A Bold, Historic Move

History is being made right now, and the Middle East, and perhaps the free world, has just been reshaped.

This morning in central Israel where I have been living and working, we were awoken to the spectacular news that President Trump has launched a deliberative, accurate, and successful military attack on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The precision and scale of the operation have already sparked waves of speculation and analysis across global media channels. The targets of the strike—key nuclear facilities—have been central to Iran’s controversial ambitions for years, and the swift action has reshaped the geopolitical landscape overnight. Israel paved the way over the last 10 days, with its bold, audacious, and brilliant moves, using the Israeli Air Force, intelligence and cyber capability. However, they coordinated with President Trump to be able to use the overwhelming military might of the United States and its bunker buster bombs.

Three of the enemies of the United States; Russia, China, and North Korea already possess nuclear bombs. Iran, a genocidal nation with hegemonic ambitions already possessed over 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium and was 90 percent of the way there. Russia and China, both staunch allies of Iran, have remained conspicuously silent just after the attack.

What is evident, however, is the sheer audacity of its timing and execution, which has left allies and enemies alike recalibrating their positions.

We remain incredibly grateful to President Trump. His singling out of the brilliant military coordination between Prime Minister Netanyahu and the IDF means a tremendous amount to us, while we see the toxic hatred against the state of Israel and the Jewish people in so many corners of the world, including in parts of the United States.

President Trump has chosen the path of Winston Churchill. A few peripheral members of the republican party, namely Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Representative Thomas Massie, (R-Kentucky), and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, (R-Georgia) have chosen the Neville Chamberlain path, and they will be relegated to the dustpans of history, while the republican party supports President Trump’s decision.

Here in Israel, conversations are tinged with a mix of cautious optimism and the somber weight of what might possibly follow. We have watched the pro- Islamic Republic demonstrations in Tehran, in Baghdad’s Sair City District, and the pro-Hezbollah demonstrations in Beirut, and many here wonder what this means for regional stability and whether it will pave the way for broader diplomatic breakthroughs or a regional escalation of hostilities, perhaps reigniting terrorist proxies, against the state of Israel and the US military forces stationed in the region.

The operation, described by some as a surgical strike of historic proportions, has not only neutralized critical elements of Iran’s nuclear ambitions but also sent an unmistakable message to those who dare to undermine regional security. Yet, for every voice heralding the brilliance of this act, we know that there is dissension, not only within corridors of the Middle East but in Western capitals, cities and campuses, who are determined to paint Israel as “the enemy”, irrespective of what it has contributed for the betterment of the human condition.

Families across Israel continue to brace for potential escalation, staying close to home, stocking their mamads, their sealed rooms with emergency supplies, mindful of the unpredictability of Iran’s potential response. The IDF is on high alert, its coordination with American forces hailed as an extraordinary feat of modern wartime strategy. Nonetheless, the specter of reprisals looms large, with Hezbollah’s arsenal and Hamas’s rhetoric fueling anxiety over possible flare-ups along Israel’s vulnerable borders.

Just a few hours after the strike, at approximately 7:30 a.m., we received a “red alert”, an azaka, calling us into our mamad.  We here, are well aware of Jewish history, and we know that the Iranian regime might well be on its last legs. Not too dissimilar to  Nazi Germany in the final days of the war, they might possibly react in a random, desultory fashion. Although I always hesitate to make allusions to Nazi Germany, however, since the Islamic revolution of 1979, this has been an apt analogy. Their people have been spoon fed the vilest, most antisemitic and anti-American propaganda, looking like it came straight out of the pages of Mein Kampf.

Unfortunately, the long-term effects of this propaganda will not disappear from the region  overnight. If one looks at the long arrow of Iran into the mind of the residents of the region, we know that Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, the Popular Mobilizations Units of Iraq, and of course the Shiite supporters in the Islamic Republic, swallow this whole. Other nations in the region, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman  and even duplicitous Qatar, have also been manifestly silent, trying to calm the street, yet hedge their bets on the winning horse.

Yet, the strike’s long-term consequences remain uncertain. Will this bold move galvanize allied nations to adopt stronger stances against Iran, or will it further entrench opposition to the state of Israel and the United States from adversaries who perceive it as an act of aggression? The delicate balance of power in the Middle East has shifted, and the coming weeks will likely reveal whether this action serves to stabilize the region or ignite new points of conflict.

Meanwhile, the broader geopolitical dynamics cannot be ignored. Will this bring the United States out of the shadows, after its botched departure from Afghanistan and its failures in Iraq and Viet Nam? The international community’s eventual response could shape the trajectory of global relations in the months ahead, particularly in the realms of diplomacy, trade, and security.

For Israelis, the strike symbolizes not only military prowess but also a reaffirmation of their nation’s capacity to defend itself against existential threats. The fact that Israelis now have a committed and confirmed ally with the United States under President Trump might well serve to keep our common enemies at bay. Since Israel’s audacious actions of June 13^th, the sense of unity and resolve here is palpable, as is the awareness of the delicate road ahead. Diplomatic channels are expected to buzz with activity, as leaders from neighboring countries and global powers weigh the implications of this unprecedented move.

However, at the end of today, we are feeling a great deal more sanguine than we were the day before. If you look at every terrorist activity since 1979, including October 7^th, the long arm of the sadistic Islamic Republic stands solidly behind them. Perhaps there will be a brutal continuation of a “war of attrition” against the more secular leaning Iranian people, against the state of Israel, against the United States and against Jews worldwide. Yet, I have a wonderful, yet unconfirmed, feeling that the end of the road for this long war is not too far in front of us.

Sarah N. Stern is Founder and President of EMET.