as they deserve.

The Human Figure of the Holy Land and the Mona Lisa

 

A creative artistic fusion in which the iconic figure of the Mona Lisa is superimposed onto a map of the Middle East. The outlines of her silhouette define the borders of the Holy Land, as an anatomical diagram of the human body is revealed at the center of her form. The work integrates Renaissance art with cartography. The map features geographical landmarks such as the Mediterranean Sea, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon, establishing a symbolic connection between the human body and the sacred landscape.

Human Figure of the Holy Land and the Mona Lisa

 

Asia, the Giant Elephant

 

Beautiful girls in a swimsuit with the inscription Sharm el-Sheikh

The Mirage - an Airplane That Had a State

The Development of Fighter Aircraft in the Context of Long-Term Historical Processes:

Fighter Aircraft - A Mirror of Geopolitical Change

The development of fighter aircraft typically occurs within the framework of an international arms race. This race is influenced by numerous political, economic, and technological factors, and it evolves over time. Military requirements change over time, in accordance with shifts in security perceptions and geopolitical threats. The development of fighter aircraft must adapt to these requirements and is therefore influenced by broader social and political factors.

The High Cost and Long-Term Impact of Fighter Aircraft Development

The development of fighter aircraft is a very expensive project, requiring significant government and industrial investments. The process takes a long time and requires continuous support over many years. It has a significant impact on society and the economy. It leads to the creation of new jobs, drives research and development in other fields, and contributes to overall technological progress. These effects occur over time and are not immediate.

The Multidisciplinary Nature of Fighter Aircraft Development

The design, production, deployment, and upgrading of fighter aircraft are processes based on many fields of knowledge, such as aerodynamics, metallurgy, engines, and electronics. Progress in these fields over time is essential. When an aircraft is successful, its lifespan can span several generations, up to 100 years.

The Long View of History - Understanding Change Over Time

This argument aligns with a theory in historical research that emphasizes the importance of long-term processes and gradual changes in understanding the past. Scholars specializing in this theory use diverse sources, including archival documents alongside statistical data, and they focus on broad structures over time, such as social, economic, and cultural changes. Understanding these processes is crucial for a deeper comprehension of the past and its effects on the present. This theory contrasts with other historical perspectives that focus on specific events and central figures as decisive factors in shaping history.

Mirage 3 - The Key to Air Superiority:

Israel's Guardian Angel

The Mirage 3 reigned supreme in the skies during the 1960s, and Israel acquired a substantial number of them early in that decade. 

This aircraft instilled a sense of security in an entire generation of young Israelis who felt that their existence and future were guaranteed because of it. 

A popular children's film with a romantic touch, "Shmone Ba'Ikvot Echad" ("Eight in Pursuit of One") [1964], was even made about a spy searching for the aircraft's secrets at a military base, and the children of the nearby kibbutz capturing him.

National Miracle

The delta-winged aircraft was the best interceptor of its time in the Middle Eastern skies and gave Israel air superiority. These planes were the spearhead of the Israeli Air Force in the Six-Day War of 1967 and contributed significantly to the resounding victory in that war. The word "Mirage," meaning "desert illusion", became almost synonymous with the victory.

Israel's Aerospace Ambitions - Taking Flight from the Start:

From its earliest days, Israel invested in the indigenous development of aircraft, despite the endeavor being considered a highly expensive and volatile startup. Ben Gurion Airport in Lod became the central hub for the Israeli aerospace industry, which today stands as one of the most advanced in the world.

Mirage 5 Evolution - From Interceptor to Attacker

The Mirage 5 aircraft was designed by the Israeli aerospace industry before the Six-Day War. Israel developed it in collaboration with France, as early as 1966, as an improved version of the Mirage 3, intended for air-to-ground attacks. The Mirage 5s were revolutionary compared to the Mirage 3s, which were primarily designed for interception. The Mirage 5 could carry 4 tons of bombs compared to only one ton carried by the Mirage 3, and it was much cheaper and simpler.

From Embargo to the Birth of the Nesher

On the eve of the Six-Day War, France, which was Israel's sole supplier of aircraft at the time, imposed an embargo on arms shipments to the Middle East, preventing the delivery of the 50 Mirage 5s that Israel had ordered. After the war, Israel managed to obtain, through indirect means, all the aircraft's blueprints and produced it in the early 1970s under the name "Nesher." This was despite the complex moral dilemma involved in manufacturing without obtaining the patents and production rights. 

"Israel is an Airplane" - The Kfir's Legacy

In the second phase, Israel developed a semi-original version of the aircraft, with an American engine, under the name "Kfir." It produced a considerable number of them, based on its security needs, and even exported them to several countries, where some of them are still in service today. The investment in the "Kfir" was enormous and required a reorganization of the aerospace industry. It gave rise to the expression that "Israel is an airplane that has a country."

Mirage of Security:

The Sinai Dream

The phrase "a plane that has a country" held a deeper meaning for Israel. The aspiration to produce a large and powerful fleet of "Nesher" and "Kfir" aircraft, providing the nation with long-term security, merged with a broader political outlook that rejected confronting the complex reality in the territories captured during the Six-Day War. The triangular shape of the Sinai Peninsula seemed to mirror the wings of the Mirage, becoming a sort of "desert mirage."

Military Over Diplomacy

This imagery served as the foundation for official policy, disregarding peace proposals offered by Egypt and the U.S. Without a concrete plan for the future of the territories, Israel relied on its military might, particularly its domestically produced Mirage 5 aircraft with their long-range strike capabilities, as a deterrent against any potential attack.

Flawed Intelligence

A small group of senior intelligence officers formulated a "conception" supporting this approach. They argued that as long as Egypt also lacked long-range strike aircraft, it wouldn't dare attack Israel. This notion, based on an illusion of military and territorial superiority, was endorsed by the political leadership and led to a situation where, on the eve of the Yom Kippur War, abstract concepts overshadowed practical considerations in national security perception. The eve of the war, which broke out on October 6, 1973, found Israel in a state of surprising unpreparedness. 

 

The Mirage 5's Legacy:

French Betrayal - Egypt's Armament  with Mirage 5

As early as 1970, a deal was struck between France and Libya, an enemy of Israel and an ally of Egypt, for the supply of 110 Mirage 5 aircraft, an improved copy of the planes Israel itself had designed. Given the precedent of Israel stealing the aircraft's plans, the French likely did this without any qualms. This was despite the fact that these planes were originally intended for Egypt, Israel's arch-enemy. The French embargo on the eve of the Six-Day War also included Egypt. Nevertheless, the planes were gifted to Egypt by Libya, starting in 1972.

Egypt's Military Shift From Soviet to French

Up until then, the Egyptians had relied on Soviet aircraft. They wanted to launch a war against Israel, but the USSR delayed the delivery of modern long-range strike aircraft, such as the MiG and Sukhoi, as it wanted to ensure Egypt's long-term dependence on it. The Egyptians were reluctant to start a war until they had such aircraft, and the Mirage 5s received from Libya became a suitable substitute. The Israeli government and the officers who formulated the "conception" ignored the fact that Egypt was receiving superior strike aircraft from France, in greater quantity and quality than the Soviets had planned to provide.

A Wide Door for Egypt to the West

It's interesting to ponder whether the government and military leaders' disregard for the implications of the deal was intentional. Undoubtedly, it opened a wide door for Egypt to the West, something Israel also desired. 

Hostility had prevailed between Egypt and the Western powers since Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal in 1956. 

Consequently, a complacent "wait and see" attitude developed among decision-makers. This attitude was incompatible with the vigilance expected of military personnel towards an enemy.

The Yom Kippur War - Yellow Triangles on Israeli Mirages

Just as the Mirage 3s prompted Israel to launch a surprise attack in the Six-Day War, the Mirage 5s motivated the Egyptians to launch a surprise attack on October 6, 1973. They became a central weapon in their arsenal, and during the war, they used them to strike deep into the Sinai Peninsula. To avoid misidentifying the Egyptian Mirages in the air, the Israeli Air Force had to paint the wings of its own Mirages with yellow triangles, reminiscent of the Star of David patches the Nazis forced Jews to sew onto their clothing.

The Mirage's Lingering and painful Impact

In this war, Israel found itself, to its surprise, in a situation where a sophisticated and powerful aircraft it had developed itself, and which was critical to its security, was gifted, in practically unlimited quantities, to the very enemy for which the plane was developed. Moreover, the businessman behind this roundabout deal, who also planned a similar deal with Saudi Arabia, was an Egyptian who was also Israel's top spy. He was close to Egyptian President Sadat and provided Israel with a hasty, last-minute warning about Egypt's intention to go to war. Nevertheless, Israel was surprised and unprepared for the Egyptian surprise attack. 

The entire affair, in the spirit of the name "Mirage," became a bitter mirage for the Israeli leadership and significantly impacted its intelligence, military, and political actions to this day.

The Shift in Israel's Military Supply to American Reliance:

Nixon's Ultimatum

At the very start of the French embargo, Prime Minister Golda Meir traveled from Jerusalem to Washington to request an immediate replacement for the Mirage 5. The primary source for Israel's fighter jets became the United States, which supplied it with "Phantom" and "Skyhawk" aircraft, which were also of higher quality. Nixon conditioned the supply on the revocation, under the Law of Return, of the Israeli citizenship of Meyer Lansky, the American-Jewish casino magnate who had aided Israel, through Golda, during its difficult times in the War of Independence.

The Lavi's Legacy - A Dream Fade Out

The phrase "a plane that has a country" is even more fitting for the Israeli aircraft designed in the 1980s to replace the "Kfir" - the "Lavi," which was an original Israeli design from start to finish. The United States partnered in its development and funding. At an advanced stage of development, after the prototype had conducted its maiden flights, the Americans decided to halt funding for the project. 

The cancellation of the project diverted thousands of engineers to the high-tech industry, creating the foundation for the Israeli "Startup Nation." Today, no fighter jets are developed or manufactured in the Israeli aerospace industry. 

The Lavi and the Mirage 5 are remembered more as mirages. The peace agreement with Egypt, under which Israel returned the entire Sinai Peninsula captured in the Six-Day War, largely contributed to pushing the issue out of historical memory.

Dependence on U.S. Aid

Today, the State of Israel relies on the United States and is entirely dependent on it for the supply of fighter jets. The United States provides it with advanced fighter jets that cost a fortune, and their cost constitutes the majority of the fixed annual military grant to Israel, which amounts to over three billion dollars. The accumulated sum since the grant began, about fifty years ago, reaches hundreds of billions of dollars. It's unknown if and when the tables will turn, and the U.S. administration will decide to reduce or completely eliminate it. The Israeli government and its citizens have become accustomed to taking this grant for granted. If it were to be canceled, the end of the state, as it currently exists, would be swift.

Swift Victories with Lasting Impact

The aerial arms race is expensive and prolonged, but its outcome is often determined within a few hours. The decision is reached based on a slight advantage. In aerial warfare, a slight technological edge, achieved through years of technological effort, is the key to victory. 

One recent example is the victory Israel achieved against Iran in the "Swords of Iron" war: Iran launched hundreds of missiles at Israel within a few hours. About 99 percent of them were intercepted by Israel's air defense systems, developed over approximately 30 years. This swift victory may shape the political future of the region for many years to come. 

The "Kfir" aircraft

The World Order Around Israel

 

 

  

   

Anxiety and Joy: Eid al-Adha and "Inside Out 2''

Between Anxiety and Joy: Eid al-Adha, "Inside Out 2," and the Surprising Connection Between Them

Eid al-Adha is a pilgrimage to Mecca, a significant event for Muslims worldwide. This year, an extreme heat wave in the region claimed many lives, reminding us of the heavy price of blind faith at times.

The Muslim Eid al-Adha, which falls at the end of June this year, coincides with the release date of the animated film "Inside Out 2." Coincidence? Perhaps. But the connection between the holiday and the film is far more interesting when delving into the meanings and stories behind them.

The two founding stories of Judaism and Islam, the Binding of Isaac and the Binding of Ishmael, are at the heart of Eid al-Adha. The names Isaac and Ishmael, despite their phonetic similarity, carry vastly different meanings.

Ishmael – his name signifies anxiety ("listen" and "God") and blind obedience to God.

Isaac – his name signifies joy ("laughter") and hope, representing an optimistic worldview and faith in human goodness.

In the movie "Inside Out 2," the two central characters, Joy and Sadness, struggle for control of the heroine's mind. It's a struggle we all know – between fear and worry and optimism and joy. Just like in the story of the Binding of Ishmael, anxiety tries to take over, but in the end, joy wins and returns the heroine to a healthier and more balanced worldview.

The International Space Station above the Temple Mount in Jerusalem

 

The International Space Station above the Temple Mount in Jerusalem 

The International Space Station above the Temple Mount in Jerusalem

Jerusalem - Celestial City

Jerusalem and the modern transportation revolutions that shape it as part of the global city.

The Oblique of the Tribe of Dan

The tribe of Dan, from which the hero Samson came, migrated north in the Land of Israel and settled in the area near Sidon. There it connected with the gentiles of the sea and became a tribe of sailors. From there, according to one tradition, it continued in a northwesterly direction, becoming part of the Greek tribes, also called "Danaides". It continued wandering in this direction along the Dnieper River, reaching as far as Denmark. All of these places contain the syllable "Dan" in their names.

"Oblique" is also an important geometric concept in modern architecture. It notes a design compromise between the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the urban space. The world is today one global city, run virtually in the speed of light, by the electronic media.

Ukraine, along which the Dnieper River flows, is also on a political "Oblique", as an intermediate state between East and West.

The danger in this geographical-political-war Oblique for the State of Israel is its inevitable lengthening towards Lebanon, Syria, the Gulf states and Iran.

Oblique of Dan

Blueberry Hill song, 12 Monkeys movie and Vladimir Putin's performance

The essence of the promise of stability, prosperity and security is at the mercy of science and human intelligence. If something still got out of hand, it was because someone was probably negligent, did not perform his task properly, did not turn in time to the appropriate expert - a phenomenon known in modern language as "failure" that requires investigation and examination.

In his book "The Critical Space", the French philosopher Paul Virilio described in detail the striving of rational-scientific thinking to achieve control in the world of phenomena with a tendency to control even the uncontrollable. But capturing the great promise of technology and science will, in his view, lead to an "integral accident" that will not only change the human perception of technology but may even bring an end to the "modern project."

Of course, Virilio did not wish for such an "accident" but warned against it: as great as the promise is, so is the depth of the crisis. Indeed, modern man's expectations of science and the state find themselves repeatedly battered in the face of defiant reality. This time, in the Russia-Ukraine war, we are not just facing a "global accident".

The critical space according to Paul Virilio

Global urban geographical decentralization, which is a major phenomenon nowadays, has led to the creation of huge cities and an endless, legal and illegal suburban expansion that extends across entire countries. The State of Israel, in particular, has long since became, due to its small size, population density, and lack of governance in the area of ​​regional planning, a single suburban city. This situation is changing the definition of sovereignty. It marks the end of the uniqueness of the place, which characterizes the old political stage and the historic city, and its replacement by the principle of immediacy, the unity of time, which is a politics of intensity and interactivity, of a technical set-up. Systems architecture has finally replaced the historic architecture and urbanism system.

The ubiquitous, immediate presence is being followed by the replacement of the traditional agenda, which was based on the solar cycle,  with accelerated technological agenda, realized by the electronic and digital media. The accelerated agenda is pushing past habits of populating space. The stable regional and urban planning of the space has long been replaced by a general lack of restraint, under social enslavement to accelerated technology. Accelerated technology accompanies humans on their daily journey by high-speed means of transportation, aircraft, cars and trains. These means of transportation greatly eroded the importance of the traditional urban space. Humans have become transfer players in the geographic space, where they are constantly mobile.

A third reason for the disintegration of traditional space is modern weapons, the operation of which is characterized by automatic remote decision-making at lightning speed. A heavy critical mass has been created, heralding a catastrophe of the dismantled historic city, of the traditional urbanization, as well as of the state.

Because the cohesive spatial layout was lost in favor of an invisible morphological configuration, a committed personal, interactive isolation was created. An atomization of the individual was created. In this accelerated process, the individual is awaiting return to the homeland, but has no escape from life in the suburbs.

The endless urban expansion marches along with the inner urban collapse. Both together eradicated the distinction between urban population and colonial settlement. They obscure national citizenship, the very obligation to grant significant political citizenship to populations under authority. Separating colonialism from state citizenship is completely impractical, given these urban processes. The sense of enclosure in the kibernetic space is common to all sectors.

Both sides live on the scale of individual survival. Each of the two types of citizenship has, in practice, rights and obligations that equal their status. The "colonial" citizen is exempt from military service and other civilian duties. He is able to build his private home on state land without obtaining building permits, not paying taxes, marrying several women and more. The "state" subject is obligated to obey every law, mild or severe, and the authorities take every opportunity to impose authority on him. Both types of citizens enjoy free basic social and health insurance. The economic ties between them are numerous and diverse.

The traditional extroverted international colonialism, which was characterized by the occupation of territories far from the homeland, has now become an internalized colonialism, dominated by global technology and media corporations. The traditional city collapsed into itself and crumbled. The centers of major cities around the world have become slums.

The immediate interactivity of the technologies has led to the decline in the value of the local human workforce. It gives priority to multinational monopolistic centralism. This is an ideology that denies the rule of national freedom movements. It creates opposing niches for the pursuit of self-management. It corresponds to a minimum country claim presented by economists. This claim enables the creation of technologies that do not require full employment and a real and practical presence of employees.

The pursuit of sovereignty today is a symptom of a simultaneous search for momentum. It is an acceleration that characterizes all separation movements, that exists between all contemporary urban classes, regardless of their national identity. The aspiration for political isolation is of extraordinary dimensions, and includes all sectors of the population. The anti-establishment ecological movement has long exhibited its enormous dimensions, for example in the North American survival movements. Survival movements can also serve as a touchstone for their absurd chances as a counterculture.

Today the spatial disruption has become the disruption of time. Transience has become a key concept in employment. Technical unemployment, temporary employment, dispersal of the wage burden, fragmentation of the labor system, fragmentation of residence, fragmentation of the family, and so on, have become the distinctive hallmark of life today. In addition, a culture of online social networking has been created, based on similar principles.

The traditional family and community, which were the building blocks of national identity, have disappeared. They fell apart following the modern lifestyle. This disintegration also has negative consequences for the status of citizenship, as it allows for disobedience to state institutions, such as through a tax revolt and a lack of governance. There is no real civic center, almost no valuable political center. The real weapon is first and foremost the position, array and direction of the forces present in the current systemic deployment, which tends to completely neutralize the ties between the citizens, the neighborhood unit.

As a result, the development of terrorism today is limited. Terrorism has nothing to do with substansive actions today. In fact, the various national terrorist movements have never had anything to do with opposition to the collapse of traditional urban systems. They expressed a utopian connection to the homeland, while the land of their longings had long since became a suburb. 

Traditional terrorist bodies are today  inefficient and irrelevant, in the reality of mega cities, which are spreading and collapsing simultaneously and uncontrollably. First, they arose to present a false utopian vision of the homeland, but not to deal with the urban issue as reality requires, by way of presenting an independent alternative to urban renewal. Second, they operate in a crumbling society, because the family and the traditional community, which are the source of classically organized resistance, no longer exist for all the inhabitants of the mega cities. Third, they operate in an outdated strategy, of conventional weapons, while the key today is the technological weapon, based on speed.

Military technological progress, which nowadays dictates political decision-making, is characterized by ballistic missiles. Everything is known today in very short durations, a few minutes and sometimes even less. The first response doctrine argues that in order to achieve the target, the nuclear missiles must be launched before those of the enemy have left the ground. These characteristics are similar to those of unmanned aerial vehicles, which are currently the most common weapons in the war against terror.

In order to be able to express themselves, the various political resistance bodies must adopt quick quantum thinking like lightning, based on time and not on space, and act according to commutes between center and fringe, in the territory in which they are located. Speed also requires action in attacks instead of defense. This is at the risk of losing self-identity, which is typical for quantum decision makers. They also run the risk of lack of public support, engaged in time management in a technological and informative race, and baseless political promises, in an urban environment that has lost its original identity.

The article was written based on Paul Virilio's book "The Critical Space".

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Superheroes, Star Wars movies and aviation culture in the 20th century

The fighters have been a focal point of admiration for every generation, in their lives and deaths. Their qualities were focused on a single character who was exemplary to the public and the savior, and received a mythical character. A particularly revered hero is a super-omnipotent superhero with superhuman powers. The superheroes have undergone a transformation process throughout history, created because they belonged to the popular culture of their time, which had a characteristic emphasis, and used the technological means at its disposal. The characters of ancient superheroes, from the Bible and Greek mythology, became knights on horses in medieval societies. The early heroes of the early twentieth century were aviation pioneers and fighter pilots. Superheroes in the colorful comic booklets were very popular in the United States during the interwar period. After World War II, with the development of space flights, and at the same time as television viewing, the superheroes were identified with the first spacecraft pilots, such as Gagarin and Armstrong. In the early 2000s, the superheroes underwent another transformation, with the development of computing technologies, and now appear mainly in Marvel films. As reality became more complex, the need for archetypes became more important. Cinema, as a multidisciplinary and multidimensional medium, is a place where most of the myth appears, as both cinema and myth appeal to as broad a common denominator as possible.

The periodic transition between different types of characters is not sharp, and there is an overlap between them, as well as sub-genres that are characteristic of the interim periods and situations where no clear superhero characterization has taken place, or when a different characterization is needed. For example, in the 1930s, dictatorial political leaders, such as Hitler and Stalin, enjoyed a superhero image. Following the political crises in the 1960s in the United States, during and after the Vietnam War, superheroes such as Rambo, who were more human and represented personal and social protest, appeared on the movie screen. At the other end of the arc of superheroes are the simple real men who survived unbelievable hardships, led by Holocaust survivors. The survival motif is central to popular culture, but only dozens of films have been made about real survival journeys, as opposed to the countless works of fiction. Much research has been done on Holocaust survivors, but their image has not yet been created as superheroes. Their personal stories blended into the overall myth of Holocaust and Revival of Israel.

The "Star Wars" film series is based on the pattern of superheroes in the stories of mythology, as developed by Professor Campbell, the renowned expert on myth theory. "Star Wars" may be his most well-known legacy left behind. Within this film series, nine sequels have emerged, which are the canon of the series as a feature epic. The first movie in the series came out in 1977, and the last one in the end of 2019. It's about 40 years, then. The series gained unprecedented popularity. It was defined as redefining cinema, as it created an imaginary universe full of details. It has acquired millions of fans on the level of religious believers, and is recognized in almost every home across the globe. Some claim it have changed the world. It is an escapist replacement for the complexity of the race to space, which is one of the characteristics of modern life and central in every country.

The nine-movie canon consists of three trilogies, which represent the parts of the human soul and its evolution, according to Id, Ego, Super Ego. The Disney-owned franchise company also develops it through spin-off films, unique complexes at Disneyworld sites, and as a merchandise that includes computer games, books, comic books, clothing and toys. In this way, the brand reaches every soul in the way that is most appropriate, according to the latest branding and marketing approaches.

Professor Joseph Campbell has been a major source of inspiration for the series creator, George Lucas, and they also formed a personal friendship. Campbell's main book is "The Hero with Thousand Faces ." This book presents the defining characteristics of the superhero figure, who are kept behind many embodiments in different cultures and eras. The Star Wars movie series is entirely based on this theory. The films include a gallery of typical archetypal mythological characters, such as the superhero character, the mentor, the distressed maid, the trickster, the evil hero, the omnipotent magician, and the like. At the same time, the superhero in the series is going on a journey, known in terminology as "The Hero's Journey". This journey includes many stages of development, which are well characterized by the stories of superheroes of all cultures.

Because in much of the twentieth century, the superhero character was identified with pioneer pilots of airplanes and spaceships, two of the star heroes of "Star Wars," Han Solo; the trickster who is Luke Skywalker's faithful friend, and his son Ben, who became an evil hero by the name of Kylo Ran and the successor of Darth and Wader, are of central importance. The importance of the transformations undergone by Han and Ben Solo is also linked to the importance of the dream of flying to the development of the soul. Aviation ability has been identified, from the dawn of humanity, as a characteristic of gods. Han's "Millenium Falcon" spacecraft is the fastest in the galaxy, and it is the object most identified with the series, with the exception of Luke Skywalker's Light Sword. Harrison Ford, who plays Han Solo in the series, is a superstar of Hollywood, and portrayed another superhero character created by George Lucas, Indiana Jones.

Filmmaker Hans Bertram created several aviation films in Nazi Germany. During World War I, some of the most successful fighter pilots were soon promoted to become communicated icons of valor, warriors who donned the national spirit of the war. This was particularly evident in Germany, in the form of the Flying Circus pilots and their commander Richthofen. They became national icons, with a prominent presence in film and print, and in all circles of society. Between the two world wars, aviation films were constantly reinforced, helping to shape contemporary thinking about aviation development. Aviation achievements envisioned a new, stronger and more disciplined German Reich capable of dealing with multiple industrial claims and joining the twentieth-century imperial competition. The memory of World War I was built through the myth of the war experience, which legitimized it by changing the real-life picture. The main image engraved in the collective memory of this war, to this day, is that of the gallant fighter pilot. The distinct symbol of totalitarian and mythical modernism in Nazi Germany was the airplane. Not the airplane per se, but its connections, not the pilot per se but the concepts it entails, were the focus of attention. They served as a means of liberating revolutionary burdens of the past.

In Nazi Germany, the superheroes of American comic booklets were not popular, nor were other superheroes of this style. The Nazis saw themselves as a supreme race, according to the "Superman" model designed by Nietzsche, their official philosopher. The popular superheroes were characters from German folklore and history, such as in Richard Wagner's operas, and from the aviation world, whose heroes were considered to embody the "Suprmman". Bertram was among them. He was part of the famous Pilots Gallery, with Charles Lindberg at the top, who became superheroes in the world media. In 1927, Lindberg crossed the Atlantic alone by airplane. On his return he was honored as king, and millions came to a parade in his honor in New York.

In May 1932 Hans Bertram set out with a friend from Germany to a flight around the world. They had a forced landing in a desert in Australia, and undergone a two-month survival journey, with extensive media coverage on the search for them. He returned to Germany in April 1933, after a year of great upheaval in Germany as well, during which the Nazis came to power. He wrote his story in a book, which became a bestseller with seven million copies in Nazi Germany. He then moved on to writing screenplays and directing films. The story of his survival journey in Australia overlaps with the mythical ''Hero Journey'' that NAzi Germany needed at that time. This is in light of its plot, its exposure in the media, and its connection to the motifs of ''survival'' "superman" adopted by the Nazi regime. Bertram is probably the only pilot in Nazi Germany to have completed a "Hero's Journey," and who has written a non war-propaganda book on the subject. His most famous film is "The Baptism of Fire," a full-length documentary from 1940 about the campaign in Poland, which was characterized by devastating German bombings from the air.

The images of aviation and pilots on television and cinema in the State of Israel involve the military dependence on the air force, which created here the myth of the "best air force in the world". This myth is also rooted in Israel's relations with the United States, which include American popular culture. Therefore, it is interesting to see how major television events, such as the first flight to the moon or the crash of the Columbia Space Shuttle, and ''Star War'' movies, have affected Israeli society. At the same time, it is interesting to review the films that deal with the Israeli Air Force and their impact.

Air transport has become central today. The issue is complicated, in part because, unlike maritime and land transportation, which are the cradle of civilization, aviation is a new dimension. Important, capital-intensive development projects in aviation may shape the fate of a nation. But they are largely startups, which have a very high percentage of failure. Two examples of this are the attempt to land the Israeli spacecraft "Genesis" on the moon, and the development of the "Lavi" aircraft.

The need for heroes in the aviation field is motivated, besides the race for space and the race to develop new aircraft, also by the need to develop the infrastructure of airports, which have become civilization centers due to the airports cities around them. The airports of cities have replaced the maritime port cities, which until recently were the centers of the human race.The "Terminal" theme is well-developed in the Star Wars series. Its many forms, together with the gallery of figures appearing in it, present an alternative order to the constant chaos experienced by passengers today. This chaos, resulting from the routine of the experience, runs counter to the flight aura that existed until World War II.

Another important connection between superhero films and modern-day reality is that these films, in many cases, show sections of a world on the verge of destruction, usually as a result of the invention of new weapons by the forces of evil. The Holocaust worldview in these films overlaps with the  Jewish Holocaust survivors worldview, whose world was also destroyed. The good ending in these films, when usually the good people beat the bad guys, is a therapeutic move. The general destruction worldview is also close to everyday reality, as politicians regularly warn of a disaster that could result from enemy attacks, usually from the air. That is why every citizen takes to himself the images of the imminent destruction, as seen in the superhero films, for the promotion of his personal affairs. Those who have experienced the devastation to the truth, such as the Holocaust survivors, are usually left behind in the race to fulfill their dreams.

The main negative aspect of the development of air power is the many wars that have been decided by it, such as the Vietnam War and the Yom Kippur War. In addition, airborne terrorism has become an integral part of daily life. Its climax was in the attack on the Twin Towers in New York in September 2001. We are witnessing it today in cyber threats, the incessant rocket launches toward Israel, and the passengers and baggage checks before flights. Serious aerial accidents are an integral part of reality, from the era of early aviation to the present.

One of the results of the importance of aviation to human existence in all strata is that the discourse on aviation has become an unconscious part of everyday discourse and is difficult to isolate. Therefore, it is important to see if the awareness to the issue in Israel does not diminish the understanding of the relationship between the Holocaust and aviation. This connection was expressed by the fact that senior Nazi pilots, who were crowned superheroes, played a major part in the final solution planning. A multifaceted aviation culture is evolving nowadays, in the face of the reality imposed on us like a mountain. The Star Wars series does not provide a complete set of tools for understanding the world of flying and aviation, but the complexity it presents is certainly a progression, as opposed to the stalwart approach to the topic so far in popular culture.