OpEd: Defensive Posture Insufficient; Israel Must Go on the Offensive

By Steve Kramer

KFAR SABA, Israel — One reason for Israel’s dire situation is that Israeli leaders, governmental and military, had become increasingly smug, complacent and uncritical about Israel’s military clout, cyber security, and strategic position.

Israeli citizens were lulled by the overconfidence of our leaders, who disparaged the Arab enemies who nearly surround Israel. They were convinced that Israeli brain power could overcome the jihadists. Like many others, after the 10/7 catastrophe I wondered how not even one high ranking leader, military or otherwise, imagined that the 50th anniversary of the sneak attack which started the 1973 Yom Kippur War would be replicated.

As it turned out, there were many reports that Hamas was preparing for war, some even from 2022, that an attack such as occurred on 10/7 was in the works. To make it absolutely horrible, in more than one instance the young female soldiers posted on the Gaza border watching computer screens 24 hours a day were reporting that there were many obvious signs that an attack was imminent.

Even the simultaneous switching on of Israeli SIM cards across the border in Gaza the night of the attack was not taken into account by the operators’ commanding officers.

Hopefully Israel has passed the worst of it. By all accounts, Hamas has been decimated, its leaders are being eliminated, its ammunition and weapons supplies are rapidly diminishing, its front-line soldiers are substantially fewer and lacking leadership. The IDF is in charge throughout most of Gaza, scores of miles of tunnels have been obliterated, and the IDF controls the border crossing with Egypt at Rafah, the land connection to Egypt (the Philadelphi Corridor) through which the majority of materiel is transported. Egyptian military and political higher-ups have been happy to look the other way from the cross-border traffic because of the huge bribes that are paid.

Before October 7, Israel deluded itself into believing it could construct  a technologically smart border with reduced manpower.  However, the ‘smart border’ was overcome by low-tech trucks, hang gliders, ladders, and wire cutters.

Now, Israel is under pressure to withdraw its troops and accept Egyptian proposals to: “include the phased construction of a giant wall along the 8 miles Gaza-Egypt border.”  The proposed wall would stand 20 feet above ground and six underground, with the subterranean part serving as a barrier to prevent the digging of new tunnels. Cutting-edge cameras and sensors would further enhance security.

Obviously, if Israel’s government caves in to the admittedly huge pressure to remove all its troops from Gaza, Israel’s future is at risk. What’s needed is a change from our unsuccessful, overconfident leadership, governmental and military, who have become accustomed to settling for less than victory. A sea change in both realms, with a new generation of leaders at the helm who understand the necessity of victory, must replace the current management of our country.

The habit of adopting Western (read, American) “solutions” has failed in the non-Western Middle East. There are many negative effects of Israeli officers attending US military colleges which outweigh the positives. Israel is not like the US, which has oceans on both sides and friendly neighbors to the north and the south. Israel resides in the tumultuous Middle East, with invading armies just across its borders.

For its survival, Israel must stop Iran, the puppet master which dictates to Israel’s northern enemy Hezbollah and others. (So far, other Western democracies, especially the US, have failed to deter Iran and have even supported it.)

Israel has to use all the necessary means it has to destroy the power of the mullahs in Iran, even alone if no ally will support us. Despite Iran’s threats against the US, America continues to give the mullahs all the money and tools it needs to achieve control over the Middle East. Perhaps a new government in the US would have a more realistic appraisal of the battle against the jihadists, which requires a powerful Israel-West bulwark.

Just after the October 7 debacle Netanyahu proclaimed:  “I want to make it clear – we will make our own decisions, and the State of Israel will do everything necessary to defend itself.” (April 16, 2023) Did he really mean it? Demonstrably, defensive measures are insufficient and defending ourselves is just a stopgap.

Israel must achieve victory over its jihadi enemies using its prodigious offensive weapons. Yes, there will be a huge cost to the civilians of our enemies; the jihadists could care less. They’re on a mission which will end in paradise, they think.

The alternative to victory is a huge cost to us Israelis, about whom our government does care. Israel has a duty to protect its diverse population of Jews, Muslims, Druse and others.  It must destroy our enemies. The crisis that Israel faces is hopefully the catalyst which will trigger offensive action by the US and other Western countries to help destroy the Iranian axis. A crisis presents an opportunity to win or to lose. Israel can’t afford the latter. Neither can the West.

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Steve Kramer is a freelance writer based in Kfar Saba, Israel.