One Year After October 7th: Israel, Hezbollah & Iran | 10.6.24

The Israeli military is focusing on strategic operations to undermine the capabilities of Hamas and Hezbollah, heavily backed by Iran, through systematic attacks and the pursuit of broader security goals.

Confronting Hezbollah: Operations in Lebanon

The latest military efforts have seen Israel launch a limited ground offensive in southern Lebanon specifically targeting Hezbollah.

Purpose of the Military Operation

The objective of this ground operation is to create a secured perimeter that not only mitigates the threat posed by Hezbollah but also affords Israeli citizens in the north the safety to return and live peacefully, effectively reversing the displacement caused by continuous hostilities. "In order to really create a meaningful buffer between Israel and Lebanon, where the people who live in northern Israel can sleep at night with some comfort, you have to clean out a good 10 to 20 kilometers of southern Lebanon, and you can't do it any other way but on the ground," underlines a strategic analyst.

Beyond the immediate military success, the Israeli forces aim to ensure a durable de-escalation, reducing the number of armed skirmishes and rocket attacks that have disrupted civilian lives for close to a year now.

Weakening Iran's Proxies

Israel has implemented a multi-pronged approach to weaken Iran's terror proxies, with a special focus on Hamas and Hezbollah over the past year.

Targeted Operations Against Hamas and Hezbollah

Israeli forces have systematically targeted the leadership, infrastructure, and capabilities of both Hamas and Hezbollah. Iran's influence via these proxies has diminished due to precise military action by Israel. "The result has been a dramatic weakening of Iran's terror proxies," according to military reports.

Specifically, Israel has dealt ...

The Israeli citizens and the regional stability have been significantly impacted by the events of October 7th, which are considered as the deadliest attacks in Israel’s history, leaving deep scars and challenges that continue to affect the country and its people.

The October 7th Hamas terror attacks were the deadliest in Israel's history, killing over 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping hundreds more, including American citizens.

John Bickley recounts the horrific events of the October 7th terror attacks, which resulted in the death of over 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of hundreds, including Americans. This assault orchestrated by Hamas unveiled a sophisticated network of terror tunnels and necessitated an immediate and strategic response from Israel.

The scale of the attacks and the discovery of Hamas's sophisticated network of terror tunnels posed an enormous challenge that Israel had to adapt to in order to effectively respond.

The sheer scale of the attacks and the discovery of Hamas's terror tunnels demanded a robust adaptation for Israel’s response mechanisms. These efforts were critical in addressing and overcoming the sophisticated challenges posed by a new form of terror infrastructure.

In the aftermath of the October 7th attacks, over 60,000 Israelis living in the north were evacuated from their homes and have been living as refugees for nearly a year, unable to return due to the persistent rocket fire from Hezbollah.

Following the October 7th events, Israel faced a dire humanitarian scenario: over 60,000 of its citizens from northern towns were evacuated and have since been living as refugees within their own country, unable to return home due to constant rocket attacks, most notably from Hezbollah ...

Critiques suggest that the Biden administration's approach to Israel has involved rhetoric without accompanying actions to support Israel's security needs against regional threats.

The Biden administration has provided only rhetorical support for Israel's right to defend itself, but has done little to back that up with concrete actions or policies that empower Israel.

The Biden administration's support for Israel is said to be more verbal than substantive. Critics argue that this approach is inadequate, as notable actions such as enforcing stringent sanctions on Iran—a critical threat to Israel—have not been pursued aggressively. The administration is accused of allowing Iran to bolster its economy and continue to fund terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, therefore undermining Israel's security efforts. There is a specific concern about the absence of second-party sanctions which, as claimed, allows Iran to sell oil to other countries without significant repercussions.

The Biden administration has repeatedly interfered with and criticized Israel's prosecution of its defensive operations, delaying and complicating Israel's ability to effectively address the threats it faces.

Observers point to instances of interference with Israeli military operations by the Biden administration. Friedman highlights this, noting the disconnect between Vice President Kamala Harris's platitudes affirming Israel's right to defense and the administration's actual policies. He criticizes the administration for advising Israel against certain military actions—such as Israel's entry into Rafah, which led to the discovery of arms smuggling tunnels used by Hamas—while failing to enact forceful policies against Iran.

This per ...

The long-term control and governance of Gaza remains a complex and unresolved issue, with no simple resolution in sight for sustainable peace and stability.

The long-term control and governance of Gaza remains an open and challenging question, with no clear path forward for a sustainable solution.

While Israel has made efforts to degrade Hamas's capabilities, Gaza continues to be a focal point for terrorist activities. Addressing both the security concerns and the humanitarian needs of the Gaza population will be essential moving forward. The region will require comprehensive management and rebuilding strategies to ensure the safety and well-being of its inhabitants.

Potential solutions could involve Israel extending sovereignty over Gaza similar to the West Bank, but this remains highly controversial and would face significant international opposition.

David M. Friedman discusses the contentious prospect of Israel extending sovereignty over Gaza in a similar fashion to its actions in the West Bank. He argues that Israel may be the only capable sovereign to bring security, prosperity, and human rights to the Palestinian people. Friedman references his recently published book, which advocates for Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria as a potential blueprint for Gaza.

Alternatively, Gaza cou ...

Since the October 7th attacks, there has been a significant uptick in antisemitic and anti-Zionism sentiments worldwide, according to David M. Friedman's analysis.

The October 7th attacks have fueled a marked increase in antisemitic and anti-Israel sentiment worldwide, with well-financed and orchestrated campaigns against Israel gaining traction.

Friedman discusses how these attacks have sparked a well-orchestrated and well-financed rise in anti-Israel sentiment, particularly in America. He draws a connection between this surge and domestic antisemitism in places like London and Paris, attributing it to errors in immigration policy over the last decade.

This presents an additional challenge for Israel on the international stage as it fights for its legitimacy and to garner support from allies and the global community.

He points out that these events have created unprecedented challenges for Israel, as they affect its international standing and efforts to secure its legitimacy and support from global allies.

However, the clarity of Israel's situation and the identification of its true friends and foes may also empower Israel to adopt a more assertive and self-confident stance, rejecting the need to constantly justify its existence.

Friedman believes that the current situation provides Israel with a clear picture of who its friends and enemies are, suggesting this could be an opportunity for ...