Hamas’s massacre on 7 October last year was a disaster for Israelis, but a year later it has also taught the West a forgotten lesson about deterrence and political will, shattering the illusions of a liberal, peaceful world.
The 7 October attack took Israel by surprise, and the Jewish state has acknowledged that it made the mistake of underestimating its enemies. The reaction in the aftermath is an irresistible argument for the necessity of military preparedness, and not just for Israel, according to an editorial in the Wall Street Journal.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, it was also speculated by some that the authorities knew that an attack was planned, but allowed it to happen in order to have an excuse to counterattack. However, this appeared to be a theory characterised by hatred of the Israeli government and/or general hatred of Jews.
Hamas proudly live-streamed its atrocities, truly savouring the pain it inflicted on the hated Jews. This should never be forgotten. But today, large crowds are gathering across the West to celebrate the terror. The war in the Middle East is also affecting formerly democratic countries such as Norway, Sweden and Denmark, as the attacks on Israel’s embassies in both Sweden and Denmark show.
Hamas politburo member Ghazi Hamad said on Lebanese TV that the terror group wants to repeat the 7 October “again and again“.
The Palestinians are Israel’s victims, he said, concluding:
– Nobody should blame us for the things we do. On Oct. 7, on Oct. 10, on Oct. one-millionth, everything we do is justified.
Not surprising from a movement that has the annihilation of Israel written into its charter.
Another confirmation that the Middle East is now established in our part of the world was the support for Hamas’ arguments in the West, especially at elite universities. The young students are turning against their own civilisation.
Students for Justice in Palestine called Oct. 7 “a historic win for Palestinian resistance,” and antisemitism was tolerated by university presidents as free speech.
The left is following suit, here in Norway with the Palestine Committee in the lead. The hijab is the new symbol of freedom. Our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide, is leading the political game, which seems to want to praise terror by denying Israel retaliation (cease-fire) and resuming the eternal nagging for a two state solution.
It’s not hard to understand why people like Barth Eide and UN Secretary-General António Guterres have been declared persona non grata in Israel. But Barth Eide is surely welcomed by the terrorists his government is pouring money into.
French President Emmanuel Macron is now advocating an arms embargo against Israel. On the streets of Paris, tens of thousands of people honour Hamas.
In the US, the Democratic Party has been hit by a poorly disguised hatred of Jews, in a desperate attempt to win the votes of Muslims in the US.
President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have felt obliged to chastise Israel for its response to the massacre as much as they do Hamas for hiding behind innocent children.
But Israel has no plans to back down, ignoring the clamour for ceasefires, two-state solutions and the meaningless concept of proportionality. They are fighting an existential war, and know that defeat means doom.
Even after Iran’s direct involvement, recently attacking Israel with nearly 200 ballistic missiles, Biden is still banging on about proportionality. But if you’re going to be attacked like that, massive retaliation is the best form of deterrence.
As long as Iran pursues war, Israel must defend itself aggressively to survive. Mr. Biden has supported Israel, but he has also tried to cut short its defense. He withheld weapons from Israel even while Hamas ruled Rafah and its brigades controlled Gaza’s smuggling routes to Egypt.
Hezbollah shelled Israel for 11 months. After a week of Israeli success in response, Biden called for a ceasefire there too.
Everyone ignores that Hezbollah has ignored UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which demanded that no Hezbollah forces stay south of the Litani River, so that this area served as a buffer zone between Israel and Hezbollah. But the terrorist group never left the area.
As long as the West handcuffs Israel but refuses to deter Iran, the flames will spread across the Middle East. Israel’s best option is to degrade the Iranian axis’s capabilities and deny it safe havens. Israel will have a better chance at a durable cease-fire when its enemies know they will suffer more than Israel does when they attack.
As mentioned above, the flames have already spread to the West. The Muslims say it outright: First we take the Saturday people, then we take the Sunday people. Iran will first take Little Satan, Israel. Then it’s the turn of the Great Satan, the USA.
The US and the rest of the West can’t just pull out of the Middle East and think all their problems are solved.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said today that Israel is fighting the cause of the free world. On the anniversary of the Hamas attack, he called for the world’s support.
We should listen to Herzog. Because the Jewish state is the West’s frontline, and we cannot let it be lost.
