A Humiliated Iran and a Reluctant Israel

I think a funny thing happened last night. I think the world realized that Israel could be destroyed and for some reason, they chose to act rather than sit in silence (again).

And so they acted. And that is a very important thing.

Today, they are stepping back. Not only was Israel not destroyed, it succeeded in humiliating the Iranians. One report suggests that a missile landed accidentally in Iran and killed and injured more people there than all of the missiles fired at Israel combined.

Now the world is worried about what a humiliated Iran will do to them and so, as one would expect, they are ready to hang Israel out the window as their sacrifice.

In the eastern world, to not meet a challenge is to surrender. To not respond, a sign of weakness.

Even inside Israel, there are a few voices that call for Israel not to act, not to respond.

One thing I know, the army does not make the same mistake twice. October 7 is a reminder of what happens when you do not respond, when you choose to be reasonable in the west which equates to weak in the east.

A reluctant Israel is not a good thing. Perhaps even more dangerous than a humiliated Iran. Lest we forget, we live in the Middle East, surrounded by those who would much prefer us to die. Last night, the world thought we might. Ironically, we knew we wouldn't.

All night, Jews did two things - we defended ourselves, and we prayed. We received the victory that we earned, and the miracle that we prayed for.

Last night, I held my granddaughters and felt their bodies shaking with fear. Today, my 4-year-old granddaughter told me what she remembers. That I held her and "smushed" her and then I let her aunt hold her and then she came back to me and fell asleep and her mother carried her down to her bed.

Resilient. This is what we are, what we have always been. And as I listen to the news, I hear a retired general remind us that we need to live. Go for a walk, he said, Do some sport. Live.

And while we do our part, moments ago, Israel attacked a terrorist location deep into Lebanese territories. It is a message to the world and to our people. Last night and today, wherever they hide, it is our right to obliterate the threat they pose, the hatred they have.

We do not know if Israel will respond and it is better that way. As we sat for hours last night waiting to be attacked, let them know that same fear, that same worry.

It seems Israel will not attack - at least not now. So for now, we'll live with the knowledge that Iran's humiliation is enough.