War kills. People die in wars. Innocent people, on both sides. There is damage to infrastructure and property. Houses and schools are destroyed. Diplomacy is obviously the preferred way to settle conflicts, but sometimes there is no alternative.

Today, Israel is at war, and the United States is fighting at our side. This is a war of choice, a war we needed to start because the danger of inaction was too great. It is an unavoidable war, one that is causing great distress to Israelis and Iranians alike, but still, it is a war that must be fought.

I’ve always said, half-jokingly, that Israel lives in a very bad neighborhood. Enemies on all sides: Hamas, Hezbollah, and even the Houthis in Yemen. There is one bad actor directing all of these terrorist groups, and that is Iran. Iran has been calling for Israel’s destruction, and for America’s as well. We needed to take these cries of hatred for what they were, nothing less than an existential danger.

Iran’s nuclear program was not being developed for peaceful reasons. It became clear long ago that the country’s leaders had been lying about their true intentions. Enriching uranium to such high levels is only necessary for the production of nuclear weapons. Similarly, Iranian ballistic missiles were only intended to be fired at Israeli cities. These plans to develop weapons of mass destruction had to be stopped.

It should be clear that there is no hatred in Israel toward the Iranian people. Decades ago, there were strong trade ties and friendships between Tel Aviv and Tehran. In recent months, Iranians took to the streets to protest against the terrorist regime that has caused them immense suffering. The Iranian people deserve better lives. This war is not targeting them.

The world was quick to shout “Free Palestine” when Israel responded in force to the murderous assault by Hamas on its citizens, but why isn’t the world crying out to “Free Iran” from its murderous leaders?

The international media was quick to headline the loss of lives in an Iranian school, yet barely mentions the loss of lives in an Israeli synagogue and bomb shelter.

Innocent civilians should not lose their lives on either side. There should be no need to resort to military action, but sometimes there is no alternative.

We hope and pray that this war ends as soon as possible. That we will have better lives, and that the Iranian people will have better lives as well.

In the meantime, whenever there is an alert of incoming missiles, we will run to our shelters and safe rooms to protect our loved ones, because in the end, that is the most important thing.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)