Is time running out on Israel?

Israel has been at war for the past 492 days. Since October 7, more than 844 IDF soldiers and 69 police officers have died. To this, we must add the 1,200 civilians who were brutally killed that day. As an Israeli citizen of a democratic country, I want answers. I am tired of politicians and generals telling us that we “don’t understand,” that “not everything can be explained,” or that what they see from their offices is different from what we experience on the ground.

And let me surprise you—I don’t believe any of the past fact-finding commissions have achieved anything. The Agranat Commission did nothing; its recommendations were ignored. The IDF simply went back to its self-congratulatory belief that it is “the best army in the world” and moved on.

But to understand how we got here—and the dangers ahead—we must look at history.

A Shift in Military Thinking

The Yom Kippur War of 1973 marked the end of an era in the IDF. The once-mighty tank corps became synonymous with “a coffin on tracks.” The Sagger and RPG missiles devastated Israel’s armored units, proving that our traditional approach to warfare was outdated. A new strategy was needed.

That shift came in 1976 with Operation Entebbe. From that moment, the IDF moved away from its reliance on tank officers and embraced the era of the paratroopers and Special Forces. This “seat-of-the-pants” strategy began to dominate both military and political thinking.

At first, this bold, risk-taking approach had benefits. Israel was built on ingenuity, on making do with limited resources, and on taking calculated risks. This same mentality led to the rise of Israel’s tech sector long before it became fashionable. It pushed Israelis to explore global business opportunities while others hesitated. But what worked in business and technology did not necessarily translate into long-term military and political strategy.

The Illusion of Israel’s Importance to the U.S.

Ask most Israelis, and they will tell you: Israel is essential to the United States. Without Israel, the U.S. could not hold the Middle East. We are supposedly at the center of U.S. policy in the region.

In reality, many Americans are perplexed by the U.S.-Israel relationship. The Democratic Party is losing its old pro-Israel guard, replaced by a progressive wing that is highly critical of Israel—if not outright antisemitic. Meanwhile, American Jewry has assimilated to the point where Reform and Conservative Jews have little to no connection with Israel. Some of the most vocal anti-Israel protesters at Columbia, Harvard, Penn, UCLA, and Berkeley are affiliated with Jewish Voice for Peace—people who actively cheer for Hamas and mourn for Sinwar.

These Jews will not support Israel in the future. To them, Judaism is cultural—a matter of matzo ball soup and ham sandwiches, not a connection to Israel.

On the Republican side, Evangelicals support Israel for religious reasons, yet many return from visits to Jerusalem feeling unwelcome after being insulted by the Haredim and settlers. Even those who are supposed to be our allies come back disillusioned.

The Real Threat: Sayaritis

Israel’s biggest problem isn’t just corruption—it’s what I call Sayaritis.

People don’t look for a Prime Minister to lead the country; they want a leader from Sayeret Matkal. Why? No one can explain it. What skills does a special forces background provide for managing a nation? No one knows, but for many Israelis, it signifies something special. Say “Entebbe,” and people get chills.

Polls show Netanyahu and Bennett are running neck and neck. But wasn’t Bennett a disaster? Arrogant, distracted, always on his phone? Why do we keep electing the same kind of politicians when there are capable alternatives—people like Gil Shwed of Check Point, with decades of management experience and enough money to be un-bribable?

A Harsh Reality Check

America is drowning in debt, and sooner or later, Trump—or any future president—will put the brakes on Israel’s financial and military support. Look at Ukraine. Trump is already demanding a rare earth metals deal from them. When he asks, he demands. The same will happen with Israel.

Trump’s message will be clear:

“We should get all your tech for free. No more aid. We’ve given you billions and backed you when no one else did. Now it’s payback time.”

And when that happens, Israel’s VC-funded tech sector—the so-called startup sandbox—will panic. The money will dry up, and the same people who dismissed this warning will cry, “This is inconceivable!” But it won’t matter—Trump will get what he wants, or he’ll let the UN sanction us into submission.

The Future

If Israel doesn’t wake up, reality will hit us with a force that makes October 7 look minor. The Orthodox and National-Religious will have their usual excuses—Shabbat, Kashrut—but they will be hit hardest. Anyone who can leave, will. The country will be left in a very different place.

It’s time to wake up before it’s too late.