Mr. President,

On behalf of Israel’s Defense and Security Forum, we extend our deepest gratitude for your bold and courageous decision to take decisive action against Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Your leadership, combined with the flawless execution by the United States Air Force, has made America, Israel, and the entire free world significantly safer.

Your actions have reaffirmed the enduring principle that peace is achieved through strength. The operation in Iran sent a clear and unmistakable message to both allies and adversaries: America is back. As retired and reserve senior commanders from all branches of Israel’s defense establishment, we recognize the extraordinary level of coordination and cooperation between our militaries that was on full display during this historic mission. Thanks to your leadership, the U.S.-Israel alliance is stronger than ever.

As warriors, we understand that lasting peace is forged through a combination of diplomatic success and battlefield resolve. In that spirit, your invitation to our Prime Minister to meet at the White House is as vital to regional stability as the deployment of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator that neutralized the Fordow nuclear facility.

There are plentiful challenges ahead, but they all coalesce under a coherent theme: in order to secure the expansion of the Abraham Accords, and stabilize the Middle East while ensuring Israel’s security for generations to come, Israel must decisively win over Hamas in Gaza.

A comprehensive resolution in Gaza must include:

  • The unconditional release of all hostages
  • The elimination or expulsion of all Hamas leadership to a third-party state
  • Full operational control of Gaza by Israel, leading to a long-term, Hamas-free governance structure

We support your bold and humane initiative to establish Israeli-American Humanitarian Islands, providing safe zones for Gaza’s civilian population and providing relocation pathways to third countries. Gaza must be demilitarized, de-radicalized, and transformed into a region that poses no threat to Israel’s security.

Regarding Iran, we urge the establishment of a zero-tolerance policy toward any attempt to revive its nuclear program. This includes:

  • Preventing the reconstitution of its ballistic missile arsenal
  • Dismantling the Quds Force and its regional proxies
  • Leading a joint U.S.-Israel campaign to economically isolate Iran through crippling sanctions and asset freezes if it fails to comply

Your decisive actions have opened historic opportunities to reimagine the Middle East as a region of stability and prosperity. The potential expansion of the Abraham Accords could unlock unprecedented energy and trade routes (IMEC, I2U2), offering a future once thought unimaginable.

However, we must caution against any initiative that would lead to the recognition of a Palestinian state. The Palestinian Authority continues to incentivize terrorism, including attacks on American citizens, has refused to reform its anti-American and anti-Semitic textbooks, and has shown no intention of pursuing peaceful coexistence. Recognition of a Palestinian state in the aftermath of October 7 would be viewed as a ‘prize for terrorism’ and would encourage the use of terror activities as a means to achieve elusive political goals, likely leading to an upsurge in terrorism around the world. As we have conveyed to Prime Minister Netanyahu, such recognition would irreparably damage Israel’s security and undermine the progress we have made together.

Mr. President, your unwavering support is one of Israel’s greatest strategic assets. A failure to achieve a decisive victory would embolden radical Islam, put the stability of Jordan and Egypt in jeopardy, and build upon the perceived success of the horrific October 7 massacre.

Israel is committed to winning this war—and we are grateful to know that America, under your leadership, stands with us in the pursuit of a more safe, free and prosperous world.

Together we can make the Middle East Great Again.

 

With Deepest Appreciation,

Brigadier General (Res.) Amir Avivi                     Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Yaron Buskila

Major General (Res.) Gershon Hacohen             Major General (Res.) Yitzhak Jerry Gershon

Major General (Res.) Yiftach Ron Tal                  Brigadier General (Res.) Oren Solomon

Brigadier General (Res.) Hasson Hasson            Colonel (Res.) Dr. Ronen Itsik

Major General M, fmr senior Mossad officer     Brg Gen J, fmr senior Mossad commander

Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Shosh Raban             Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Adv. Maurice Hirsch

Adv. Yifa Segal                                                   Or Yissachar

On behalf of the IDSF’s 50,000 members

Cc: Prime Minister Netanyahu, Ambassador Mike Huckabee