Strategic Conquest

Israel’s using armed forces to engage her foes, on at least seven fronts; Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, Iraq, Yemen, and Iran. Given so many encounters, let alone given the copious amount of oppositional, international declamations that we’re actively deflecting, the question remains as to how we can bring about strategic ends. Understand,

[t]he strategic level [of war] focuses on defining and supporting national policy and relates directly to the outcome of a war or other conflict as a whole. Usually, modern wars and conflicts are won or lost at this level…

The operational level is concerned with employing military forces in a theater of war or theater of operations to obtain an advantage over the enemy and thereby attain strategic goals through the design, organization, and conduct of campaigns and major operations… a campaign consists of a series of related military, economic, and political operations to accomplish a common objective in a given time and space…

[Finally,] The tactical level translates potential combat power into success in battles and engagements through decisions and actions that create advantages when in contact with or in proximity to the enemy. Tactics deal in the details of prosecuting engagements and are extremely sensitive to the changing environment of the battlefield (“Three Levels of War”).

Sometimes, it seems that Israel loses mêlées in her journey to winning the war. Initially, Israel was “unaffected by postmodern military ideas, only to be overwhelmed by them in the 1990s with the onset of the Oslo Accords and the [‘]peace process[.’ According to this view,] technology [makes] territory obsolete [think nuclear weapons]” (Isaac). Meaning, our response to our enemies has become increasingly “complex,” i.e., it has become less reliant on individual skirmishes and more on an overarching picture.

For instance, “for the Abraham Accords to expand, the IDF must be allowed to pacify Gaza and rid it once and for all of the death cult called Hamas and its partners like Islamic Jihad. Only then will the Muslim Brotherhood truly be defeated” (Mark). Our newest plan is to completely control Gaza (“Netanyahu says” [sic]) while making friendenemies out of some of our some of our foes (Fabian).

Viz., in Lebanon, apparently, we’re acting on the belief that “[s]ometimes, it is best to bring your chess pieces back a step or two in order to regroup your defenses and prepare for an offensive that will bring one closer to check mate” (Schneider). In any case, that “chess board” was shaken up with the pager explosions (Tidy). Meanwhile, in Syria, too, our approach has shifted. The overthrow of the Assad regime (Adar et. al.) changed our gameplan.

In the West Bank, in the “settlements,” in specific Israeli communities including Ma’ale Adumim, Beitar Illit, Pisgat Ze’ev, and Eli, we utilize several approaches. We station soldiers in Shomron and demolish homes in refuge camps “[t]o prevent the return and entrenchment of gunmen” (Yohanan). Neverheless, mostly, we “seek to secure Israel’s control … by establishing spatial dominance” (Arieli).

Anet Iraq, simply, “Shia leadership is trying to rein in domestic Iranian-backed paramilitaries to shield the country from becoming a new battleground in the Middle East” (Hadad). We’re watching the goings-on. Per Yemen, allegedly, we’ve destroyed the Houthis’ last aircraft (Bob and Stein) yet we’re still being attacked by their missiles. Finally, in the matter of Iran, President Trump has, as a minimum, and in public, urged Israel to hold off from taking actions against Ian’s nuclear program (Reuters). Private communications about this concern, plus Israel’s plans, remain unknown.

All in all, we’re exercising an array of schemes to physically safeguard Eretz Yisrael. All the same, despite our weapon-backed insurances, the world remains unimpressed, even actively antisemitic. Others’ articulated hatred ranges from “white supremacist rhetoric, [‘]The Great Replacement[’]” (ADL) to “general,” rabid sentiments (Laris and Elwood). It similarly includes injury (Epstein) and murder (Matza). Hence, we’re fighting not just nations but ideologies.

Whereas we need soldiers and munitions to contend with armies, we need to examine and to improve our middot to content with global ill-will. Consider that it was only after we complained about our lives, upon leaving Egypt, that we were attacked by Amalek, and that, presently, it’s only after we puff ourselves up that we get personally or professionally tripped.

In other words, we need to do our martial histadlut and, additionally,

to figure out what exactly is stopping each of us from actualizing [our] desire[to be close to Hashem]. The truth is that all of us have “many motives” (cheshbonos rabim)…We are taught by our early Sages [that ‘t]rue perfection is attachment to Hashem… Hashem is not only a source of Siyata D’Shmaya\Heavenly assistance to us, and He is not just the source of our prayers. Hashem is the very essence of life itself! (“The Purpose of Everything”).

Three times a day, in “The Shemona Esrei,” we implore, “O behold our affliction and wage our battle; redeem us speedily for the sake of Your Name, for You G‑d are the mighty redeemer. Blessed are You L-rd, Redeemer of Israel (Kehot Publishing Society).

Like Yoseph preparing to face Esau, we must make use of operational and tactical approaches when dealing with our adversaries. Nonetheless, equally, we must pray to The Almighty for deliverance. Only after embracing all of these strategies will we be victorious.

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Sources:

Adar, Sinem, Muriel Asseburg, Hamidreza Azizi, Margarets Klein, and Guido Steinberg. “The Fall of the Assad Regime: Regional and International Power Shifts.” Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik. 25 Feb. 2025. swp-berlin.org/publikation/the-fall-of-the-assad-regime-regional-and-international-power-shifts. Accessed 28 May 2025.

Antidefamation League. “[‘] The Great Replacement:[’} An Explainer.” ADL. 19 Apr. 2021. adl.org/resources/backgrounder/great-replacement-explainer. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.

Arieli, Shaul. “West Bank Settlements.” Israel Policy Forum. israelpolicyforum.org/west-bank-settlements-explained. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Bob, Yonah Jeremy and Amichai Stein. “Israel destroys Houthis’ final aircraft in strike on Saana International Airport” [sic]. The Jerusalem Post. 28 May 2025. jpost.com/breaking-news/article-855713. Accessed 28 May 2025.

Epstein, Kayla. “All Jewish Americans are questioning their security’ after violent antisemitic attacks” [sic]. The British Broadcasting Corporation. 4 Jun. 2025. bbc.com/news/articles/c9915k219r8o. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Fabian, Emanuel. “Sources confirm Israel arming Gazan gang to bolster opposition to Hamas” [sic]. Times of Israel. 5 Jun. 2025. timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/sources-confirm-israel-arming-gazan-gang-to-bolster-opposition-to-hamas. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Hadad, Hamzeh. “Avoiding the next front: Iraq’s fight to stay out of the Israel-Iran conflict” [sic]. European Council on Foreign Relations. 29 Nov. 2024. ecfr.eu/article/avoiding-the-next-front-iraqs-fight-to-stay-out-of-the-israel-iran-conflict. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Isaac, David. “Why Hamas Still Stands: Military Doctrine Drives IDF Thinking.” 21 Jun. 2025. israelunwired.com/why-hamas-still-stands-failed-military-doctrine-drives-idf-thinking/?utm_source=israelunwired.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=why-hamas-still-stands-failed-military-doctrine-drives-idf-thinking-leftist-no-more-from-tragedy-to-truth-about-gaza-electrifying-support-from-trump-s-team-it-s-game-time&_bhlid=4dfea92562ccd0a9032f459695ba025b3e5cd1fa. Accessed 28 May 2025.

Kehot Publishing Society. “Translation of the Weekday Amidah.” Chabad.org. chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/867674/jewish/Translation. Accessed 28 May 2025.

Laris, Michael and Karina Elwood. “They gathered to turn ‘pain into purpose.’ Then gunfire shattered their peace” [sic]. The Washington Post. 25 May 2025. washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/05/25/shooting-jewish-capital-museum-gunman. Accessed 28 May 2025.

Mark, David. “What’s Really Going on with the Ceasefire?” Israel Unwired. 16 Jan. 2025. israelunwired.com/whats-really-going-on-with-the-ceasefire/?utm_source=israelunwired.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=what-s-really-going-on-with-the-ceasefire&_bhlid=0399ac210dcc015a5c341d52b69b6350b6a9a1fe. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.

Matza, Max and Nadine Yousif. “Suspect charged with murder of two Israeli embassy workers in Washington DC“ [sic]. The British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 May 2025. bbc.com/news/articles/c0mr8x9vjwgo. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Murphy, Matt and Joe Tidy. “What we know about the Hezbollah device explosions” [sic]. 20 Sep. 2024. The British Broadcasting Corporation. bbc.com/news/articles/cz04m913m49o. Accessed 28 May 2025.

“Netanyahu says war will continue until all parts of Gaza under Israeli control” [sic]. The British Broadcasting Corporation. 21 May 2025. bbc.com/news/live/cjwqqnlgn1vt. Accessed 28 May 2025.

Reuters. “Trump says he told Israel’s Netanyahu not to act against Iran” [sic]. 28 May 2025. reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-calls-new-york-times-report-iran-nuclear-talks-fake-news-2025-05-28. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Schneider, Phil. “Ben Shapiro Explains Exactly Why Israel Agreed to a Ceasefire in Lebanon.” Israel Unwired. 30 Nov. 2024. israelunwired.com/ben-shapiro-explains-exactly-why-israel-agreed-to-a-ceasefire-in-lebanon/?utm_source=israelunwired.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=ben-shapiro-explains-exactly-why-israel-agreed-to-a-ceasefire-in-lebanon-terrifying-must-see-film-jihad-in-america-exposing-the-lies-holding-liberal-media-like-the-view-accountable&_bhlid=fbb8ff2970370a3a7703cb94bfebe6a906ce1ac2. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.

“The Purpose of Everything—Searching for Hashem.” Bilvavi.net. bilvavi.net/english/bilvavi-part-6-chapter-02-purpose-everything-–-searching-hashem. Accessed 27 Feb. 2024.

“Three Levels of War.” Air and Space Power Mentoring Guide. Vol. 1. Excerpt. Maxwell AFB, AL: Air UP, 1997. faculty.cc.gatech.edu/~tpilsch/INTA4803TP/Articles/Three%20Levels%20of%20War=CADRE-excerpt.pdf. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

Yohanan, Nurit. “As IDF demolishes hundreds of houses in West Bank camps, residents are determined to return” [sic]. Times of Israel. 22 May 2025. timesofisrael.com/as-idf-demolishes-hundreds-of-houses-in-west-bank-camps-residents-are-determined-to-return. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.