From the Second Lebanon War to Regional War

The Second Lebanon War was probably the last time Israel was going to be able to focus on fighting in a single front. The next war may well be a regional war. This strategic shift will require a significant increase in the order of IDF forces and preparation of the Israeli public for the kind of war it has not seen since the War of Independence.

Israel and the Holy See

For many years, the Jewish people of Israel have been effectively paying the taxes of the Catholic Church and other churches in Jerusalem and elsewhere in Israel. It is high time not only for the churches to start paying the taxes they owe the State of Israel but to restore the vast troves of property looted from the Jewish people and stolen from their heritage by the church over a period of centuries.

Tehran Tests Joe Biden in Afghanistan and Beyond

The Iranian regime views Biden as a weak president who can be safely challenged. Greatly encouraged by the American debacle in Afghanistan, Iran’s new hardline president Ebrahim Raisi has declared a new Russian-Chinese-Iranian alliance and promised an aggressive policy toward the US.

Biden’s Foreign Policy and the Pursuit of “Legitimacy”

The Biden administration’s foreign policy is based on the concept of “legitimacy.” Constantly excusing Iranian actions, including military attacks, in order to pursue supposedly legitimacy- granting negotiations; and admonishing the Taliban about their “legitimacy” in the eyes of the international community are examples of a moralistic approach to norms and institutions. This approach alleges to bolster a narrative of American “legitimacy,” but is in fact designed for American consumption as a cover for neglect of US interests. As the gap between rhetoric and reality increases, American trust in US institutions continues to decline.

The Ingathering of the Exiles Is Not Over

Diaspora Minister Nachman Shai’s claim that it is not his job to encourage Aliya to Israel negates the very purpose of Zionism, as understood and emphasized by the leaders of the founding generation. First and foremost among those leaders was David Ben-Gurion, who saw the ingathering of the exiles as “the yearning, destiny, and mission of the State of Israel.”

Mr. Bennett Goes to Washington

The waning of American influence in the Middle East not only indicates that the world superpower is in retreat, and perhaps even in its twilight—but that Israel’s fate is tied to that retreat.

The Taliban Victory as a Victory of Faith

The American defeat in Afghanistan will have a direct impact on Israel. Like the pseudo-government foisted by the Americans on Kabul, which, despite massive investment, proved a broken reed, the PA and its security mechanisms will collapse in time against its Islamist adversaries, notably Hamas. For all its overwhelming material and technological superiority, the IDF stands no chance of defeating Israel’s Islamist enemies unless its soldiers are driven by a relentless belief in the national cause.

Into the Heart of a Hezbollah Terror Tunnel

The Arabic language desk of the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit marked 15 years since the Second Lebanon War by inviting Israeli media commentators to visit a Hezbollah terror tunnel on the border with Lebanon. I was one of the participants.

The Taliban and al-Qaeda: What Next?

The Taliban proved that they value loyalty when they rejected US and Saudi pressure to hand over Osama bin Laden no matter the cost. The Taliban have since come to appreciate al-Qaeda’s fighting skills and contributions to the Afghan jihadists’ cause, and their return to power seems good news for the Islamist terrorist group.

Little Enthusiasm in the Middle East for the Taliban Victory

The effect of visuals has often plagued the West in its war against terrorism. Now, the visual material from Afghanistan is coming to haunt the Islamists in the Middle East. Hamas cannot wax enthusiastic over Taliban when "the man in the street" in Kabul shows such a grim face.

Perspectives Papers