On the streets and coffee shops in Israel these days the common refrain that is heard is, “We would prefer not to see any more of our soldiers die, but this time we need to finish the job.”

It sounds so simple, doesn’t it?  But is it possible?  Can we really finish the job and, what would it cost us as a country?  I’m not sure we can or should.

As a layperson without all of the facts (actually, truth be told, it is not clear to me that anyone has all the facts), here is what we can all probably agree on.

We have a long-running issue with insurgencies on two of our borders, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, both of whom are supported and funded by Iran.

As an insurgency, Hezbollah seems not to be constrained by anyone except Iran, as the Lebanese government, in which Hezbollah actually has representatives, seems powerless to rein in a terrorist group wreaking havoc in Lebanon itself.

Hamas to the south of us, after having its infrastructure virtually wiped out by Israel during the war that followed October 7th, also seems not to be constrained by anyone, not even Qatar, which provided and may even be still providing them with funding and armaments, or even the Iranians who also provide funding and support.

Iran, which is what diplomats like to call a “proper country” of 90 million people with a functioning government, is a theocracy hellbent on eliminating the world’s non-Muslims as well as those Muslims with whom they disagree religiously, all in the name of fealty to Allah. Israel is simply the first of the countries they wish to destroy.

This being the case, there is no practical way to neutralize these insurgencies diplomatically.  All the efforts in this regard for the last 78 years have led us nowhere.  Yes, there have been momentary periods of relative quiet but those intent on destroying us have found a way to survive.  Even President Trump, in his moments of........

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