Israel is properly rejoicing at killing the architect of the October 7 terrorist attack Yahya Sinwar. Unfortunately, what they are not doing is using the occasion to review their past self-destructive policies.

Sinwar was in an Israeli prison for years. He was part of a 1000 Palestinian prisoner exchange for one Israeli. October 7 should have made the insanity of this trade crystal clear. One Israeli soldier was saved. How many Israelis have died because of that? Certainly, the damage from Sinwar is only part of the carnage caused by the group. Is it 10? Is it 100? Is it 1000 or more? We can’t know the answer, but we can know with certainty that many Israeli lives were lost because of it.

There can be no negotiations for hostages. Not ever. Once a prisoner is taken by Israel they can never be released, or if they are, the calculation must be that it will save Israel lives. Heretofore Israel has made trades from which they have paid dearly in life and limb.

Israel is faced with the existential threat from the Iran nuclear development that must be extinguished immediately. Any other decision is crazy. It is suicidal. With the recent barrage of rockets from Iran, Israel has an excuse, although an excuse is unnecessary. Their right and want to survive is sufficient to justify any action they choose.

If Israel attacks the nuclear facilities (they should destroy oil fields as well) nobody knows how it will play out, but there will be repercussions. It will probably be painful. The thing that is certain is if they do not do it the future will bring massive death and destruction throughout Israel.

There are two things Israel has favoring it know which may not be true in the future. They are one of a handful of nuclear powers. If the world does not respect that they certainly fear it. Also, the civilized world is afraid of the Iranian nuclear program. If a ground war breaks out, they may not come to the defense of Israel, but they will supply arms and be applauding from afar. 

This is the burden Israel must bear, as Jews have throughout history. Why is it unimportant. What is important is that Israel deliver a knockout blow to those who would destroy her. Jews survived 6000 years before Hitler almost annihilated them. No matter what the costs, and there will be severe costs, but no matter what they are Israel will be better off than if they continue the present policy of appeasement and half measures. 

I wrote earlier that peace negotiations are a euphemism for terms dictated by the victor. Until Israel is victorious in this war with Iran and its proxies, peace is unachievable. They must get on with it now rather than continue to suffer and possibly not have the wherewithal later to be successful.