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What the World Gets Wrong about Israel

(New York Times) Former Israeli Defense Minister Lt.-Gen. (ret.) Benny Gantz - Some in the West have misinterpreted Israel's actions in prosecuting its war against Hamas. For Israelis, Oct. 7, 2023, was not another round in a yearslong conflict. It was a strategic rupture - and a reminder of what may happen when terror on our doorstep is underestimated. Israel's core security interests are not partisan property. They are anchored by a national consensus that is rooted in the hard realities of our region. Opposition to the recognition of Palestinian statehood stands at the heart of that consensus. Any path forward for broader Palestinian civil autonomy must first incorporate a proven long-term track record of accountable governance, comprehensive de-radicalization reforms, and a successful crackdown on terrorist elements targeting Israelis. The truth is that international recognition of Palestinian statehood under current conditions is a rejection of Israel's bipartisan security consensus. The PA has failed to thwart terrorism originating in its territory against Israel. It has incited violence and glorified terrorism in school textbooks, and waged unilateral campaigns to isolate and delegitimize Israel in international forums. At the UN, in international courts, through boycott movements, it has sought to bypass reform, accountability and dialogue - and dismiss Israel's security concerns altogether. A declaration passed last year by 99 of 120 members of the Knesset in a democracy proclaimed that "Israel will continue to oppose unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state," and that "such action following Oct. 7 would be an unprecedented rewarding of terror and prevent any future peace arrangement."
2025-09-28 00:00:00
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