OPINION: The end of an age of pretence for Israel and the diaspora

Something profound ended this year. For Israel — and for Jews everywhere — the age of pretending is over.

As we reflect on the remarkable events of the last two years — and especially the last two weeks — there has been an extraordinary amount of debate among those who care deeply about the Middle East, both professionally and personally. As always, people argue about the effectiveness of military operations. Many voices lean optimistic about the future — but with the usual scepticism that any talk of peace in this region demands. And we should recognise that the current US administration was critical in Israel’s recent successes.

From my humble point of view, as a recent immigrant to Israel who maintains strong ties to the diaspora, the greatest lesson is this: we can finally stop pretending. Pretending may have helped manage things for the past two decades, but it was always doomed to fail in the end.

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Let me begin with Israel. Before 7 October, despite waves of domestic unrest — over judicial reforms, religious issues, and more — Israel enjoyed twenty years of remarkable economic success. We secured leading positions in global technology. Every few years brought an exchange of fire with Hamas in Gaza, but we grew accustomed to living under constant threats: Hezbollah to the north, with its endless stockpile of rockets; Iran, unwavering in its mission to destroy us through proxies while pushing toward nuclear capabilities.

We negotiated ceasefires that never ended wars. Occasionally, we took out key terrorist leaders. But we pretended we could live side-by-side with armed enemies sworn to our destruction. We hoped economic progress would change things. We even allowed groups like Hamas to operate, believing they might somehow become better than the alternatives. Looking back, Israel’s roaring success during this period is truly astonishing — but it came at a cost.

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Meanwhile, in the diaspora, we reassured ourselves that the antisemitism we saw was just overreaction or exaggeration — first from the far right and, more worryingly, increasingly from the left. We accepted as normal the security checks at our schools and events, telling ourselves it was just a fringe problem. We hesitated to talk about uncomfortable demographic trends, especially in Europe. We believed that our support for liberal causes would protect us in times of trouble.

7 October shattered that illusion. But it is the recent Rising Lion operation that has sealed the end of the age of pretence.

Since that dark day, we have waged a brutal confrontation with Hamas, eliminating its military threat — though not its influence. We executed a stunning campaign against Hezbollah, decapitating not just its leadership but its belief that it could truly hurt us. Our aerial and ground operations — culminating in the so-called Pager operation — destroyed what remained of that organization’s pride. It has been remarkable to see how quiet Hezbollah has been during recent confrontations with Iran.

We have capitalised on the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria to reduce the threat from that front — and perhaps even open the door for better relations. And with Operation Rising Lion — supported by the US to strike deep into Iran’s nuclear program — we have shown that we will no longer pretend that diplomacy alone can solve this threat.

In the diaspora, antisemitism has emerged into plain sight — surprising many only because they did not want to look. We can’t pretend anymore. The groups expressing this hatred have shocked us. And while I’m not sure we yet have the right tools to fully protect ourselves, at least the idea that “only some of us imagined it” is gone.

There are good reasons to feel hopeful about this new era of honesty — where we call things as they are.

In Israel, our security is stronger than it has been in years. The Iranian axis of war has been decimated, opening a window for potential breakthroughs across the region. This new strength could give our leaders the courage to pursue plans for the Palestinians that protect Israel’s security while building the possibility of a peaceful, prosperous neighbourhood.

In the diaspora, seeing antisemitism so clearly may rally more moderate voices to stand against it — and strengthen our own sense of solidarity.

But let’s be honest: the end of the age of pretence is not enough to guarantee a golden age.

In Israel, there is still challenging work ahead. We must build more domestic economic resilience. We must deepen regional partnerships under the Abraham Accords. We must ensure Iran cannot rebuild its offensive capabilities, and that its proxies understand their survival depends on changing course. We need courage and creativity to rebuild Gaza — and to forge a new relationship with Palestinian leadership that can create trust for a secure future. Domestically, we must heal deep divisions and come together to meet these challenges, while sustaining our remarkable economic momentum. And we need to recognise the importance of relationships like we have with our friends like the US and that this might require certain compromises at times.

In the diaspora, we must accept that progressive movements and shifting demographics are not going away overnight. Antisemitism from the left will not vanish just because we share other causes — it demands different strategies. And the diaspora should never feel unable to criticise Israel when they disagree. Of course they should. But they must also realise that aligning with those who care only about tearing Israel down brings nothing good in return.

We need a clearer sense of identity — and the courage to defend it.

And yes, I believe more Jews will move to Israel from around the world. We should not fear this — but welcome it. After 2,000 years without a country, we are still getting used to having one. More Jews living here will be the norm — not the exception, and certainly not something to mourn.

The end of the age of pretending is an exciting and necessary step if Israel is to thrive, peacefully, among its neighbours and with the wider world. Operation Rising Lion confirmed that. We should be proud of what we’ve achieved — but we must recognise this is only the next stage in our evolution.

There is still much work ahead. But the prize — a safe, strong Israel living in peace within a flourishing neighbourhood — feels closer than ever.

Let’s get on with it.