Militarily Strong, Politicly Weak
Karl von Clausewitz, the famous military theorist, noted back in the 19th century that “war is the continuation of politics by other means”. Accordingly, the use of military force should ultimately serve political objectives.
Over the past three years, Israel has achieved unprecedented military successes against Iran and its proxies. It has neutralized most of the capabilities of Israel’s enemies: Hezbollah, Hamas, and Assad’s Syrian army, while inflicting severe damage on Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. Israel has also eliminated many of the individuals who dedicated themselves to the destruction of the Jewish state, including the leaders of the Axis of Resistance, Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei, Nasrallah, Deif, Sinwar, and the list goes on.
On the diplomatic front, however, Israel has suffered a severe setback. Israel’s standing in the West has eroded dramatically. Israel is losing the bipartisan support in the United States; its relations with European countries are increasingly strained, and younger generations in the West are becoming increasingly hostile toward Israel. Meanwhile, Jewish communities in the diaspora are facing a dangerous rise in antisemitism and attacks on Jewish communities.
As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed a few days ago, Israel must prepare for substantial sanctions that could harm its economy. Just days earlier, the prime minister also presented a new National Security Strategy for Israel, one based on domestic production capabilities, prolonged wars, and preparations for the termination of American aid within several years.
The State of Israel has officially designated the current war as the War of redemption. Redemption, however, can never be solely military; it must include political goals that will result in a an improved reality for the Jewish state. Such a political revival could be achieved by rebuilding relations with countries around the world, including Europe; restoring the Bipartisan support in the US; implementing President Trump’s 20-point plan; renewing discussions on expanding the Abraham Accords; reaching security agreements with Syria and Lebanon improving Israel’s public diplomacy; and strengthening ties with Jewish communities in the Diaspora.
The fact that all of these objectives are hard to achive – does not mean Israel should give up in the first place and adopt a National Security Strategy based on the assumptions of political isolation. Israel should continue striving to be a thriving democracy and economy in the Middle East, sharing common values with the United States and Western countries, while improving its relations with the Arab states of the region.
Adopting a national strategy based primarily on military capabilities will not, in my view, translate into a prosperous future for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel. Instead, as the Prime Minister himself has indicated, it could lead to international sanctions and the termination of American assistance.
Israel must ask itself where it wants to be and what strategy it intends to pursue to get there.
