As the country quickly returns to routine after a historic 12-day war, we are just as swiftly reminded of the troublesome neighborhood we live in – the Middle East.
In this never-ending whirlwind of a country, where survival is a daily task, hearing President Donald Trump order the Israeli government, in the most blatant fashion, to hold back from a response following Iran’s murder of innocent civilians in a two-hour bombardment after the ceasefire commenced leaves us in a bigger predicament than we could have imagined.
The political decision to tie our fate to the United States has often served us, especially under the current administration. The US’s contribution on the various battlefronts Israel faces is undeniable. And yet, we cannot ignore the basic fact that the goals of both countries are not one and the same.
Israel was created as a safe haven to allow Jews from around the world to rise from the ashes of the Holocaust, to live free from terror, and to rebuild the land of our ancestors. These goals always came with one important promise: Never again. Not just as a slogan, but as a commitment to the future.
Trump deciding for Israel how it will defend itself, or how it should handle its internal affairs, should raise warning signs amongst our decision makers. To place our security in the hands of a foreign country, friendly or foe, is a dangerous precedent we cannot possibly allow, regardless of the close bonds the heads of state may share.
Thanks to the efforts made over the years to slow down their nuclear program, Israel has been able to withstand the threats and has now miraculously created the potential for a new Middle East.
The Iranian regime, though, has not once hinted at any intention to cease its drive toward nuclear capabilities, nor has it announced that it will no longer threaten Israel or the US.
Hold on to rights as a sovereign state
Therefore, we must hold on dearly to our rights as a sovereign state. If we were to outsource this right, with no ability to react when needed, we would lose our defensive superiority and again be tested by our enemies. This is key to our survival, our future, and our ability to persevere as a nation.
Israel is not the 51st state of the United States. Administrations come and go, and our future depends on our independence. We must remember that before we place our fate in an unknown territory that we cannot possibly control. It is now our turn to say loud and clear: Don’t.
The writer is a media and foreign affairs consultant.