The left’s dangerous plans ignore a critical truth about the Middle East: things change rapidly, and no peace agreement can be relied upon. Only the strong survive in this neighborhood. Opinion.
IDF in Syria IDF Spokesperson
Israel stands strong today because of the courage and determination of those who protested in the streets to protect our future. Decades ago, in the early 1990s, the political left, led by Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and supported by senior IDF and intelligence officials, sought to make a peace agreement with the Assad regime in Syria. Part of that plan involved surrendering the Golan Heights—a strategic gem overlooking all of Israel—to Syrian control.
But the people of Israel knew better. They launched a relentless campaign to stop this disastrous move, and they won. Their victory was not just a moment of political triumph, but a turning point that ensured Israel’s security for generations to come.
The left’s dangerous plan ignored a critical truth about the Middle East: things change rapidly, and no peace agreement can be relied upon. The only constant in this volatile region is that the strong survive. Had the Golan Heights been handed over, it would now be in the hands of jihadi Sunni militias sweeping across Syria, creating a Taliban-like Afghanistan on our Northern border, threatening Israel’s very existence.
A New Middle East Emerges
Today, the Middle East is undergoing a seismic transformation. Syria, once a cornerstone of the Iranian-Shia axis, is no more. Sunni militias, some backed by Turkey, have toppled the Assad regime in a matter of days. The collapse of Syria marks the unraveling of an unnatural state imposed by Western powers after World War I. This could signal a similar fate for Iraq and Jordan, both artificial constructs also struggling to maintain their identities.
Israel now faces a Taliban-like entity forming along our northern borders. This demands immediate action—not just defensive but offensive. Our brave IDF soldiers have already secured the Syrian side of the Golan Heights. We must hold onto it. In these historic times, Israel’s survival depends on proactive measures, including liberating more land to strengthen our position.
Iran’s Grand Strategy Crumbles
This dramatic shift in the region began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched its war against Israel without coordinating with Iran. This reckless act on their part disrupted Iran’s multi-pronged strategy to destroy Israel and gave us the opportunity to act decisively.
In the past 14 months, Israel has:
- Crushed Hamas in Gaza.
- Decimated Hezbollah, dismantling another arm of Iran’s military network.
- Toppled the Assad regime in Syria, breaking Iran’s hold on the region.
Now, Iran stands alone—isolated, weakened, and vulnerable. Russia, Hezbollah, and Syria, once its key allies, are no longer in a position to support it. The time has come to end the Iranian regime’s nuclear ambitions and reign of terror once and for all.
A Crumbling Regional Order
The collapse of Syria, with it now being carved up into four or five different state entities, has not only shifted the balance of power but also raised critical questions:
Will Sunni militias now target Iraq and Jordan and bring about the same transformation there? Iraq, another Sunni-majority country with various tribes and ethnicities under Iranian influence, is ripe for upheaval. Jordan, also with similar tribal and ethnic divisions, ruled by a Hashemite minority over a Sunni majority, also faces growing unrest.
If Jordan falls, Israel could face this chaotic new reality with hostile forces at its eastern doorstep as well. On our northern border, the Sunni militias pose a serious threat to what remains of Hezbollah and potentially to Israel as well.
A Time for Strategic Action
In this rapidly changing landscape, Israel must act decisively to secure its future. That means:
- Strengthening our borders and expanding them to create strategic depth.
- Supporting a demographic shift in Gaza, encouraging Sunni Muslims to relocate to the Sunni-controlled non-state emerging in Syria.
- Remaining vigilant against the shifting dynamics in Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon.
This is not just a time to protect what we have but to proactively shape the region to ensure our survival.
Hope for the Future
The old structures of the Middle East are crumbling, but this is an opportunity for Israel to rise stronger. The balance of power has shifted dramatically in our favor. With faith, strength, and determination, we can navigate these historic times and emerge victorious.
These are historic moments for our people and our land. Thankfully, Israel is under the leadership of Prime Minister Netanyahu, who understands our reality and not the weak, disconnected leadership of the political left like Gantz, Eizenkot, or Lapid (or the rantings of has-beens like Ehud Olmert and Ehud Barak, ed.).
The Jewish State must seize this situation with courage and wisdom.
Avi Abelow is the host of the Pulse of Israel daily video/podcast and the CEO of 12Tribe Films Foundation.
Adam: The USG has always applied massive pressure on the IG (Israeli government) to restrain themselves from this obvious defensive move. No reason was made public and the only reason why the Israelis did not ignore these demands is that US aid would be denied.
In the meantime, Israeli aid to the US in form of product enhancement (e.g. F35), intelligence and general know-how has evened the scales a little. Now Israel can get away with various acts the USG does not really approve such as taking out the Hamas in Gaza or actually bombing hospitals and other civilian facilities that hide terror bases and rocket launchers, even though the whole world screams and continues, more or less daily, to produce UNSC resolutions that they expect Israel to follow to the letter without examining any contrary evidence.
I can only suggest to keep up the good work.
I agree with Avi’s overall approach. However, I think Israel should act first to destroy Iran’s supplies of fuel for the manufacture of nuclear weapons, and its machinaery for creating it, such as centrifuges. Also, taking out any bombs that Iran already possesses.
Israel first learned that Iran was developing the capability to build nuclear weapons in 2003. Israel has had twenty-one years to bomb these facilities and end Iran’s nuclear program.
During Menachem Begin’s administration, Israel bombed and largely destroyed Iraq’s nuclear weapons development program. Later, in his memoirs, the U.S. National Security Council’s “point man” for Iraq’s nuclear bomb development project suring Bush II’s administratioin (I forget his name) wrote that the U.S. located Iraq’s nuclear bomb development project, which was revived sometime after the Israeli bombing raid, and removed it to United States territory. What was done with these facilities once they were taken to the United States the United States after that he does not say. But he thinks this dismantling of Iraq’s nuclear weapons development project justified the U,S, invasion of Iraq in 2003, even though other “weapons of mass destruction” (chemical and biologogical weapons) were not discovered by the U.S. invsion forces.
At the time, the USG asked Israel not to take out Iran’s nuclear development program, on the grounds that it would interfere with the u.S. invasion of Iraq. Israel agreed not to act against Iran’s nuclear development program at that time (2003). It it has subsequently had twenty-one years to take out Iran’s nuclear weapons development facilities and has failed to do so. Now in the fifty-ninth minute of the eleventh hour to bomb Iran’s centrifuges and enriched uranium and plutonium stockpiles. But even very late is better
Israel also has to deport all terror actors in judea/samaria to create a buffer