AVI ABELOW: Netanyahu shows the way to confront global terror

The world is waking up to a harsh reality: while the leaders of Western democracies continue to appease the very forces threatening global stability, it is only Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is taking the necessary steps to counter these threats. The question we must ask ourselves is why Western leaders, particularly in Europe and the United States, have been so willing to play this dangerous game. And how, in contrast, Israel has emerged as the defender not just of its own people, but of millions across the Middle East and the freedom-loving world.

In the wake of the horrifying massacre on October 7th, 2023, when over a thousand Israelis were slaughtered in a Hamas-led terrorist attack, Israel was left with no choice but to act. The massacre was a reminder of the existential threats Israel faces daily from Islamist terror groups, fueled by both Sunni extremists like Hamas and Shiite forces such as Hezbollah and Iran. But it was also a moment of awakening for the world. Netanyahu recognized what many Western leaders have chosen to ignore for years—that Israel’s fight is not just for its own survival but for the stability of the entire region, and for the whole freedom-loving world.

Netanyahu’s decisive leadership in this war, despite the pushback, manipulation, pressure and withholding of weapons by the Biden administration, has proven that Israel is the only country truly committed to eradicating the threats posed by radical Islamists. The West’s appeasement strategy has only emboldened groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, which operates as Iran’s proxy army. Yet, it is Israel that has now done what no other nation could: wipe out Hezbollah’s senior leadership in a military strike that has sent shockwaves across the region and the whole world.

Hezbollah, while primarily an enemy of Israel, has been a source of terror for the entire Sunni Muslim world. Iran, a Shiite regime, has used Hezbollah to extend its influence across the Middle East, terrorizing Sunni-majority nations, Middle East minorities and even terrorizing and killing Americans. For years, Iran’s imperialist ambitions have been empowered by the West, particularly under the Obama-Biden-Clinton-Kerry-Harris-Blinken axis, which allowed Iran to extend its grip over Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. Iran’s expansion threatened not just Israel but Sunni populations throughout the region, who feared Iranian domination.

But with the destruction of Hezbollah’s leadership, Israel has effectively changed the geopolitical landscape. Sunni nations, while still wary of Israel, are now realizing that Israel’s victory over Hezbollah is their victory as well. This is why we are witnessing a strange moment in history: the Jewish state, long vilified by the Arab Muslim world, is now being celebrated—albeit quietly—as a protector against Iran’s Shiite ambitions. Netanyahu, in his brilliance, has not only safeguarded Israel but also handed the Sunni world a crucial victory against a shared enemy.

Iran’s strategy has always been to extend its influence through proxies, using Hezbollah to destabilize and dominate Sunni nations. Now, with Hezbollah’s leadership eliminated, Iran’s power in the region has been severely undermined. This is a major blow to the Obama-Biden-Kerry-Clinton-Harris-Blinken geopolitical strategy, which sought to empower Iran as a counterbalance to Israel. That strategy is now in ruins. Iran, once on the verge of regional hegemony, is no longer in the same strategic position.

But let’s not be naïve—this victory, as monumental as it is, does not mean the war is over. Hezbollah’s military capabilities must still be dismantled, and Iran’s nuclear ambitions remain a grave threat to the world. Israel will need to continue its operations in southern Lebanon to ensure that Hezbollah can never rise again. And the world must unite, or at least stand down, as Israel does what is necessary to stop Iran’s nuclear program before it is too late.

The sad reality is that while Israel is doing the hard work of confronting Iran and its terror networks, the West continues down a path of appeasement. The same leaders who cheered the disastrous Iran nuclear deal now find themselves at odds with reality. Their strategy of empowering Iran as a stabilizing force in the Middle East has backfired, with devastating consequences. Yet, these same leaders—Obama, Biden, Kerry, Blinken and others—refuse to acknowledge their mistakes.

Even as Netanyahu was delivering a historic speech at the United Nations, warning the world about the threats posed by Iran and Hezbollah, diplomats from countries directly threatened by Iran walked out. This is the tragic hypocrisy of our time: Sunni nations, whose very existence has been threatened by Iran, cannot fully embrace Israel as their savior because of their lingering hatred for the Jewish state.

Israel, under Netanyahu, has proven itself to be the defender of not just its own people but of the entire freedom-loving world. While Western democracies continue to implode under the weight of their own weakness, Israel has risen to the challenge. The Jewish state is the frontline in the fight against radical Islam and the Marxist-Islamist revolution that is threatening free societies across the globe.

These are historic times, and every freedom-loving person should be supporting Israel. Not just for Israel’s sake, but for the sake of their own nations. Netanyahu is right now the leader of the free world, and his victory over Hezbollah is a victory for all who cherish freedom. Netanyahu will hold this position until America is blessed to once again have such a Presidential leader as well.