Israel captures Lebanon’s Beaufort Castle

Summary

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Ark News Daily: Israel Captures Lebanon’s Beaufort Castle

Date: June 1, 2026
Host: Deborah Pardes
Purpose: To provide the latest updates on the war in Iran, its impact on the Middle East, and implications for Jews globally.

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on Israel’s capture of Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon for the first time in 26 years. The discussion spans the strategic and symbolic value of Beaufort, Israeli political reactions, implications for regional geopolitics, updates on US-Iran negotiations, and the atmosphere at New York’s Israel Day Parade amid rising antisemitism.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Israel Captures Beaufort Castle ([00:13] – [02:50])

• Historical & Strategic Significance:
  • Beaufort is a 900-year-old Crusader-era fortress, a long-coveted military stronghold with sweeping views of Lebanon and northern Israel.
  • The IDF raised the Israeli flag after “days of intense fighting and airstrikes in nearby villa before.”
• Official Perspective:
  • PM Netanyahu called the capture “a dramatic step reflective of a new policy in southern Lebanon” aimed at expanding Israeli control.
• Critical Voices:
  • Yaakov Katz, former Jerusalem Post editor, posted:

    “Beaufort is not a symbol of success. It represents Israel’s long and costly presence in Lebanon, something that claimed too many soldiers lives and ended without Israel achieving its strategic goals. … Getting into Lebanon is always easier than getting out.” ([01:20])

  • Raises concerns about the risks of renewed, prolonged occupation with “no clear horizon for how it ends.”
• Historical References:
  • Reminders of the 1982 battle and ensuing 18-year occupation, which many saw as ending in “humiliating withdrawal” in 2000.
• Hezbollah Threat:
  • Ongoing attacks: “In the last two months alone, the group has launched thousands of missiles and drones at Israeli soldiers and northern communities.”
  • Notable weapon: “The fiber optic drone, which is hard to detect and hard to intercept.”

2. Israeli Domestic Debate & US Involvement ([02:50] – [04:21])

• Internal Criticism:
  • Naftali Bennett accused the government of “reverting us to the policy of containment and to normalizing an intolerable and unacceptable situation.” ([02:50])
• Israeli-US Dynamics:
  • Netanyahu faces pressure due to perceived “American restrictions” on operations.
  • Is reportedly pushing the Trump administration for expanded permission to strike Hezbollah in Beirut; no firm US commitment yet.
  • “The Americans are showing greater openness, but there is still no final approval.”
• The Broader Geopolitical Stakes:
  • US insists further escalation could “blow up the broader negotiations with Iran, which are at a delicate stage.”
  • Iran requires Lebanon’s war to factor into a potential Iran deal.

3. Stalemate in Iran Negotiations ([04:21] – [05:34])

• Deal Status:
  • Axios reports that Trump asked his Cabinet for edits to the draft, focused on:
    • The fate and timeline for Iran’s highly enriched uranium
    • Reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with demands for “tougher, more specific language.”
• Trump’s Stance:
  • Stated on Fox News ([04:21]):

    “We’re getting what we want slowly, very tough negotiators. ... I’m in no hurry. I’d like to say I’m in a hurry because, you know, gasoline prices are going to come tumbling down. But if you’re going to be in a hurry, you’re not going to make a good deal.”

• Iranian Internal Turmoil:
  • Iran International reports Iran’s president “reportedly resigned,” claiming exclusion from decision-making, with “hardline factions within the IRGC” taking control.
  • Not clear if the Supreme Leader will accept the resignation or what it means for talks.
  • Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Galiboff states:

    “Iran will not approve any agreement until, ‘we are certain that the rights of the Iranian people have been upheld.’” ([05:31])

4. New York’s Israel Day Parade and Rising Antisemitism ([05:42] – [08:21])

• Massive Show of Support:
  • “40,000 people attended New York’s Israel Day Parade … one of the largest public demonstrations of support for Israel outside the Jewish state.”
• Notable Absence:
  • NYC Mayor Zoram Hamdani skipped the parade—the first such absence since 1964. He cited clear opposition to the Israeli government.
• VIP Attendees:
  • The largest ever Israeli official delegation, plus reps from 13 countries.
  • Theme: “Proud Americans, Proud Zionists.”
• Tightened Security:
  • NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch deployed “more officers and heavy weapons teams … comprehensive screening.”
• Legislation:
  • NY Governor Kathy Hochul announced,

    “Just an hour before, she had signed what she called the Buffer Bill, establishing a 50 foot security buffer zone around houses of worship.” ([06:49])

• Quotes from Notable Speakers:
  • Gov. Kathy Hochul:

    “Today we march in defiance and also to stand up for the values that define New York State since its very beginning. We’ll always be that bastion, that beacon of hope for others to be able to live the way they want to live.” ([06:34])

  • Rep. Dan Goldman:

    “I stand before you as a proud Jewish and a proud Zionist, and those of us who feel that way can never waver. It should not be momentous to say that, but unfortunately, in many ways today it is.” ([08:01])

• Community Reactions:
  • Boycott by Mayor Mamdani drew criticism from Jewish groups but did not dampen turnout.
  • Mitchell Silber, Community Security Initiative CEO, called the parade “a powerful demonstration of community pride, resilience and unity.”

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Memorable Quotes

• Yaakov Katz ([01:20]):

  “Beaufort is not a symbol of success. It represents Israel’s long and costly presence in Lebanon.”

• Naftali Bennett ([02:50]):

  “The government is reverting us to the policy of containment and to normalizing an intolerable and unacceptable situation.”

• Donald Trump ([04:21]):

  “If you’re going to be in a hurry, you’re not going to make a good deal.”

• Mohammad Galiboff ([05:31]):

  “We are certain that the rights of the Iranian people have been upheld.”

• Gov. Kathy Hochul ([06:34]):

  “We’ll always be that bastion, that beacon of hope for others to be able to live the way they want to live.”

• Rep. Dan Goldman ([08:01]):

  “Those of us who feel that way can never waver.”

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Beaufort Castle capture and its significance: [00:13] – [02:50]
• Domestic criticism and US policy constraints: [02:50] – [04:21]
• Iran deal and leadership crisis: [04:21] – [05:34]
• Israel Day Parade, legislation, and antisemitism: [05:42] – [08:21]

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Overall Tone & Takeaways

The episode delivers clear, factual reporting with highlights from political leaders, experts, and community voices. The tone is urgent and measured, capturing both the sense of historical gravity in Israel’s military moves and the emotional weight of diaspora Jewish communities standing together amid rising antisemitism and global uncertainty.

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Transcript

[A]

You are listening to an art media podcast.

[B]

It's Monday, june 1st. This episode was recorded at 6pm new york time on Sunday. I'm deborah pardes and this is ark news daily. This weekend, Israel did something it hasn't done in 26 years. Soldiers raised the Israeli flag over Beaufort Castle. Beaufort is a 900-year-old Crusader era fortress. It sits on a ridge in southern Lebanon with sweeping views over the Latanni river and northern Israel, and for centuries it has served as a strategic military position for whoever controlled it. Israel says Hezbollah was using the area to launch attacks. The IDF captured the castle after days of intense fighting and airstrikes in nearby villa before. In a video statement yesterday, Prime Minister Netanyahu called the capture a dramatic step reflective of a new policy in southern Lebanon that would deepen and expand Israeli control of the area. But others are raising more difficult questions. Yaakov Katz posted his response on X. He's the former editor of the Jerusalem Post, and he said Beaufort is not a symbol of success. It represents Israel's long and costly presence in Lebanon, something that claimed too many soldiers lives and ended without Israel achieving its strategic goals. He said getting into Lebanon is always easier than getting out. So the real question is, are we witnessing the beginning of another prolonged military presence without a clear horizon for how it ends? Israel fought a bloody battle to Capture Beaufort in 1982, then held it for 18 years. It was a grinding occupation that ended in 2000 in what many saw as a humiliating with withdrawal. Since then, Hezbollah has not stopped its attacks. In the last two months alone, the group has launched thousands of missiles and drones at Israeli soldiers and northern communities. The weapon causing the most damage is the fiber optic drone, which is hard to detect and hard to intercept. Netanyahu is facing criticism from northern communities who say the government is failing to protect them and his opposition is pouncing. Naftali Bennett said on Saturday, quote, the government is reverting us to the policy of containment and to normalizing an intolerable and unacceptable situation. According to Channel 12, Netanyahu is privately saying that Israel cannot move as freely as it wants because of American restrictions. He has reportedly been pressing the Trump administration for permission to strike more Hezbollah targets in Beirut, but Trump hasn't committed. One Israeli official put it this way, the Americans are showing greater openness, but there is still no final approval, at least for the US Position is that escalation in Lebanon risks blowing up the broader negotiations with Iran, which are at a delicate stage. Iran has made clear that any deal must also address the war in Lebanon. Israel is also holding direct talks with Lebanon to stop the fighting and disarm Hezbollah. But given the Lebanese government's weakness so far, it seems the broader Iran talks are the more meaningful sign of what's to come. The Iran deal is still in limbo, according to Axios. Trump met with his Cabinet Friday to request edits to the latest draft, mainly on two things. First, Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which the US Buried last June. Trump wants the deal to outline how the US Will get the material and on what timeline. In its current form, the deal includes a commitment from Iran not to pursue a nuclear weapon, but no specific concessions beyond that. The second issue is the Strait of Hormuz. The current draft commits Iran to reopening it, but Trump wants tougher, more specific language. In an interview on Fox News, Trump continued to project confidence.

[C]

We're getting what we want slowly, very tough negotiators. It takes a long time. I'm in no hurry. I'd like to say I'm in a hurry because, you know, gasoline prices are going to come tumbling down. But if you're going to be in a hurry, you're not going to make a good deal.

[B]

A senior administration official quoted by Axios said Iran has been slow to respond because they are, quote, literally in caves and they're not using email. But things are also getting complicated on their end. On Sunday, Iran's president reportedly resigned. According to Iran International, a London based anti regime outlet, the president said he had been effectively cut out of major decisions and that hardline factions within the IRGC have taken control. It's not yet clear whether the Supreme Leader will accept the resignation and how, if true, it would affect the ongoing negotiations. But it does appear Iran is not in a hurry to finalize anything. In a video broadcast on state tv, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Galiboff said Iran doesn't trust the US and that Iran will not approve any agreement until, quote, we are certain that the rights of the Iranian people have been upheld.

[D]

Thank you to all the people who showed up, because that's what this is about. Today's about who showed up. Am I right about that?

[B]

40,000 people attended new York's Israel Day Parade yesterday. It was one of the largest public demonstrations of support for Israel outside the Jewish state. But perhaps the most striking thing about the parade was who wasn't there. New York City's Mayor Zoram Hamdani skipped the march, according to organizers. That is a first since 1964 as to why he would mamdani said he's made his views on the Israeli government abundantly clear. The event brought the largest delegation of Israeli elected officials in parade history. There were also representatives from 13 countries beyond the US and Israel. The theme this year was Proud Americans, Proud Zionists. Among those who attended were Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

[E]

Today we march in defiance and also to stand up for the values that define New York State since its very beginning. We'll always be that bastion, that beacon of hope for others to be able to live the way they want to live.

[B]

Hochul said that just an hour before, she had signed what she called the Buffer Bill. It's a statewide law establishing a 50 foot security buffer zone around houses of worship. The legislation is more expansive than a similar city level law that was passed without Mamdani's signature. The parade took place against a backdrop of rising antisemitism, including several recent events in New York. Because of those concerns, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said security was unlike anything the parade had seen before. She said that included more officers and heavy weapons teams on standby and comprehensive screening of everyone who entered the parade route. Mavdani's boycott received widespread criticism from many Jewish groups, but attendees appeared largely unfaz. In an interview with Jewish Insider, Mitchell Silber, the CEO of Community Security Initiative, called the parade a success and a powerful demonstration of community pride, resilience and unity. New York Representative Daniel Goldman may have summed up the feelings best. He represents Manhattan and Park Slope and spoke at an event before the parade.

[F]

I stand before you as a proud Jewish and a proud Zionist, and those of us who feel that way can never waver. It should not be momentous to say that, but unfortunately, in many ways today it is.

[B]

I'm Deborah Pardes and this is ARC News Daily. See you tomorrow. It.