Why Israel's Reluctance to Yield Is Seen as Vital for Regional Stability
The column argues that Western moralizing against Israel's military strength ignores the existential danger of surrender and its wider regional fallout.
The essay challenges the habit of Western commentators to judge the Middle East through a moral lens that favors the apparent underdog, arguing that such a view neglects Israel's existential threat. Citing Golda Meir's warning that Israel's survival hinges on maintaining force, the author says restraint would be self-destruction when adversaries seek total destruction. He outlines a history of brutal domination by Arab empires and modern dictators, positioning Israel as an outlier that even provides services to occupied territories.
The piece warns that if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yielded to international pressure, leaders like Yahya Sinwar, Hassan Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh and Bashar al-Assad would continue unchecked, destabilizing the region. It asserts that Israel's continued strength prevents a cascade of terror and authoritarian expansion, and that surrender would have catastrophic consequences for Jews worldwide. The argument is presented by economics professor Walter E. Block, co-author Hushang Manuchehri.
Why it matters
It highlights how perceptions of military power shape policy debates about Israel's role in Middle-East security.
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