Israel has demonstrated the best of itself: excellence, creativity, daring, sophistication, and the willingness of its younger generation to make the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of the generations to come.
Israel’s successful opening blow against Iran – a regional power with a population 9 times its own with 75 times more territory – is reminiscent of the first three hours of the Six-Day War. This is a singular event that will go down in the annals of history as a nearly unparalleled achievement in the history of warfare.
The war has only just begun. There is great uncertainty. The enemy is determined and intransigent. Antisemites around the world will undoubtedly assail us. But Israelis are acting out of necessity, with exceptionally broad public consensus, aiming to liberate the next generation from the existential threat facing the Jewish nation-state.
Zionism – so maligned in the West – enabled the Jewish people to take control of their destiny, and the state is now fulfilling its responsibility to preserve the Jewish people. As the prime minister said: “Never again is now.” Certainly, there will be casualties as Israel is facing an enemy that deliberately targets civilians. Yet by the end of this campaign, it will become clear that Israel is redrawing the regional map of interests and influence. Israel has stepped up to halt the dark takeover of the Middle East – and eventually Europe – by Shiite fundamentalism. America’s long-standing investment in Israel has borne its best fruit this week, for itself and the entire world. One can hope that just as the Six-Day War transformed Israel’s status globally and among Diaspora Jews, the war against Iran will, too, restore respect for us and arrest the sickening brainwashing campaign against Israel and the Jews that has swept through the West.
Israel has demonstrated the best of itself: excellence, creativity, daring, sophistication, and the willingness of its younger generation to make the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of the generations to come. If we can succeed in applying these same qualities within Israeli society itself, the internal frontier, our future will be bright.