The Zionist world is in crisis. “We’re dealing with matters of life and death,” says Israel’s Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir. We need a robust, honest debate, in Israel and worldwide, with right-wingers questioning their faith in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest promise that this Gaza round will be decisive and left-wingers questioning their assumptions too.
Meanwhile, the world – and too many Diaspora Jews – dance to Hamas’s tune, sloppily echoing terms like “genocide” and “mass starvation” despite Israel sending 1,443,451 tons of food into Gaza, which journalist Eitan Fischberger estimates could feed 2.2 million Gazans for 937 days – without Hamas’s manipulation tactics.
Some Israeli leftists foolishly applaud the international onslaught, not realizing these attacks stiffen right-leaning spines and blacken their own country’s reputation. Boycotters spurn Israeli liberals too, increasingly shunning them silently so as to avoid backlash. Meanwhile, Diaspora Jews legitimizing the anti-Israel pile-on should beware: many anti-Bibi centrist Israelis are resentful, as our children hit day 300-plus of reserves, and they continue to mourn friends.
I fear the growing rift – even as my own feelings of being betrayed grow.
Let’s temper the tantrums with my six favorite “Ts”: integrity, humility, complexity, solidarity, creativity, and positivity.
I am not dodging these issues. Let’s debate Israel’s leadership vacuum, the Gaza war confusion, and the surge of antisemitism. But looking through my historian’s lens helps me appreciate our battlefield morality and achievements, while these “Ts” sharpen my Zionist vision.
The six Ts
The first is integrity. I’m stunned by the rush to judge, the inconsistency, and the swallowing of big lies – only regarding Israel. Long-distance know-it-alls judge Israel so harshly, despite never having fired a shot in the chaos of war or being targeted by terrorists. Most don’t bother learning how complicated the Gaza war is or understanding the rules of urban warfare that the IDF – our kids – follow as scrupulously as other democratic armies.
The hypocrisy is shocking. Americans who ignored the civilians killed, the hospitals mistakenly bombed, and the widespread food insecurity while their own troops fought in Iraq and Afghanistan are suddenly condemning Israel, without acknowledging the “fog of war.” I resent their gullibility – one of my least favorite “Ts.”
A biased media bombards people with distorted images. Hamas lies, then feels emboldened because its gambit worked. And Israel’s reputation suffers – even among Jews. People with integrity should take a breath and be more empathetic toward Israel, the democratic country fighting Jihadi terrorists and their cheerleaders worldwide. Judge with humility and learn to live with complexity.
I live only 62 miles from Gaza. I keep interrogating soldiers, reservists, and officers – including my heroic children and their superstar friends. I read obsessively. And I’ve concluded authoritatively: this Gaza mess is complicated.
I’m not sure what Israel should do. Since October 8, I have warned Israel’s leaders against over-promising. It took Americans a decade to find Osama bin Laden and it’s hard to eliminate movements like Hamas. But, as with Hezbollah and Iran, Israel degraded Hamas militarily, humiliated them publicly, and exposed their evil.
Anyone absolutely sure they know how to free every hostage is delusional. I, for one, doubt Hamas will release them all voluntarily. However, I am sure that the worldwide denunciations of Israel harden Hamas’s heartlessness. For this reason, I keep asking critics, “What do you propose?”
If more people started debates with question marks, not exclamation points – acknowledging their limited knowledge and experience – our discussions would be less explosive and, maybe, occasionally, productive.
With Israel in such a hornet’s nest, facing such evil enemies, and with 20 living hostages still languishing, it’s reasonable to expect more solidarity too. Blind loyalty isn’t needed, but fellow Jews and liberal-democrats worldwide should give Israel the benefit of the doubt because Hamas benefits from the widespread mistrust directed at Israel.
Why ape Hamas propaganda? We should question the media bombardment against Israel and the hysterical cries of “genocide” and “mass starvation” – overstating and exacerbating an admittedly tragic situation.
Years ago, facing a less agonizing Gaza conflict, Amos Oz asked an interviewer, “What would you do?” I ask critics the same. Tap into your creativity. Don’t just merge your TDS – Trump Derangement Syndrome – with your BDS – Bibi Derangement Syndrome. Offer constructive suggestions for freeing the hostages and protecting Israelis from the murderous rape-hungry Jihadis next door.
Finally, my favorite “T” – positivity. We’re building toward a new Jewish year and school year. Our enemies want every discussion about Israel and Zionism to focus on Bibi, the war, Gaza, and the Palestinians. Yet the Jewish and Zionist conversations are more transcendent. Let’s address today’s challenges honestly and thoughtfully, without missing eternal opportunities too.
I’ll be blunt: Anyone who defines Israel solely by the war that Hamas imposed on it is playing into Hamas’s hands. Regardless of where we stand on this war, we should all stand with Israel – and help spark a Zionist renewal. We need to teach our kids – and, alas, many older Jews too – why Zionism emerged, what it accomplished, and why it remains meaningful worldwide.
Let’s build a big, broad blue-and-white tent, emphasizing Jews’ intertwined fate, shared values, and common culture – while inviting non-Jews to learn from Zionism’s formula for national revival, collective action, and individual fulfillment.
Even amid today’s political, military, and diplomatic tribulations, let’s reaffirm our commitment to “Hatikvah,” the hope that we Jews will continue living as a free people in our homeland, the Land of Zion – which these days requires crushing our enemies and making sure they fear us more than we fear them.
Balancing this all requires two more “Ts”: subtlety – and maturity.
The writer, a senior fellow in Zionist thought at the Jewish People Policy Institute, is an American presidential historian. His latest books, To Resist the Academic Intifada: Letters to My Students on Defending the Zionist Dream and The Essential Guide to October 7th and Its Aftermath, were just published.