Israel's Stand for American Values
"It’s time we stood up against any form of violent extremism and terrorism. We can’t pretend this isn’t something that we need to take an active part in. Because if we don’t, no one else will."
By Michael Golden
I could feel my blood boiling. Though this morning’s assault on Israel was expected, it made me as furious as anything since October 7.
As I watched antiballistic missiles fired by the Islamic Republic of Iran descend upon Tel Aviv, I was texting in real time with my friend Joanna Landau. She and her family were hunkered down, yet again, in an underground bomb shelter, watching the same deadly light show on TV. At 7:42 p.m. her time, I wrote two words: “Holy Hell.” Joanna replied:
“Loads of bombs here. Scary stuff. Plus four murdered in Jaffa.”
Joanna, who is also a JEWDICIOUS scribe and one of the most knowledgeable people you’ll ever find on Israeli history and U.S.-Israel relations, sounded calmer than I did. Not surprising. The Israelis I know are more clear and measured during these times. Likely because they live under the threat every day. Then attacks. Then the threat… Rinse and repeat.
I briefly shared with Joanna the conversation I’d had the night before with a mutual friend. The familiar windup was that as much as we want the U.S. Government to keep backing Israel, the IDF must do what it needs to do. Joanna agreed, then added:
“But America is definitely being supportive today. American defense intercepted a lot of UAV’s (unmanned aerial vehicles) from Iraq and Syria earlier. It could have been a lot worse for us. There are now common interests to really hurt the Iranian Islamic regime.”
The next thing she wrote was that the running count of Israelis murdered in Jaffa had increased to eight. Joanna has a son who’s fought on the front lines in Gaza. Like all Israelis, she has a lot of skin in the game. All of it.
As our exchange continued, Joanna described how people had been killed by lone terrorists who’d planned ground attacks while the rockets were raining down; Iran fired 180 missiles at Israel. We talked about what may happen next, and here was her take:
“The expectation is that Israel will hit back hard and Biden will back it. This is a shared interest…America as a superpower has a responsibility to not allow the world to explode and just stand by. Both presidential candidates are indicating they don’t want to do that. But if America won’t, the entire Western world is f’d.”
Twenty minutes later, the attack had ceased. Joanna and her husband, daughter and two dogs were back above ground. I told her that I was “glad she was safe. For now.” It never ends.
Then again — never say “never.” The fact is that the terrorist assaults committed by Hamas and Hezbollah create a unique kind of historical window. And Joanna and I have shared many times our common belief that beyond just being supportive, the West should be grateful for what Israel is forced to defend, again and again.
The vice presidential debate takes place tonight; there is no second presidential debate scheduled. But I asked Joanna what she’d like to hear from the two presidential nominees if she could get both of them to make an identical statement. Five minutes later, she texted me her answer:
“We’re at an inflection point for the Western world versus extremist regimes. Everywhere. The world is off kilter, in the U.S.A. as well, political polarization is affecting all of us. It’s time we stood up against any form of violent extremism and terrorism. We can’t pretend this isn’t something that we need to take an active part in. Because if we don’t, no one else will. It’s basic American values to protect freedom and liberty. That’s for better or worse. Right now, it’s worse. If we don’t stand by those who are defending themselves from the same people who chant “Death to America,” then our own children will have to pay the price. Not after we’re gone, but in less than 10 years. That’s the truth. So we need to do what God put us on this earth to do and ensure the values of freedom, democracy and liberty are protected everywhere. Here on American soil, and anywhere around the world that threatens our country or our allies’ existence.”
I didn’t feel as angry after I read Joanna’s response. Well, not quite.
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