Israel has shown that it is willing to stand alone when necessary, leading the path with conviction, even when lambasted, and ultimately reshape the world for the better.
Leadership is the courage to act first, driven by unyielding conviction, forging a path through resistance and doubt before others recognize its necessity.
For 20 months, Israel has exemplified this principle, standing as the West’s resolute bastion against the forces of radical Islam—whether the Khomeinist ideology of Iran’s mullahs or the Muslim Brotherhood’s murderousness.
As the spearhead against Tehran’s axis of terror, Israel has fought not only on the battlefield but also against the radical ideas that have taken root in the West, threatening the very foundations of civilization. Israel has paid a steep price for this thankless endeavor, enduring relentless criticism, reprimands, and outright opposition from Western elites—diplomats, journalists, and intellectuals—who have often lacked the moral clarity to support this shared fight.
The West, lulled into complacency by decades of liberal peace since World War II, has developed a kind of autoimmune disease, forgetting that its freedoms were won through sacrifice and toil against totalitarian forces. While Israel dismantles Iran’s sprawling network of terror and prevents the mullahs from acquiring nuclear weapons—a catastrophic threat to Israel, the West, and the world, given Iran’s advanced ballistic missile program—Western leaders have faltered.
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at the G7 summit, urged Israel to halt its strikes, stating, “If the United States can achieve a ceasefire, that’s a very good thing.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed this sentiment, emphasizing de-escalation to avoid a broader conflict.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, while acknowledging Israel’s right to self-defense, joined the G7’s cautious statement that avoided explicitly endorsing Israel’s campaign against Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. These calls for restraint ignored the existential necessity to take out Iran’s nuclear program, threatening the whole world.
Israel’s operation, codenamed “Rising Lion,” launched on June 13, 2025, targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities and military leadership with unprecedented precision.
Despite US officials confirming no involvement in the unilateral strikes and urging Israel to avoid escalation, Israel pressed forward, absorbing global condemnation while demonstrating unwavering resolve. Its citizens, living under constant threat, pay the price for the whole world for confronting Iran, witnessing the collapse of civilian infrastructure, and living under the threat of missile barrages. The Israeli people remain steadfast, driven by the clarity of their mission to neutralize a global threat, with over 85% supporting the campaign to take out Iran’s nuclear program.
A regime on the brink of collapse
Now, as Iran’s regime teeters on the brink of collapse, the tables are turning. Millions are fleeing Tehran, and the mullahs, in desperation, resort to crude propaganda, recycling cheap fakes and footage from Israel’s strikes against the Houthis to falsely claim victories in Tel Aviv. Iran’s internet shutdowns and bans on WhatsApp reflect a regime in existential crisis, with reports indicating that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has delegated powers to the Revolutionary Guards Council, a sign of internal disarray.
Israel’s actions have created a tipping point, with the potential collapse of Iran’s regime rivaling the fall of the Soviet Union in geopolitical significance—a transformative moment that could reshape the global order.
This seismic shift has awakened global powers, who now rush to align with Israel’s success after believing that Israel’s mission is feasible.
Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan. Now that Israel is succeeding, everyone wants a seat at the table. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that if Iran does not surrender, “the complete destruction of its nuclear program will be on the agenda,” acknowledging that while Israel has significantly weakened Iran’s infrastructure, “the Americans have the capacity” to finish the job.
The US has deployed B-2 bombers and other military assets to the region, signaling a shift in posture. Vice President JD Vance, in a June 16, 2025, statement, suggested that Trump “may decide” to take further action to end Iranian enrichment, noting that Iran could have pursued a civilian nuclear program without enrichment on its soil but refused.
President Trump, on Truth Social, demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” claiming, “We now have complete and absolute control of the skies over Iran,” and even threatened Khamenei directly, stating, “We know exactly where [he] is hiding… but we won’t take him out for now.” These statements reflect a growing global belief in the regime’s imminent collapse, catalyzing a self-fulfilling prophecy. As more nations see the possibility of Iran’s fall, they act to hasten it, eager to claim a stake in the victory and take credit for its success.
Israel’s leadership, rooted in moral clarity and perseverance, has led the West when its own leaders did not act. By acting first against an existential threat, Israel has not only safeguarded its own survival but also defended the free world from a regime that fuels global terrorism.
Israel has shown that it is willing to stand alone when necessary, leading the path with conviction, even when lambasted, and ultimately reshape the world for the better. As the Islamic regime in Tehran is in tatters, the West owes its de facto leader a debt of gratitude for doing the world’s work when its leaders wavered.
Posted originally in The Jerusalem Post (JPost)