10 | AUGUST 26 • 2021
al and multilateral associations
with players in the region. The
same, of course, is true also for
Greece and Cyprus, and other
forces in Europe who are cogni-
zant of the peril.
ISRAEL
’S ROLE
Obviously, Israel cannot be the
arbiter in intra-Muslim conflicts
— but nor is it a bystander. We
have a vested interest in stem-
ming the tide of both Sunni and
Shiite radicalism, and in prov-
ing our utility to our partners
across the region, from the UAE
to Morocco. Israeli diplomacy
should place the cementing of
these bonds near the top of its
priorities, alongside the (relat-
ed) Iranian question. Military
actions in the context of Israel’s
so-called “campaign between
wars” are also part of the equa-
tion, both in terms of their
impact on the adversary and of
their message to our friends.
The same is true for the
way in which Israel deals with
Hamas rule in Gaza, which
until Kabul fell was the only
area in the region under the
uncontested rule of an Islamist
regime. Practical solutions to
the humanitarian problems
in the Gaza Strip, and a tough
negotiation to retrieve the
hostages and the bodies of our
soldiers, are one thing.
A political license for Hamas
to appear as the victor in
the ideological struggle with
the non-Islamist variant of
Palestinian nationalism (i.e., the
Palestinian Authority) is anoth-
er matter. In close coordination
with Egypt, such an outcome
must be avoided, even at the
risk of resumed hostilities.
Ultimately, it may be in
Lebanon — and in action
against Iran — that Israel’s abili-
ty to turn the tide will be tested.
There is nothing we can do
about Afghanistan, nor is there
any prospect of reversing the
course of events there. But our
actions closer to home will send
a message.
These would be decisions
driven by other considerations,
and ultimately determined by
the rate of progress of Iran’s
military nuclear project. But at
the same time, in other aspects
of Israeli policy, the possible
impact of the dark days that lie
ahead should be considered.
First and foremost, inten-
sive intelligence sharing with
like-minded forces, and infor-
mational cooperation in stem-
ming the spread of the Islamist
creed (in a war of ideas fought
daily in the social networks)
should be a key element of the
joint regional and international
response.
The stakes are high, and the
time to prepare is now.
IDF Col. (res.) Dr. Lerman is vice
president of the Jerusalem Institute for
Strategic Studies. He held senior posts
in IDF Military Intelligence for more than
20 years. This article was first published
by the Jerusalem Institute for Strategic
Studies.
letters
Thank You,
Friends of the IDF
Supporters
I was so grateful for the
incredible honor of being
chosen as the 2021 FIDF
Women of Valor Honoree.
The first time I went to Israel
was in 1977. While on a bus
ride from Haifa to the Golan
Heights, soldiers came on our
bus making sure everyone was
safe. For them, they were just
doing something totally routine.
But for me, it gave me this total
sense of safety and security.
It was a wonderful feeling
knowing we were protected.
I loved that and have never
forgotten!
I am grateful to live in a
country where Jews can still
feel relatively safe, even with the
rise of antisemitism and dark
political currents.
However, I suspect, that’s how
German Jews felt before the
war. But what they didn’t have
— and we do — is the State of
Israel. Israel is our homeland.
It’s a place of last resort for
Jews in distress, and we have a
duty to protect Israel and her
citizens. That’s why supporting
the young women and men of
the IDF resonates so strongly
with me. They are watching
over the State of Israel, and I
greatly admire them.
They not only learn to
survive, but to excel, under
the harshest conditions, and
mature into the next generation
of strong Israeli citizens and
leaders. Many of these soldiers
come from socioeconomically
disadvantaged backgrounds
and cannot afford the cost of
higher education once they
finish their army service. FIDF’s
IMPACT Scholarship program
provides four years of advanced
education to qualifying combat
and combat support soldiers
who have completed their
military service and cannot
afford the cost of higher
education.
My late husband, Robert,
and I shared a passion for
education. The FIDF IMPACT
Scholarship program provides
educational opportunities for
IDF soldiers that changes the
trajectory of their life. I feel they
are changing Israel’s trajectory.
Education will help Israel grow
its next generation of leaders,
invent technology that will
drive the economy and develop
expertise that will keep the
nation safe. I am honored to
support the heroic veterans of
the IDF through the IMPACT
Scholarship program and help
them achieve their dreams.
Thank you to all my friends,
family and Friends of the IDF
(FIDF) supporters.
— Bluma Schechter
Bloomfield Hills
Bluma
Schechter
and her
family.
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