Israel stands alone

After more than two years of war against radical Islamist extremists (the ayatollahs in Iran, the Qataris, Hezbollah, and Hamas and its allies), since the horrific razzia of 7 October 2023, several things have become clear.

First:
Defeating (let alone eliminating) radical Islamist extremism by purely military means is not possible, at least not in the short to medium term. Not even the combined might of the two most powerful militaries in the world – the US and Israel – has been able to defeat them. On every front, it seems that the US and Israel can destroy a large number of leaders and members of these movements, but not bring the movements to an end.

Second:
Any agreement (ceasefire or otherwise) that Israel makes with these extremists (whether Sunni or Shiite) does not bring peace, it only makes them stronger.

Third:
Their networks are more widely and deeply embedded across the globe, and much better resourced, than anyone realized. Including in Western liberal democracies.

Fourth: 
Israel cannot rely on the United States to defend its long-term interests. President Trump is unpredictable, and it is highly questionable for how long the Republican Party will keep power.

Fifth:
Geopolitically, Israel is being increasingly marginalized and delegitimized in the UN and other international institutions.

There, in a nutshell is Israel’s dilemma. What is Israel to do? Commit suicide? To whom can it turn to defend its civilians against the relentless attacks?

In the meantime, the war being waged against Israel remains relentlesss.

The Islamist enemies continue their attacks. Israel’s two immediate fronts remain Hezbollah and Hamas, the two largest Iranian proxy terrorist organizations—one Shi’ite, the other Sunni—which have transformed Lebanon and Gaza into fortified terror strongholds.

Another – often underestimated – front is the West Bank, where Fatah and the PLO have been marginalized and Hamas, Islamic Palestinian Jihad and other extremist groups are growing in power and influence.

In the UN, the EU, the African Union, the League of Arab States, the OIC – in virtually every organisaiton and institution – the international community condemns Israel’s “illegal occupation” of Gaza, south Lebanon, the Golan Heights and the West Bank, and its military incursions as “illegal aggression”. They demand that Israel withdraw unilaterally, de-escalate and agree to ceasefires.

Each of these moves – unilateral withdrawal, de-escalation and ceasefires – will significantly weaken Israel against the hostile ring of fire surrounding it.

Hezbollah has deeply infiltrated Lebanon. As analyst Fiamma Nirenstein has reported:

“Israel’s concern is that any agreement could become a form of protection for Hezbollah rather than a mechanism to restrain it. To signal that it will not accept such a reality, Israel on Wednesday struck Shuwayfat, a district south of Beirut, for the first time in three weeks, after the ceasefire had been renewed despite repeated Hezbollah attacks that killed 12 Israeli soldiers, destroyed homes and forced the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Israelis. The target was Ali al-Husni, head of the missile forces of Hezbollah’s Imam Hossein Division, whose fate remains unclear.

The return to strikes near Beirut signals that it is far from certain that the government of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun will find the strength to disarm Hezbollah, despite pressure and expectations from President Donald Trump. Lebanon itself can no longer afford Hezbollah’s domination, yet the militia remains deeply entrenched.”

In the Gaza Strip, predictably, President Trump's Peace Plan and "Board of Peace" have been a complete failure. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled Israel’s urgency regarding Hamas’s disarmament. He stated that the territory in Gaza secured by the Israel Defense Forces—currently approximately 60%—could expand to 78%. For Israel, Gaza remains an existential threat as long as Hamas continues to dominate Gaza as a base for permanent terrorist warfare.

The war against the revolutionary regime in Iran is equally unresolved. The US seems to be looking for an exit, despite the fact the regime remains in place and has become even more radicalized, while it continues to present a nuclear threat.

Over the past week, US President Trump has spoken of concluding an agreement with Iran, presenting it above all as an undeclared defeat of Tehran.

Israel remains convinced of the need to eliminate Iran’s ability to build a nuclear weapon and ensure that enriched uranium is removed from the hands of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Trump has repeated his commitment to achieve those goals too, but shown that he is unable and perhaps even unwilling to put his words into action.

So, at the end of the day, Israel stands alone in the world.

For most Israelis, it has become clear that no other power or entity will defend its interests. But there is also a widespread exhaustion, a realization that the war is unwinnable, and growing frustration with the lack of military success on all fronts, despite the enormous costs to the country.

All the while, the nation heads into elections later this year. It remains to be seen what the outcome will be. Bibi Netanyahu’s future as Israel’s leader is far from guaranteed.

Israel and the Jewish people need our prayers more than ever.

This week, let us pray for the people of Israel, and for their leaders.

Pray for the leaders of all nations, that the blindness that covers them will be removed, and they will recognize that true blessing for the nations will only come when the Jewish people are living safely in the land, serving their God.

Pray for the enemies of the Jewish people.

Above all, let us continue to look to God and trust that He will fulfill His promises. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and the speedy coming of the Messiah of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He alone can protect His people, and usher in a kingdom of peace and righteousness.

Israel enters a new phase of defense

Fiamma Nirenstein at JNS: As Trump pushes for regional deals, the Jewish state focuses on preventing Hezbollah and Hamas from rebuilding—and ensuring that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon.

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IDF: One-third of Hezbollah force eliminated, ‘we will not relent’

David Isaacs at JNS: “We will continue operating everywhere in order to ensure the security of the civilians and soldiers of the State of Israel. This is our duty,” Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said.

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Caroline Glick warns Hezbollah is regrouping under cover of ceasefire

JNS: Caroline Glick, International Affairs Advisor to PM Netanyahu, reveals how Hezbollah’s new drone warfare tactics, copied from the Russia-Ukraine war, are reshaping the battlefield and threatening Israeli civilians and soldiers alike.

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