Haifa, one of Israel's major cities, is situated along the northern coastline and is often referred to as the unofficial capital of the north. The city is renowned for its unique example of coexistence between Arabs and Jews, with about 11 percent of Haifa's population being Arab-Israeli.

Haifa, however, is not just a symbol of peaceful coexistence—it is also a prime target for Hezbollah should the terror group choose to engage Israel in a broader regional conflict. In mid-June, Hezbollah released a 9-minute propaganda video, reportedly filmed by a drone, which documented military and civilian areas in Haifa. This video served as a psychological tactic designed to instill fear in residents, with the terror group subtly marking its targets within Israel.

During my visit, I went to Haifa's Rambam Health Care Campus to learn about the city's preparedness for potential attacks from Hezbollah or the Islamic Republic of Iran. Hospitals are undeniably vulnerable targets, and there is no telling the lengths to which these terror groups might go to inflict harm on civilian populations.

 As we entered the hospital, we took the elevators down to the underground Level 3 parking lot instead of heading upward. What I witnessed there was a transformation beyond anything I had ever seen. The Rambam Health Care Campus had converted its underground parking garage into a fully functioning underground fortified hospital. Hospital beds stretched as far as the eye could see, totaling approximately 2,200. The three-floor facility, with each level spanning over 20,000 square meters, is the largest underground hospital in the world.

Professor Michael Halberthal, Director General and CEO of Rambam Health Care Campus, explained that after the devastation of the Second Lebanon War, the hospital's management resolved never to leave their patients so vulnerable again. Driven by a commitment to their patients, they built this fortified underground medical facility from the ground up, with all the necessary infrastructure—ready in the ceilings and walls—to provide shelter for over 2,000 patients. In the event of a serious attack from Hezbollah or Iran, the hospital can relocate all its operations underground in less than eight hours and accommodate two other hospitals in the area, ensuring that most of Haifa can continue its medical services without disruption. 

The underground hospital boasts twenty-four fully fortified operating rooms and has even established a daycare for families capable of caring for up to 500 children. The facility reportedly can withstand conventional, chemical, and biological attacks. Between patients, staff, and families, the three-floor underground facility can house up to 8,000 people, with enough water, oxygen, electricity, food, and gas to last three whole days without external assistance.

Haifa has also converted schools, parking garages, and other spaces around the region into fortified shelters for locals, preparing for a more serious scenario.

Israel's ability to adapt and innovate is well-known, but seeing how Rambam transformed a parking lot into a fully functioning hospital is something that words can hardly capture. It embodies the true essence of Israel: brilliance, innovation, and resilience. According to Professor Halberthal, approximately thirty percent of the hospital staff are not Jewish, meaning this incredible transformation was largely achieved through the collaborative efforts of Jews and Arabs, working together to save lives. It is a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when communities unite, even under the shadow of potential devastation.

While there may not be a perfect way to prepare for a larger war in the north, it is reassuring to see that Rambam Health Care Campus has found a way to ensure they can continue saving lives in the face of unimaginable threats. This underground hospital stands as a testament not only to Israel's ingenuity but also to its unwavering determination to protect its citizens. It may seem like an ordinary hospital, but it represents the indomitable Jewish spirit of survival and resilience.

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As violent clashes between Arabs and Jews continue across the country, residents of mixed cities are concerned about the impact of the riots on coexistence and trust between residents.

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The old city of Acre, which is usually bustling with tourists and visitors, looks like a ghost town.

"No one wants to take a risk and everyone stayed home. That's the situation," said Nidal, who owns a small grocery shop in the old city. She closed it Thursday afternoon.

"It will take years for us to return to coexistence and mutual trust," Acre resident Samer Tanus told Israel Hayom. "This isn't like the October 2000 riots or the 2008 Yom Kippur incident. Back then, there was no Facebook or Instagram, or TikTok. This time everything is documented and shared [online] in seconds. The problem is that you Jews from day one began to call for boycotts of Arab businesses."

Residents of Lod were relieved to see hundreds of Border Police officers arrive in their city to restore order after the government declared a civilian state of emergency in the mixed Jewish-Arab city. Some were so glad to see the officers that they went out to greet them and lifted them on their shoulders in joy.

Residents of Ramle, another epicenter of clashes, expressed disappointment that a similar emergency lockdown had not yet been imposed in their city. Both Jews and Arabs called for an end to violence and asked the police to ban both sides from protesting. 

"We live alongside each other and we cannot allow anyone to ruin that. True, the Arabs started his, but this must be stopped," one of them said. 

Yael, who lives in Bat Yam where riots erupted Thursday night, told Israel Hayom, "When I saw all these young men gather and chant 'Death to Arabs,' it was scary. The police were hardly seen, and instead of getting the rioters out of there within minutes, they just let them do whatever they wanted."

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The Israel Police have declared a nighttime curfew on the mixed Jewish-Arab city of Lod following several days of violence.

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Police said in a statement on Wednesday that officers would enforce the ban on people entering the city of Lod, residents leaving their homes, and people in public spaces starting at 8 p.m. Sixteen Border Police companies have been deployed throughout the city to enforce the curfew and prevent violence. Channel 12 News police correspondent Moshe Nussbaum assessed the extra police contingent in the city at some 500 officers. The city has a population of approximately 76,000.

Lod has seen two nights of violent protests, including the torching of dozens of vehicles, a synagogue, and violent clashes between Arab protesters and police. Israeli authorities declared a state of emergency in the city.

On Tuesday, the government took the unusual step of declaring a civilian state of emergency in Lod, deploying Border Police to restore order in the area following unprecedented riots that saw synagogues, shops and dozens of cars set on fire.

Unrest was also noted in other mixed cities, but Lod appears to manifest the worst of it. Israel Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai called the situation unprecedented.

"We are seeing a situation in mixed cities that we have never seen before, including the incidents of October 2000," he said, referring to the wave of riots that broke out among Arab Israelis in October 2000 – the early days of the Second Intifada.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Public Security Minister Amir Ohana, and Defense Minister Benny Gantz agreed that a civilian state of emergency had to be announced in the city, effectively placed Lod under lockdown, with security forces at its gates to enforce it.

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