Just like in the time of the Hasmoneans, today too—whether in Sydney, Australia, on the Temple Mount, or in the October 7 massacre—acceptance of us comes with a condition: that we Hellenize, or rather, Islamize. This is the demand of Iran and its proxies, and also of the Palestinian Authority, which continues to reject recognizing Israel as the Jewish state.
Australia’s recognition of Palestinian statehood led to Bondi Beach.
Throughout the war, terms drawn from the era of World War II have been invoked in various contexts: “Nazis,” “genocide,” “ethnic cleansing,” and more. Only one term has been conspicuously absent: Righteous Among the Nations.
From the pager operation to Operation Rising Lion, some of what has happened since the war began qualifies as a miracle. Not necessarily a supernatural one, but a miracle nonetheless, even if we ourselves are its agents.
The waves of antisemitism and acts of terror cannot be eradicated without an international strategy. What's needed is concrete action through draconian laws, including freezing bank accounts and cracking down on incitement to hatred of Jews in the streets and mosques.
The Iranian regime spends billions on worldwide influence operations that inspire attacks on Jewish communities, while its own citizens face water shortages and economic crisis.
Like the pogroms of centuries past, the massacre on the first night of Hanukkah teaches a grim lesson: there is no future for Jews in Australia anymore, not in Britain, and certainly not in France, Belgium or Canada. Our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, your place is here, even now.
Israel needs to move from basing relations with the US on a concept of shared values to basing relations on Israel's value as an asset to the US.
Jewish communities often find themselves on the front lines alone, without a coordinated Jewish defense system and without any rapid, professional response. A new approach is needed, one that creates a permanent global structure capable of providing a safety net and an immediate response in an emergency.
The sentence affirming our country’s right to exist is said only in relation to Israel. No other country needs approval for its very existence, just as no human being needs to be told that they are entitled to live.
