| Israel is almost single-handedly putting the global jihad out of business—and has in effect opened a new era in the Middle East. But instead of expressing gratitude to Israel for its unprecedented success against the forces of barbarism, the West has chastised it, and in many cases, even tried to prevent it from destroying the jihadis.
What’s worse, the U.S. and its Western allies risk missing a singular opportunity to shift the global balance of power to our advantage. Indeed, it behooves the West to seize this extraordinary moment of Islamist weakness to reshape politics and policies in the Middle East.
While President Biden has repeatedly touted his “ironclad” support for Israel, his administration has obstructed Israel’s campaign against the terrorists. In fact, if Israel had followed all of Biden’s directives, Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” would still be flourishing. Thus, it’s ironic, even laughable, that Team Biden is now trying to take credit for Israel’s success.
European nations have been most unhelpful, recognizing a Palestinian state that doesn’t exist and backing baseless accusations of genocide and war crimes against Israel at the UN and international kangaroo courts.
Israel’s utter destruction of Iran’s proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as decimating Iran’s military assets, has crippled the Islamic Republic’s influence in the region. It has also opened the door for the U.S. and/or Israel to attack its nuclear weapons program.
Other Middle East entities may also come into play. The recent fall of Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad—due in no small part to Israel’s paralyzing of Hezbollah— has also weakened Russia’s clout. With power vacuums in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, rich opportunities will surely arise to expand influence and even territory, depending on the actions of the new, revitalized U.S. government, as well as of Israel and Turkey.
Biden’s White House obstructed Israel’s efforts to defeat Iran’s “Axis of Resistance.” For starters, Team Biden pressured Israel not to conduct land assaults on Gazan cities like Khan Younis and Rafah—key bastions of Hamas’s terror network. It was in Rafah that Israeli forces located and killed Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the October 7th massacre, as well as thousands of Hamas fighters.
Team Biden also pressured Israel immensely in a failed attempt to force a premature ceasefire, which would have left Hamas terrorists in control of Gaza and primed to attack Israel again. Likewise, after futile efforts to block Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, Biden did succeed in pushing Israel into a ceasefire with Hezbollah—by withholding weapons shipments.
Bizarrely, after all Biden’s efforts to restrain Israel from its military successes, Biden now has the chutzpah to take credit for Israel’s work, claiming his “approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East.” (Seriously?)
Europe has been increasingly hostile toward Israel’s campaign against the global jihad. Despite violent attacks and uprisings in many European capitals by radical Islamist populations, the Europeans have actually worked to prevent Israel’s success against the global jihad. Spain, Ireland and Norway recognized a non-existent Palestinian state, rewarding the Palestinians for their genocidal October 7 massacre of Israeli Jews. Several European countries have also indicated they would honor International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants on trumped-up charges against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his former defense minister.
In addition to the U.S., the following nations ceased or suspended weapons shipments and licenses to Israel: Canada, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, the UK and France.
Israel has defeated Iran’s campaign to exert hegemony over the Middle East. Despite Western resistance, Israel managed to destroy the leadership and terrorist infrastructures of Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as Iran’s ICBM production, missile defense systems and a secret nuclear weapons lab. Iran’s power to influence affairs in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza thus lies crippled.
Israel’s dismantling of Hezbollah also allowed Syrian rebels to overthrow the Assad regime. These momentous accomplishments mean Iran can no longer use Syria to smuggle weapons to Hezbollah. It also signals a weakening of Russian influence in the Middle East, as Assad was a key Russian ally. His overthrow has triggered a mass exodus of Russian military forces from Syria.
Defeat of Iran’s allies and defenses exposes its nuclear weapons program to attack. Israel’s victories against Iran and its Axis of Resistance have left the Islamic Republic so severely debilitated that it can no longer deter strikes on its nuclear program. It knows any false moves in the region are certain to invite crushing U.S. or Israeli response.
The U.S. and Israel can now regain their positions as leading powers in the Middle East. Prior to and during Israel’s anti-jihadist campaign, due largely to perceptions of U.S. weakness, Arab countries began building closer relations with China and Russia. For example, the Saudis restored diplomatic relations with Iran last year through a deal brokered by China. Today, with Iran and Russia severely weakened, the incoming Trump Administration can bring the Arab states back into the American fold.
Likewise, Israel now controls wide protective buffer zones in Gaza, Lebanon and recently Syria. Indeed, Arab Druze villages in Southern Syria have unanimously requested that Israel annex their territory, since democratic Israeli rule would be far preferable than Sunni Islamist radicals, who would treat them ruthlessly as second-class citizens.
Welcome to a new balance of power in the Middle East. Before October 7, 2023, Iran was on the cusp of regional hegemony, with strong backing from Russia. Thanks to Israel, Iran’s ability to control affairs in the Middle East has been paralyzed, as has Russia’s influence over the region. Though challenges remain, the West, led by the U.S., now holds the advantage.
Still, Iran is down, but not out. It can rebuild its strength if allowed to. Turkey, whose leader is a fervently anti-Israel Islamist, has also gained power and influence after supporting the rebels who overthrew Assad. Israel and the U.S. must be vigilant, lest an Islamist Turkey replace Islamist Iran as the Middle East’s new chief belligerent
Please make the point when speaking with family, friends, colleagues—or in letters to the editor—that Israel’s extraordinary success against the Iran-led global jihad has given the U.S. and its Western allies a golden opportunity to reshape the Middle East for the better—an opportunity that should be carefully apprised and capitalized on.
If you agree we need to spread this truth, please use your email browser to forward this Hotline issue to fellow lovers of Israel—and encourage them to join us by subscribing to the Hotline at no charge.
Best regards,
Jason Shvili, Contributing Editor
Facts and Logic About the Middle East (FLAME)
P.S. Too often, American citizens take comfort in their insulation from Islamist violence roiling the Middle East, as well as cities in Europe. But the jihadists are clear that fighting Jews and Israel is just the beginning. At rallies in Iran—and increasingly in the U.S.—the crowds scream, “Death to Israel, Death to America.” They understand that Israel is just the tip of the spear of Western Civilization—because Israel was the birthplace of so many Western values. Today the Jewish state stands as one of the strongest democracies in the world—a defender of liberty and enemy of oppressive Middle East dictatorships and terrorism. I hope you’ll agree that we supporters of the Israel-U.S. relationship need to speak out. FLAME’s new hasbarah—explanatory message—“Israel’s War Is America’s War”—describes how Israel massively defends United States interests in the Middle East and how Israel represents a roadblock to Islamic expansion worldwide. Finally, it explains why the recent U.S. foreign policy of soft diplomacy and appeasement of Iran has failed consistently. Please review this convincing, fact-based editorial, which FLAME intends to publish to millions—in leading social media, as well as in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Tampa Bay Times, Denver Post and Los Angeles Times. This piece will also be sent to all members of Congress, the President and Vice President. If you agree that this kind of public relations effort on Israel’s behalf is critical, I urge you to support us with a donation.
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