Gaza is NOT Israel’s Vietnam

The war in Gaza is continuing to take a significant toll as we learn about more fallen soldiers every week. Just last night (July 14), we learned about another three IDF soldiers killed in Gaza. As of today (July 15), 449 IDF soldiers were killed in Gaza during the current war in Gaza (not including October 7). In proportion to the size of population, this would mean the equivalent of 15,000 US soldiers killed.

In a small country like Israel, this means that everyone personally knows someone who was killed. Family, friends or community members. I personally know three of the fallen soldiers this month. Alon Farkas z”l served with my brother, Maayan Pearlstein z”l son of our friends and neighbors, and Rei Biran z”l from a neighboring community and nephew of our daughters elementary school teacher.

Politians and News Commentators compare Israel’s current situation in Gaza to the American’s situation during the war in Vietnam.

As an IDF combat reserve soldier who served in Gaza, I would like to strongly disagree with this comparison.

First and most importantly, Israel’s war in Gaza is a defensive war that was forced apon Israel after attacked by bloodthirsty enemies who slaughtered and raped innocent Israeli civilians.

Unlike the war in Vietnam, Israel was attacked within its sovereign borders. Israeli citizens were murdered in their homes. This itself is a completely different scenario than the war in Vietnam.

Secondly, Israel’s war in Gaza has two goals that are considered consensus among Israelis; to release of the Israeli hostages and eliminate Islamic terrorist groups who want to murder Jews and wish to destroy Israel. These goals have the support of nearly all Israeli people.

Having said this, many Israelis, including myself, are concerned about the way the war is managed.

I would suggest that most Israeli people ask the following questions; Why is the war taking so long. And why is the government responsible for the October 7th tragedy, still in power and managing the military campaign?

And the biggest question threatening do tare apart Isrseli society; Is the war in Gaza taking so long because the Israeli government is trying to buy more time as they try to avoid national investigation committee? Is the government hoping that by that time, at least their political base will forget their role in the October 7th massacre?

Israeli society is torn between those who believe Netanyahu and therefore are willing to pay the terrible cost of war, and those who question whether there are other interests that effect decision making. Having said that, I would also like to suggest another huge difference between the current situation in Gaza and the war in Vietnam, and that is the motivation of the soldiers in field.

Unlike Vietnam, despite the challenges, moral is extremely high among the IDF soldiers. This is definitely true among the young Israeli combat soldiers and is also relevant to most IDF reservist.

This fact is absolutely mind blowing.

Unlike most situations in war history, where combat soldiers were tired of war, books will be written about the amazing spirit of IDF combat soldiers. We are witnessing a generation of fighters. A generation of young men and women who are willing to sacrifice their lives in order to protect their country. Despite the difficulties and challenges, Israeli 18 years-olds are drafting to the IDF with more motivation than ever before.

There is a wait list to Israeli combat units. Israeli programs that prepare high school students and graduates for the military service are completely full and have long wait lists as well.

When speaking with these incredible young people, their passion is inspiring.
Unlike the Israeli society that is torn because the political questions I mentioned earlier, these young men and women are completely above these questions. They are 100 percent committed to the two goals of the war; bringing back the hostages and the destruction of terrorists on Israeli borders. Nothing else matters to them.
So every time I’m asked whether the war in Gaza is similar to the American war in Vietnam, my answer is simple – NO. NOT AT ALL.