MOSHE HILL OPINION COLUMNS SEPTEMBER 25 2024
In a story so unbelievable that it would be rejected by a Hollywood studio for being too unrealistic, Israel managed to decimate Hezbollah in three days. What was unleashed last week upon the Lebanon-based terror organization is nothing short of a modern miracle. Of course, all the worst people in the world are attacking Israel for going after an enemy that has fired thousands of rockets at them for the past year. The reaction from the American media and political class is, for the most part, morally abhorrent.
Israel’s intelligence operation that created a beeper company that sold beepers to Hezbollah only to have them blow up later should be applauded by everyone who doesn’t like terrorists. But there are those who were upset by it. In fact, you can essentially tattoo an “I like terrorists” on their forehead. Take, for example, the reaction of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who said that “This attack clearly and unequivocally violates international humanitarian law and undermines US efforts to prevent a wider conflict.” Or former CIA Director Leon Panetta, who said to CBS, “I don’t think there’s any question it’s a form of terrorism.” Or how about the former UK Labour leader, who referred to it as a “war crime” and claimed that “There is only one reasonable response: end all arms sales to Israel, now,” a sentiment echoed by Bernie Sanders. These people prefer terrorists to Western allies.
The operation, as we all know, was a massive success, and the most targeted strike on terrorists embedded in a civilian operation ever seen. The following day, when Hezbollah moved their communication to walkie-talkies, Israel blew those up. The day after that, when Hezbollah leadership met to discuss their next plan of attack, Israel bombed the meeting location, killing dozens of top Hezbollah leaders.
This was a Three-Day War against Hezbollah, and essentially all that is left is cleanup. As Hezbollah fruitlessly lobs missiles against northern Israel, which are either being shot down by Iron Dome or landing in fields, Israel is performing targeted strikes on Hezbollah targets, hitting thousands of these targets with precision.
The question that could be asked is: Why now? Why did Israel choose to strike back at Hezbollah now after months of being on the receiving end of rocket attacks, the largest of which resulted in the death of 12 Druze children back in August? There are likely multiple factors, none of which will be publicized for reasons of national security. It could be that the war in Gaza was taking too much priority. It could be that the pager bombs were going to be discovered or otherwise rendered inoperable. It could also be that Israel is reading the polling in the U.S. elections.
Israel needs to always contend with international pressure when it exerts its military power over those who seek its destruction. Much of the world would prefer to see Israel wiped off the map, as we can see in every Israel-related resolution brought before the United Nations. What Israel could usually count on is a friendly America to help keep the ghouls at bay.
This is no longer a given. Since Jimmy Carter, Democratic presidents have gotten progressively worse regarding the U.S.-Israel relationship. It was under Bill Clinton that the idea that Israel would trade towns in Judea and Samaria for a peace deal really took hold. It was under Barack Obama that daylight shone between the two allies, with Obama’s personal dislike of Benjamin Netanyahu becoming well-known. It was under Joe Biden that October 7 occurred. Democrats are coming out of the woodwork to try and fundamentally change the U.S.-Israel relationship. So, for Israel, what are they to do if Kamala Harris wins?
Harris, unlike Biden, is an alive person. Biden had no reaction to Israel’s actions because he is no longer capable of a reaction. He had nothing to say after nearly a year of Israeli citizens having to be evacuated from their homes because of relentless rocket fire, or the need for Israel to build a hospital 50 feet underground to protect itself. In fact, the only thing the Biden-Harris White House said, through their spokesman John Kirby, is: “We believe that there are better ways to try to get those Israeli citizens back in their homes up in the north, and to keep those that are there, there safely, than a war, than an escalation, then opening up a second front there at that border with Lebanon against Hezbollah.” Well, if there was a better way, you’d think they would share it with Israel.
Israel cannot afford to find out what Kamala Harris would do if she is sitting in the Oval Office. Their best bet to destroy their enemy is to do so while Joe Biden’s comatose body is popped up like Weekend at Bernie’s behind the Resolute Desk. The problem is that every country can see this as well. So while it’s a good thing that Israel attacked Hezbollah when it did, it would be a terrible thing if China attacked Taiwan, or Russia increased its offensive in Ukraine, or North Korea gets more aggressive, or any of the dozen other possibilities that could happen when America is leaderless.
Israel needs to do what it needs to do. The only thing we, as American Jews who love the State of Israel, can do is support it through charitable donations, prayer, and of course, voting for the most pro-Israel president in American history, Donald Trump, to return to office.
