The Blogs: We Didn’t Win Anything–Yet

We didn’t win anything.

We–after October 7, and having suffered horrendous, gut-wrenching individual and family losses since then–avoided catastrophic national loss, we managed to hold on to most of what we have, and we inflicted significant damage on our enemies, who will now find it more difficult, at least in the immediate future, to realize their dream of our annihilation.

In short, we achieved some limited survival goals in the war. Not winning anything is fine, because we don’t need to win anything. We have everything we want and need, except peace, which is not available as long as militant Islam is in the ascendancy in the Arab world. All we can do is optimize our chances for continuing to survive and thrive in an inimical world, and position ourselves for victory in the next war.

There are, however, prizes to be had, and we may be in one of the most propitious time for realizing those since June 12, 1967, when we, blissfully unaware, frittered away countless opportunities.

Our first post-war task is recognizing and capitalizing on the national cohesion and resilience the people of Israel demonstrated during the war. This proved to be an incalculably valuable asset, and we should not allow it to dissipate. From among the citizens and soldiers who stepped up, a new generation of leaders must emerge, one which believes in and practices dialogue and mutual respect. The parties should take a year to find those people and include them in leadership, or new parties should form.

To facilitate greater cohesion in the community while at the same time eliminating unnecessary distractions, the Prime Minister should be pardoned and his trials terminated with prejudice in recognition of his service to the country. In return, and in recognition that the sizable contingent that hates him is not going away, he should agree to step down in 12 months, at which time there will be elections. We owe this man a huge debt of gratitude for his service to the country and he should be able to retire with dignity. (If necessary, a monitor can be appointed to see that he does not receive any cigars or negotiate for favorable press coverage.) His life’s mission of orchestrating a war against Iran’s nuclear program has been realized; he deserves a turn at the lucrative lecture circuit.

A few objectives should be on the agenda for his final year in office, so issues will either be resolved or framed for the election.

An independent commission on the massive failures in intelligence and planning prior to October 7 must be formed, with its investigation to be conducted and its report completed within six months. The country needs a definitive study of what deficiencies to avoid in the future.

A plan should be devised for the charedi draft that shows respect for tradition and also acknowledges the responsibility of every community to contribute in a way that does not create dissension and jealousy. Equitable treatment for young drafted charedi men is not inconsistent with religion or democracy. But the program needs to be perceived as fair. A community that opts out of service must be excluded from benefits.

The political parties should make a meaningful effort to determine the grounds for, and then reach, an agreement on judicial reform that preserves an independent judiciary, recognizes the primacy of some quasi-Constitutional Law, and respects legislation adopted by the majority in the Knesset. This issue tore the country apart for no good reason, because there are reasonable compromises to be made, short of a tyranny of the majority and an untethered court. If agreement is not reached, the issues should be clearly defined in the platforms of the parties, and all parties should agree to be bound by the election results without resorting to the streets.

While we are on the subject of streets, with Bibi departing and judicial reform resolved, rush hour traffic in Tel Aviv should be significantly improved. Win-win.

Ron Dermer, or some other talented American in control of his own ego, should be appointed Permanent Ambassador to Donald Trump. President Trump’s assistance in conducting the war and his support have been invaluable. He also bigfooted an end to the war, possibly earlier than would have been optimal. It is clear in every public utterance that the Prime Minister makes that he is painfully aware of how fragile and precarious his relationship–any relationship–with Trump is–just ask John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, Nikki Haley, etc. Someone with real skills should be monitoring and shaping his mood. We also need to cultivate Marco Rubio, who is predisposed to love us, and JD Vance, who is not.

The Israel-American partnership that concluded the war in such glory needs to be preserved and strengthened. It should not be taken for granted, especially in light of our fall from grace in Democrat circles. In that respect, if outreach to the Democrats is possible, we should give it a shot. But with AOC in the ascendancy in the House and the existing band of idiots in the Senate led by the repulsive Chuck Schumer, the outlook is dim for the present.

On the geopolitical front, this might be the most advantageous time for expansion of the Abraham Accords. We are perceived to be coordinated with the United States, it is a Trump vanity project, and Israel is now the strongest horse in the region, the hated and feared Iran having been exposed as a paper tiger. Everyone who is able will want to be our friend, or at least not be our enemy. Whatever gesture is necessary to the Palestinians short of statehood should be attempted, if it will induce the Saudis to participate in a regional compact for peace and development. If a moderate, reasonable Palestinian leadership ever arises, local autonomy and economic opportunity can be bartered for peaceful, demilitarized co-existence. Otherwise, some affiliation with Jordan may be the only way to permit the eventual annexation of Judea and Samaria. In any event, we should be entering into treaties and economic arrangements with our neighbors.

Avigdor Lieberman perspicaciously pointed out that we ended the war prematurely for political reasons (not that we had much of a choice), and that, as a result, there will be another war in two years. That may be so. We should try to minimize the possibility, but recognize that history supports his view. Accordingly, we must be vigilant to prevent the sort of situation that existed on October 6. Hamas must be routed even more completely, Hezbollah must be neutralized, and Iran should be compelled to abandon its nuclear and ballistic ambitions. Israel will need to maintain control over Iran’s skies to enforce these requirements.

All of this may seem a bit optimistic, but a tiny nation with a few million inhabitants just humbled a nation with 90 million people and a previously fearsome arsenal, neutralized an army on its Northern border in a matter of days through ingenuity and strategic brilliance, figured out, on the fly, a way to fight an urban war in Gaza against a trained force ensconced in an impregnable system of tunnels, placed military intelligence and operational forces on enemy territory. And that just scratches the surface.

Whether or not one sees God’s hand at work, what has been accomplished is undoubtedly some sort of miracle.

Let’s keep it going. I am available to consult, at exorbitant rates.

Personal note: I started writing this blog on October 8, 2023. I have written well over 100 blogs. I thank Times of Israel for providing a forum. Outside my personal circle, I don’t know whether anyone reads or enjoys them. I hope that I have provided some amusement, entertainment, or perspective. Anyway, I’m taking a break. If anyone really misses me or my writing, feel free to reach out through the avenues provided by TOI. Otherwise, bye for now.