Last week, Israel was in an uproar following Ben & Jerry's decision not to renew its contract with the Israeli franchisee at the end of 2022 over the latter's refusal to stop selling the company's products in Judea and Samaria. The prime minister spoke passionately against the boycott; the foreign minister declared Israel would turn to states in the US that already have anti-BDS laws on their books to sanction the parent company; Israel's ambassador to the UN raised the issue with 35 US governors; and Ben & Jerry's Israeli franchisee asked the public for its support. We must bear in mind that this entire response is over a contract decision that could ultimately be reversed and, at least as of now, hasn't caused any damage.

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In contrast, the attorney general's decision to force the education minister to grant the Israel Prize for Mathematics and Computer Science to Prof. Oded Goldreich, who has supported the BDS movement for years and just recently called for the boycott of Ariel University, has been met with thundering silence. The prime minister hasn't said a word. The foreign minister hasn't issued any declarations on the matter. No one has called for sanctions. It is, simply, political grandstanding of the highest order.

Goldreich, as a reminder, is an esteemed professor of computer sciences at the Weizmann Institute and a prominent member of organizations that believe the correct way to "teach" the Israeli public, which repeatedly votes for right-wing parties, is through international sanctions. Alongside the blunt remarks Goldreich has made for years against IDF soldiers and officers, the IDF's legal system and more, he has consistently supported calls for the imposition of international sanctions against Israel. In 2005, for example, Goldreich signed a letter to the editor of the British Guardian newspaper justifying the boycott of Israeli academic institutions; in 2011, Goldreich signed a petition calling for the boycott of goods manufactured in Judea and Samaria; in 2019, he signed a petition to the German parliament to prevent it from outlawing a German BDS group; and in 2021, Goldreich signed a petition calling for the boycott of Ariel University. It should be noted that these instances represent just a tiny portion of his robust and consistent anti-Israel activities over the years.

Contrary to Ben & Jerry's, which announced a future intention and was met (justifiably) with vehement responses from the Israeli government, Goldreich has already caused real damage to Israeli academia. Conversations I've had with the senior officials from Ariel University have shed light on the immense harm Goldreich's actions have caused the university, its researchers and students. Researchers from other universities, who overcame their concerns over their colleagues' reactions, told me personally that Goldreich's actions have damaged Israeli academia.

Israel cannot seriously ask its friends around the globe to act tenaciously against boycotts while bestowing this prestigious honor on Goldreich in the same breath. This is flagrant hypocrisy and diplomatic idiocy. The amount of pressure I received following my decision not to give Goldreich the prize, including from within the State Attorney's Office, indicates, sadly, that there are those who believe we can ask of our friends what we don't ask of ourselves. This is a bitter mistake. My hope is for good judges with the courage and integrity to prevent turning the Israel Prize into a prize for boycotters of Israel.

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Excitedly, and with a great sense of devotion, the 2020-21 school year opened on Tuesday. Nursery school teachers, upper-grade teachers, and principals showed up at thousands of schools nationwide, in every sector, and once again took on with love the mission that is so important to creating real power for Israel – nurturing our children.

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Our children's education has an influence on every area of life. The values a child is taught determine what kind of adult he or she will be. The tools we give them in school will serve as a base for their ability to continue to learn and become good, involved citizens.

The Zionist movement does not have a prominent enough place in the current curriculum. Zionism is what created the most meaningful change in the history of the Jewish people after the destruction of the Second Temple – it is what led to the founding of Israel and the creation of its defender, the IDF. The history of Zionist activity and the values it represents – love of the Land and the people, the importance and uniqueness of the IDF (including enlistment and service) – will now play a bigger part in educational activity.

In addition, I intend to empower school principals and allow give them tools that will allow them more management and pedagogical flexibility. I believe in them. They, who become administrators after years of teaching, must be allowed more independence in making decisions, and have the resources and authority to lead the schools of which they are in charge to new heights.

I have great belief in the children of Israel and in giving everyone opportunities. A child who dreams of success deserves to receive everything we can give to help him or her. Together, in a sense of partnership and unity, we will do everything in order to ensure that every child is given the necessary tools they need to flourish, develop, and succeed. This is our mission – and we are excited.

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On the Israeli side, ground, air and naval troops ‎fought for three weeks with aim of eradicating key ‎terrorist hubs across the Gaza Strip.‎

The operation was launched following three years ‎during which some 10,000 rockets and mortar shells ‎were fired on Israel's south and dozens of terrorist ‎attacks were carried out nationwide. ‎

The IDF's Southern Command was tasked with attacking ‎terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, ‎inflicting significant damage to Hamas and ‎bolstering Israeli deterrence, and this mission was ‎accomplished in full: More than 700 terrorists were ‎eliminated and all Hamas headquarters were ‎destroyed. ‎

As the commander of the operation, I recommended to ‎my superiors that Israel should make the most of ‎this success and expand the campaign by allowing ‎Southern Command forces to seize control of Gaza ‎City bring Hamas to its knees by either eliminating ‎terrorist or capturing them. My recommendation was ‎denied. ‎

The main factors that rendered Operation Cast Lead ‎successful were careful and secret preparation, ‎operational integration within the IDF, cooperation ‎between the military and Shin Bet security agency, ‎the force demonstrated by the troops on the ground, ‎quality intelligence, accurate aerial strikes, ‎operational and logistical continuity and a ‎resilient homefront.‎

But above all, it was IDF fighters and commanders, ‎who acted with determination, dedication and ‎professionalism, and courageously carried out their ‎missions. Ten soldiers and three civilians were ‎killed in the operation and we all owe them a great ‎debt of gratitude.‎

A decade later, everyone recognizes the important ‎contribution Operation Cast Lead had to the south's ‎security, as it dealt Hamas a crippling blow. We may ‎still have that advantage, but the war for our home ‎is not over. ‎

In recent years, Hamas' terrorist routes have been ‎shuttered, one by one, via restrictions on land ‎movement, a maritime blockade, counter-tunnel ‎warfare and the effective protection provided by the ‎Iron Dome air defense system. Operation Cast Lead ‎and the reality that followed on the ground have ‎forced Hamas to rethink its strategy.‎

The balance of power between the IDF and Hamas is ‎‎1,000 to 1, meaning that in any future ‎confrontation, Israel will overcome Hamas. In view ‎of the numerous security challenges Israel faces, it ‎is our duty to act responsibly and discreetly. ‎

Knowing the enemy Israel is preparing for future ‎campaigns, but if we are forced into battle, we will ‎be the ones to determine its timing. ‎

We are a peace-loving nation but at this time, we ‎cannot afford to lay down our sword. We remain ‎vigilant and ready to defend ourselves, on every ‎front, at all times.‎

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