Soldier’s Notes: The War, the Visit, and the Value of Resolve

The Israeli war in Gaza is entering its most intense and possibly final phase: Operation Gideon Chariots. But after nearly 600 days of warfare, the toll on the national psyche is immense. Emotions are frayed. The home front, once marked by unity, now shows signs of internal fracture: protests, finger-pointing, and growing fatigue. Within this fog of uncertainty, one message must be made clear, especially from those of us who are serving on the front lines—we must remain united, focused, and positive.

Our mission remains unchanged: defeat Hamas, release the hostages, and restore security to the State of Israel. These are not goals that can be met with hesitation or internal division. They require the strength of our people—emotional, moral, and spiritual. And it is precisely in this spirit that I call upon Israeli society to interpret recent international developments—particularly Donald Trump’s Middle East visit.

Inside Israel, it has been met with confusion, skepticism, even despair. Much attention has gone to what wasn’t done—a visit to Israel itself—and what was: major economic engagements in Saudi Arabia, a Qatari luxury plane gifted to Trump, an apparent thaw in relations with Syria’s regime under the shadowy figure Ahmed al-Sharaa, and the reportedly limited Israeli coordination in the release of hostage Idan Alexander. Throw the ongoing nuclear-deal talks with Iran into the mix, and you’ve got headlines that fuel anxiety and raise fears of diplomatic marginalization. But we should not look at the visit with despair but with clear-headed optimism, because within the deeper logic of diplomacy it contains layers of strategic value that may ultimately benefit our struggle more than expected. And that sort of spirit is what’s most needed at this moment in time.

The Two Layers of Diplomacy: Interests and Values

There is classic Talmudic analytical tool called “tsvei dinim” in Yiddish, or two laws. It’s a system of dual reading, a method of making sense of what seems contradictory. The surface may show tension, but underneath lies coherence and even opportunity. It seems we could apply this method in understanding the deeper logic of diplomacy as well.

Diplomacy functions along two central axes: interests and values. Interests are rooted in economics, power, and influence—what nations need and want. Interests are visible, tactical, and often short-term. They revolve around resources, trade, energy, or political capital. Values are the deeper commitments—cultural alignment, shared history, moral vision. Values are ideological, moral, and often long-term. They reflect shared identity, civilizational kinship, and political culture. While both matter, they are fundamentally different in how influence flows.

Interests often create influence by one side over the other, born of need. Values create alignment—shared influence, mutual loyalty. In diplomacy, recognizing this distinction is key. Interests shape deals; values shape alliances.

Interests First: The Economic Lens of Trump’s Visit

On the surface, Trump’s visit, was undeniably driven by interests: securing economic deals with the Gulf states, rejuvenating American manufacturing through arms sales, and attempting to re-establish influence in Syria.

His revived economic strategy requires regional economic growth, especially in oil-rich and capital-intensive countries. The mega-deals in Saudi Arabia, the stunning Qatari plane gift, and gestures toward Syria’s reintegration—all point to transactional diplomacy. Israel, with no oil or strategic energy reserves, is not a central actor in this economic game.

The economic nature of Trump’s agenda may seem cold, but it provides a platform for influence. Israel must take this moment to refine its global economic appeal. True, it is not in oil or gas, but as Adam Smith wrote in The Wealth of Nations, prosperity emerges when nations specialize in what they do best. Therefore Israel should double down on its uniqueness, defense technology, agricultural innovation, water engineering, cybersecurity, and even the spirit of its social resilience. That’s our way into the economic conversation.

In doing so, we not only strengthen our direct appeal to the U.S., but re-open recently fractured diplomatic doors with Europe and the moderate Arab world. The Abraham Accords are not a historical fluke; they are a template. Trump’s trip showed that with shared economic and security interests, new alignments are possible—even with former enemies.

Strategic Interests: Syria, Iran, the Saudi’s and Turkey’s Quiet Role

Beyond commerce, American regional strategic interests are shifting. This is the deeper meaning of interests, where finance aside, influence takes center stage. The softening stance toward Syria, a move which created shockwaves in Israel, may signal an effort to pull the regime—now fronted by Ahmed al-Sharaa—away from Iran and into the orbit of the Saudi-led Sunni bloc. That would weaken Iran’s strategic depth especially in relation to Lebanon, and complicate its general, regional entrenchment—a clear interest of both Israel and the U.S.

Syria, which is heavily dependent on Turkey but is warming ties with Saudi Arabia, could be the testcase for another puzzling question that is being asked in relationship to U.S. policy in the middle east, namely, the strategic relationship between the moderate Sunni bloc led by the former and the Muslim Brotherhood axis led by the latter. Trump has had seemingly friendly meetings with both the Saudi’s and Qatari’s. And while Trump did not visit Turkey, some speculate that Trump may be relying on Turkey, Syria’s main influencer, as a channel for Russia-Ukraine mediation, a clear interest of the Trump administration, meaning Ankara’s role in the region will be recalibrated. This may be a secondary motivation to the primary thrust of reducing Iran’s footprint in the Levant.

The constant mentioning of the Abraham Accords in every high-profile meeting, even in countries considered hostile to Israel, highlights it is still clearly an American interest, that serves both the U.S as Israel in their regional ambitions, meaning that the U.S. warming of ties with the moderate bloc and even with the more hostile one could not be all to bad for the Jewish state. For Israel, this creates a fragile but workable alignment: Turkey mediates; Syria softens; Iran weakens, Saudi opportunities open.

The Values Beneath: Why Israel Still Matters

Despite the economic and strategic focus of the trip, Israel’s presence was felt throughout. This signals that Israel remains central to the American worldview of regional order. It also affirms that while interests may shift, the shared values between Israel and the U.S.—democracy, resilience, innovation—persist. These values don’t need leverage to matter. They already align.

Israel has always thrived in its relationship with the United States not because of oil or arms, but because of shared values: democracy, rule of law, freedom, and the sacredness of human life. And though Trump’s visit focused on interests, it never abandoned these values. In fact, it reinforced them—precisely because Israel remained a constant theme in his discussions, even in the heart of Arab capitals. Trump may prioritize “America First,” but his actions still show recognition that Israel is valued in America’s moral universe.

This is why the psychological warfare of Hamas—like the release of Idan Alexander—is dangerous, but ultimately hollow. It was a carefully timed psychological tactic, aimed to create confusion about who our allies are, and what our future might be. But if we understand diplomacy as a system of two laws—of values and interests—we see that the bedrock of Israel’s relationship with the U.S. is not shaken. It is simply evolving.

Values endure where interests waver. Our true partnerships are not undone by shallow gestures. And although we must stand firm in preserving our own diplomatic interests, even though they might differ from American ones. The U.S.–Israel bond, while tested, remains rooted in a moral and civilizational partnership. That must not be forgotten.

A final note from the front

As a soldier, I do not write from an ivory tower. I write from the field, where comrades fall and rockets fly. I write from the knowledge that morale—ours and yours—is the most valuable weapon in war. If we allow doubt, division, or political toxicity to fracture our home front, we weaken the very lever that could bring our hostages home and break Hamas’ power. Our spirit on the battlefield is lifted when we feel the home front behind us. Our strength grows when the nation believes in our mission.

Trump’s trip was not a setback, we should stop doubting and speculating. It was a reminder: even in a world ruled by interest, Israel still matters because of who we are. Let’s meet this moment with unity, resilience, and belief—in the IDF, in our values, and in the justice of our cause. These are the values we need in order to win this war and bring our brothers home.

Let us move forward—not just with courage, but with resolve.