'I Arrived in Israel a Day Before the War. The Iranians and I Fell for the Same Misconception' - Holylandings

Haaretz published a first-person piece headlined "I Arrived in Israel a Day Before the War. The Iranians and I Fell for the Same Misconception" on March 13, 2026, by Dan Semo.

“'I Arrived in Israel a Day Before the War”

Haaretz

The page identifies Dan Semo as 42 and as an industrial designer who lives in Lisbon and flew there via Taba, Egypt.

Haaretz

The headline states he arrived in Israel a day before the war and asserts that both he and Iranians "fell for the same misconception."

The article’s byline describes Semo as "an industrial designer who feels it's easier to be a stranger abroad than an Israeli in Israel."

The byline also references "a retailer who thinks the country can be improved from within by facing reality rather than fleeing it," indicating the piece presents at least two personal perspectives.

Haaretz

These characterizations frame the piece as reflective and critical of conditions in Israel from personal viewpoints.

The page is filed under topics that include the 2025 Israel-Iran War and related live-update subject headers visible on the site.

“'I Arrived in Israel a Day Before the War”

Haaretz

The article includes photo credits and page credits shown as Mae Palty and "Photos by Tomer Appelbaum."

The Haaretz page shows subscriber-only features such as printing in an ad-free format, Zen reading, and a prompt to subscribe to comment or access certain content.

The supplied excerpt does not include the article body explaining what the headline calls "the same misconception."

The excerpt does not include narrative detail about the events surrounding the author’s arrival or subsequent developments.

Haaretz

Specific facts such as the content of the misconception, detailed timelines, casualty figures, or direct quotations beyond the byline are not present in the excerpt and therefore cannot be inferred or added.