A Very Very Bad Deal
When is a bad deal a bad deal? When Israel is stopped from defeating an implacable enemy committed to the death of every Jew on earth and the destruction of the State of Israel, The hostage deal forced on Israel by United States President Trump is a virtual capitulation to Hamas and, by extension, the Islamic Republic of Iran. Erdogan’s Turkey and Hezbollah in Lebanon are watching closely for any sign of weakness and indecision on Israel’s part. Should Israel fail in its resolve to defeat Hamas and Hezbollah, the current Syrian regime led by Ahmed Al-Sharaa will be encouraged with the overt backing of Turkey to test the Jewish State’s hold on the Golan.
Israel is at risk of losing its way as the temperature of the ”pressure cooker” is turned up and its political leaders succumb to excessive dependence on the United States for its security. Israel’s problems are indeed mounting daily, apart from the ever-present terrorist problem within its borders. It is afflicted at the fringes of the majority of its population, with political ideologues of the left who incessantly chip away at the foundations of the Jewish State. Add to this, the Arabs in Israel are certainly consumed with hostile sentiment towards its Jewish population, with the desire to exterminate them. As shocking as it may sound, none of Israel’s Western friends are genuinely reconciled to the notion that Israel is here to stay. They can take it or leave it. So long as Israel hovers between international acceptance or rejection.
Therefore, Israel must resolve to chart its course, employing a unity of spirit and fighting strength that will enable it to triumph over the many obstacles in its way while rejecting bad deals that run contrary to the Jewish State’s self-interest.
Israel’s Strength Must Not Be Compromised
Yosef’s article highlights a painful reality: Israel is once again being pressured into a deal that runs counter to its security interests. The so-called “hostage deal” forced on Israel by the United States is not just a concession—it is a dangerous precedent that emboldens our enemies and weakens Israel’s deterrence.
Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran are not isolated threats. They are part of a coordinated regional strategy aimed at Israel’s destruction. Every hesitation, every sign of weakness, is carefully noted by our adversaries. If Israel concedes to one, it invites challenges from the others. Erdogan’s Turkey, Iran’s proxies in Syria, and the growing instability in Lebanon all hinge on how Israel responds to Hamas today.
The Folly of Dependence
For decades, Israel has enjoyed a close strategic alliance with the United States, but history has shown that reliance on external powers comes at a cost. While American support is valuable, no nation can outsource its survival. The Jewish people have paid dearly for failing to take their own fate into their own hands.
As Yosef correctly points out, Israel’s political landscape is complicated by internal ideological battles and external diplomatic pressures. Yet, the fundamental truth remains: no Western power, however friendly, fully accepts Israel as a permanent and sovereign Jewish state. So long as Israel wavers between international acceptance and self-preservation, it will always be vulnerable to coercion.
Rejecting Bad Deals, Charting Our Own Course
Israel’s national security cannot be dictated by foreign interests or fleeting diplomatic calculations. A truly sovereign nation must be willing to say “no” to deals that undermine its long-term safety.
The only path forward is one of strength, unity, and an unwavering commitment to Israel’s self-interest. This means defeating Hamas completely, maintaining full control over strategic territories, and ensuring that no terrorist organization or hostile regime ever doubts Israel’s resolve.
History has taught us that peace is not achieved through weakness but through deterrence. The world may not always approve of Israel’s actions, but the Jewish State exists today because it has never waited for approval. If Israel is to secure its future, it must act decisively—on its own terms, for its own survival.