Refusing to strike at an early stage means colossal damage later on.
According to military expert Ron Ben-Yishai from the Israeli portal Ynet on military issues, Trump decided not to limit himself to localized strikes but to conduct a large-scale operation throughout the Islamic Republic to completely change the situation in the Middle East. According to American sources, the president opted for a prolonged 'war of attrition' that could last for weeks, instead of a short, powerful strike.
"This must be a war to change the face of the Middle East. No less. Because Iran - even after sanctions, even after mass protests by citizens demanding freedom, even after mass reprisals against peaceful residents - has been and remains a state of terror, with enormous influence throughout the Middle East. Almost the entire noose built over the past decades around Israel was created directly and indirectly by Iran," writes commentator Ben-Dror Yemini from the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot.
"So this is the hour of decision. Because we are at a moment of historical opportunity. But those who think it will be easy are mistaken. In the 'People vs. Lion' war, the goal was to strike Iran. This time, the goal is a much more destructive strike, up to regime change. This will not be easy, because with all due respect to the protesters - and they deserve great respect - there were hundreds of thousands of them. Perhaps millions. But Iran is a country with a population of over 90 million people. And even if we assume that the majority of Iranians are tired of the regime of oppression and terror, there are still tens of millions who support the regime, benefit from it, and participate in its crimes. They will not give up easily. They are much better organized, better armed, and strikes against state institutions, representatives of power, and military infrastructure will not make them surrender. Therefore, there is a fear - God forbid it comes true - that the path to eradicating evil will be a difficult task. Very difficult.
War is evil. But there are situations - and this is exactly the situation we find ourselves in - when refusing to strike at an early stage means colossal damage later on. Because over the past decades, we have heard statements from the regime's leaders again and again. They say 'death to America, death to Israel.' They mean every word. They cannot destroy America. But they really believe they can destroy Israel. So this is not only the highest right to strike against the regime, it is the highest moral and national duty. It is not only a humanitarian good for the protesters who have been waiting and calling for help from abroad. Above all, it is a moral obligation of the authorities in Israel to the people living in Israel.
It is worth remembering and reminding. Without a strike, Iran would have turned into a regional power that managed to deceive the U.S. Without a strike, the Houthis and pro-Iranian formations in Iraq would have become much stronger. Without a strike, the likelihood that Hamas would fulfill the second phase of the ceasefire agreement approaches zero. Without a strike, Israel would have faced an escalating existential threat. Without a strike, great and powerful America would have turned into a paper tiger.
In every moral aspect, in every aspect of international law - this is a war of no choice. And according to Jewish tradition - a commanded war.
One can assume that the campaign will not be easy. Israel may suffer. Israelis may pay with their lives. But sometimes, in Shakespeare's words, it is necessary to commit a small evil to avoid a greater evil. So go forth, warriors of Israel - in the Air Force, in intelligence, in Mossad, and all those involved. You are obligated to succeed. We simply have no other option.
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