As I reflect on this last trip to Israel, the war with Hamas in Gaza is deep in my thoughts.  The potential war in the north with Hezbollah.  All backed by the Iranian regime.  Spending time in May and July in a post-October 7^th Israel, visiting the Nova site twice, Kfar Aza twice, hearing from and having a barbecue dinner with the people from Kibbutz Alumim, displaced since October 7^th to a hotel in Netanya, and then eating lunch at the Kibbutz with those who returned, hearing from and spending time with my friend Lt. Col. (retired) Yaron Buskila and meeting with Brigadier Gen (Ret) Amir Avivi, hearing and seeing the bombing of Jabaliya and hearing the jets and rockets over Gaza while hearing explosions and gunfire, and spending a weekend in the Lower Galilee while Hezbollah was firing rockets into the upper Galilee has given me a very personal and deeper understanding of what Israel has been going through since October 7^th and the changes in the country.

People think they know what is going on, but they really don’t.  They think Israel wants to conquer Gaza and take it over, a land grab, and expel the people living there.  They don’t.  They want the hostages returned.  There wasn’t a day I have spent in Israel in the past two months where returning the hostages was not a primary topic of conversation, where I didn’t see signs calling for their return.  It is a palpable undercurrent throughout the country.  Every hostage is a brother or sister, a son or daughter, a grandchild of the country. 

There is anger at the government, the IDF, Hamas and Iran for what happened on October 7^th.  The massacre.  The hostages.  The delay of the IDF in responding.  Major change is coming both in the government and the IDF once Hamas is defeated, and the hostages returned.  There is no national desire to conquer and hold Gaza.  There is a demand that the security between Israel and Gaza be strengthened.  The events of October 7 demand that.  Those who think a full IDF retreat from Gaza is required simply don’t understand October 7, the trauma of the country, and security risk.  If that means those of us in the diaspora have to continue to educate and advocate for Israel, then we will do so.  The end of the war won’t end the Jew hatred we are experiencing because Israel will never allow what happened on October 7 to occur again, regardless of the political cost.  Unlike the past where Israel would have an incursion to Gaza to reduce their military ability and then give them the keys back, Israel will not give up the security control after October 7.  We value human life too much to take that risk again.

There is no desire for war in the north.  Nobody wants the war to last a day longer than needed to get the hostages returned, capture or kill the leaders of Hamas, and end their ability to do anything militarily.  The tunnels in Gaza are actually being dug out so they won’t exist to be used or rebuilt.  Israel is not built for long wars.  The war in the Sinai was 100 days.  In 1967 it was 6 days.  1973 was 19 days.  This is now over 9 months.  In my first 20 trips to Israel, I had never heard the word melowim.  The past two, melowim, being called up for reserves, is common.  Everybody talks about it.  When they were last called up.  When their next call up will be.  They are in and out of active duty after having a chance to rest a little.  I’ve watched speakers finish, go change into their army uniform, come back to say goodbye to us, and then report for duty.  Tour guides who are preparing for their return to active duty in the next day, few days, or the next week. 

Iran and Hamas’s goal on October 7 was to start a regional war.  They wanted the brutal murders, rapes, kidnapping and terror to create the chaos of a regional war.  They hoped that like Al Queda did with 9/11, they would be able to get America to respond, then getting other major powers involved as well.  When that failed, they wanted the death of their own people to be what would create this regional war.  Their ultimate goal was to create a war between Islam and the West.  To date they have failed.  Despite what we see on college campuses and in major cities, the governments have not responded with military action. 

Where they have succeeded is in making the people of Gaza the victim.  They make sure the people of Gaza die and then blame Israel.  They make sure the people of Gaza starve and blame Israel.  Even when the UN, an antisemitic organization who is no friend to Israel, reports that there is more than enough food being brought into Gaza, Hamas makes sure the people don’t get the food.  The news makes sure to highlight the latter and ignore the former.  UNRWA uses their offices, schools, medical clinics and hospitals as Hamas bases and the world ignores it. 

As we have seen in the past week, the leaders of Hamas in Gaza and some of the leaders of Hezbollah in Lebanon are being targeted.  Israel, despite the international criticism, is winning the war.  I believe the day will come when Sinwar will either come out of hiding with his hands up or will be killed.  The question that will be critical on that day is what will the world do?  The world that has been crying for the people of Gaza have two choices.  They can step in and help rebuild or they can pretend it is now ok and go back to hating Jews in quiet.  With the current world leadership, I am concerned they will do nothing, go quiet, and allow Iran and Qatar to be who funds the rebuilding.  They will continue to make the same mistake over and over again. 

The United States often calls the World War II veterans the Greatest Generation.   The more time I spend in Israel, the more I am convinced that for Israel, THIS is the Greatest Generation.  Talking with these 18–22-year-old IDF soldiers, those who have come back to serve in reserves, those who put their lives on hold because of the need of Israel for them to serve is incredible.  The sacrifices they make every single day is awe inspiring.  It makes me wish I was 30 years younger and could join them.  There is a political earthquake coming in Israel.  There is a rising political leadership that will take over and not accept the status quo.  They are not interested in repeating the mistakes of the past but rather learning from them and moving Israel forward.  I went to meet a young current MK at the Knesset this trip.  I was excited to talk with her, learn from her, and left wanting her to have a bigger role in the future.  I spent a few hours with a friend who has been in leadership for the past 7 years and is preparing to run for the Knesset in the next election.  Hearing her talk about the future of a 1 state solution, a 2-state solution, the Haredi serving in the military, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran inspired me with hope.  Unlike in the US where I wonder where our future leaders are and have real concerns as the far left and far right seem to continue to secure more and more strength and control, I am excited for Israel’s future.  This generation is truly putting the country first. They are putting the safety and security of all Israeli citizens first.  They want to move to a bright and united future.

Outside our hotel a few days after we arrived there was a large protest against the government, against Bibi, in favor of the Haredi serving in the military, and demanding the return of the hostages.  It was beautiful to watch.  People were joined together, peacefully advocating their positions.  There was no violence.  No arrests.  Nobody was a paid agitator.  There was a strong police presence, yet no laws were broken, and no arrests made.  The contrast between Israel and the United States was so strong. 

I traveled from the United States to Israel, from a supposed country at peace to a country at war, and yet it is Israel I feel most optimistic about long term.  As I head home, it is a strange feeling.  I’m more concerned about being attacked in the United States as a Jew than being less than a mile from Gaza, a war zone or in the lower Galilee, 20 kilometers from where Hezbollah was shooting rockets while we slept.  What does that say about us?  What does that say about our future?  What are we going to do to change this reality?

I have lots of questions but no answers.  I do know that Israel will win the war.  They will survive and thrive.  They have their greatest generation now. 

Am Yisrael Chai

Here are two podcasts by friends of mine that I recommend if you want to learn about Israel and Judaism

https://www.saulblinkoff.com/podcast