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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