Most Israeli Jews think of themselves first as Israelis and second as Jews. Regarding the Jewish diaspora, they generally believe that one of Israel’s core purposes, the Zionist mission, is to provide a safe haven for Jews. While I disagree with the actions of the current Israeli government, I subscribe to this belief myself. I am a Zionist and believe that the Jewish people must have their own homeland if they are to survive.

Unfortunately, this movement has been distorted under Netanyahu and his coalition, particularly through the support of the settler movement and the treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank. While I understand the desire for an Israel that encompasses the heart of the ancient Jewish homeland in Judea and Samaria, we must also recognize that Palestinians have a legitimate claim. Regrettably, they do not reciprocate by accepting the right of Jews to their own homeland.

As I have written previously, I believe the future of the diaspora is already in jeopardy due to intermarriage and declining birthrates. While Israel’s actions since October 7, 2023, have contributed significantly to the rapid rise of antisemitism, they did not cause it; they merely gave expression to the latent antisemitism that characterizes much of the Western world.

Israel has faced an existential threat from Iran, a regime committed for 47 years to the total destruction of the Jewish state. Action by Israel to end this threat was inevitable at some point. Personally, I find the situation unfolding in Gaza and the West Bank far more troubling than Israel’s direct actions against Iran, which I largely support. I suspect American Jews may soon find themselves in a position similar to Jews in France: hiding their identity or, in some cases, choosing to move to Israel to get safety for themselves and their families It is a complicated landscape, and my own perspective shifts almost daily.

The future of Israel remains unclear. While it is losing significant international support, it is simultaneously growing stronger in tangible ways. You can see this in the resilience of its currency and the growth of the Israeli stock exchange. While I can imagine scenarios where Israel is crushed, I can also see it becoming the dominant force in the Middle East. I would not be surprised to see Israel formalizing treaties with Lebanon, Syria, and Saudi Arabia in the near future; most of those governments care little for the Palestinian cause.

Of course, the actions of the United States and the Trump administration remain the great unknown factor. Their unpredictability has the power to shift any of these trajectories in ways no one can yet foresee.