The Islamic Republic of Terror: Hezbollah & Hamas | Naftali Bennett | EP 487

Coming up (0s)

• Approximately 70% of the problems in the Middle East stem from the Islamic Republic of Iran (1s).
• The Islamic Republic of Iran exports its ideology and terror with its arms across the Middle East (10s).
• Every country Iran touches is ultimately destroyed, as it provides them with weapons, trains them, and commands them to generate terror (22s).

Intro (30s)

• Naftali Bennett, the 13th prime minister of Israel, is the guest for a discussion on various topics, including the polarization in Israel and the October 7th attack (46s).
• The discussion touches on the protests regarding the reformation of the Judiciary in Israel, which distracted the population and the state, laying some groundwork for the October 7th attack (1m11s).
• The October 7th attack and its geopolitical causes are discussed, with a focus on Iran and the Islamic Republic of Iran's stated intent to supplant and replace the United States and Israel (1m21s).
• The regime's intent to eradicate and annihilate the United States and Israel is highlighted as a significant concern, indicating that Iran is a sworn enemy (1m43s).
• Iran's role in funding the events leading up to the October 7th attack is discussed, and the implications for the future are explored (1m57s).
• Despite the challenges, there is a sense of optimism regarding the Muslim-Jewish-Christian peace front, thanks to the establishment and continuation of the Abraham Accords (2m16s).
• The discussion also touches on the atrocities of October 7th and their impact on the future, particularly in the Middle East and the world (2m28s).

Naftali Bennett’s role in the political landscape of Israel (2m41s)

• Naftali Bennett served as Israel's 13th prime minister from 2021 to 2022, and prior to that, he held various ministerial positions, including education minister, minister of economy, and defense minister (3m7s).
• Before entering politics, Bennett had a career in high-tech, founding and selling two companies, and he also served in the Israeli military, specifically in the Sayeret Matkal unit, where he became a platoon and company commander (3m23s).
• Bennett grew up in a city in Northern Israel, and his parents were born and raised in San Francisco before moving to Israel in 1967 (4m9s).
• Bennett positions himself as right of center on the political spectrum, opposing land concessions and believing that strength is necessary to achieve peace, and he identifies as a free market moderate Republican (5m14s).
• Bennett views the current political system as being driven by group identity politics, where opinions are less important than loyalty to one's group, and he believes that this is a dangerous trend (5m41s).
• As prime minister, Bennett established a diverse government with eight different parties, including left-wing, right-wing, secular, and religious parties, as well as Jewish and Arab ministers (6m15s).
• Bennett's government was effective in getting things done, despite his detractors, and he believes that broad unity governments are necessary for Israel's future (6m32s).
• Bennett identifies the number one problem facing Israel as domestic poison and internal hatred between different camps, which he believes is a major challenge for the Jewish state (7m18s).
• Bennett sees the issues dividing Israelis as being driven by group identity politics, which is undermining the primary narrative that holds everyone together, and he believes that this is a dangerous trend (7m37s).
• Bennett notes that the identity politics in Israel are different from those in the US, Canada, or the UK, and he believes that the fragmentation in Israel is between different Jewish groups and between Jews and Arabs (8m0s).

Manufactured divisiveness and the three issues most Israelis agree on (8m13s)

• The domestic landscape in Israel is perceived as being artificially divided for political reasons, creating camps that benefit politicians but are not based on real debates (8m14s).
• Despite perceived divisions, most Israelis agree on three key issues: religion and state, the judicial system, and the Palestinian issue (8m51s).
• On the issue of religion and state, approximately 80% of Israeli Jews agree that Israel should be a Jewish state, but also oppose laws that coerce religion (9m21s).
• The debate over the judicial system is seen as an artificial battle, with a gradual rebalancing of power between the judiciary and the executive over the past seven years (9m32s).
• The controversy surrounding judicial reform is attributed to the government's poor introduction of the changes, which seemed to be motivated by a desire to aggravate the opposing side rather than improve the lives of citizens (10m19s).
• On the Palestinian issue, there is a growing consensus that a two-state solution is not feasible in the near future, with mainstream Israelis opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state (11m27s).
• Despite differences in opinion on the Palestinian issue, there is agreement that a Palestinian state should not be established in the short term, allowing for cooperation in government and deferring debate on the issue (11m53s).

The rebound effect, righting the ship internally (13m16s)

• The Israeli Judiciary has increasingly taken on the role of the legislative branch, partly because legislators don't like to make complex decisions, which undermines parliamentary supremacy (13m16s).
• A similar trend has been observed in Canada, where the Judiciary has also become more active in making decisions that should be made by the legislative branch (13m22s).
• In Israel, the Supreme Court became more active in the late 1980s, cancelling laws and creating its own constitution based on the country's basic laws, but went too far and became a leftist movement (14m31s).
• The government's lack of courage in solving fundamental issues, such as the draft law for ultra-Orthodox citizens, led to the Supreme Court becoming involved and being attacked for overstepping its bounds (15m8s).
• A gradual process of rebalancing the Judiciary's power was underway before the current government's efforts, which were seen as a revolution to punish the left-wing Judiciary (15m37s).
• The current government's approach was perceived as an attempt to terrify the other side, which succeeded in intimidating decent people, including those who serve in the military and pay taxes (16m29s).
• The rebound effect of huge protests and refusal to serve in the reserve was a result of the government's actions, which created a sense of fear among citizens that their government hates them (16m57s).
• The internal strife in Israel distracted the country from its enemies, who saw an opportunity to attack, and the October 7th attack was associated with the internal strife (17m36s).
• The attack stopped the internal craze, and now Israel has another opportunity to get its act together and seize the moment to make positive changes (18m8s).

The Second Intifada (18m16s)

• The Second Intifada started in October 2000, following Israel's engagement in the Oslo Accords from 1993 to 2000, where the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, believed in reaching a compromise with the Palestinians and the two-state solution (18m17s).
• The Oslo Accords led to Israel handing over land to the Palestinians, with the Labor government and later Netanyahu's government transferring around 133% of Judea and Samaria, also known as the West Bank, to the Palestinians (19m36s).
• As a result of the land transfer, Israel saw an increase in terror attacks from the vacated areas, and the Palestinians formed the Palestinian Authority, governing almost half of Judea and Samaria to this day (19m56s).
• The Second Intifada was characterized by violent uprisings and wars against Israel, including suicide attacks where Palestinians with explosive vests entered buses in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, killing dozens of Israelis almost daily (20m22s).
• In response to the violence, Israel launched Operation Defensive Shield in March 2002, recapturing the territories militarily, and to this day, Israel maintains overall security responsibility, while the Palestinians govern themselves on the civilian aspect (21m0s).
• The Palestinian Authority has its own government, elections, taxes, anthem, and parliament, but Israel's security responsibility has prevented the same level of terror seen in Gaza (21m22s).
• The conflict in Israel continues, with escalating tensions and threats from all sides, including a recent barrage of nearly 200 ballistic missiles from Iran (22m9s).
• The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews provides vital support, including food, shelter, and safety, to those affected by the crisis, and donations can be made to support their work (22m41s).

The view from the outside: Iran, Palestine, and the Abraham Accords (23m11s)

• The Abraham Accords indicate profound divisions within the Arab world regarding Israel, with some Arab states viewing Israel as a valuable trading partner due to its economic power and military strength (23m44s).
• The Accords were likely successful due to a combination of Israel's economic advantages, military power, and a shift in stance by forward-looking Arab states (24m12s).
• The Abraham Accords are viewed with skepticism and horror by Iran, which is sworn to undermine and destroy the agreements, Israel, and the United States (25m6s).
• Iran's opposition to the Accords is driven by its sworn enmity towards the United States, Israel, and many Arab states that signed the Accords (25m17s).
• The two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is problematic because it relies on the assumption that all parties involved want peace, but Iran would sacrifice Palestinian interests to harm Israel and the United States (25m44s).
• Iran funds agitators like Hamas and Hezbollah to cause problems for Israel and the United States, and does not care about the well-being of the Palestinian people (26m1s).
• As long as Iran is pulling the strings behind the scenes, there is little potential for solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (26m43s).
• Iran's foreign policy objectives involve keeping the Palestinians and Israelis at odds with each other, and the Palestinian people are seen as collateral damage in this strategy (26m52s).
• Uninformed people in the West who support the Palestinian cause may be unwittingly aligning themselves with Iran, a state that is hated by many, including its own people, and seeks to destroy the United States and Israel (27m12s).
• Pro-Palestinian protesters on American campuses may be acting as proxy agents for Iran, which has openly expressed support for their actions (28m2s).

The Islamic Republic operates as an “octopus of terror” (28m22s)

• The Islamic Republic of Iran is viewed as a radical, incompetent, and corrupt regime that exports its ideology and terror across the Middle East, ultimately destroying the countries it touches, such as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen (28m55s).
• Iran builds local proxies, sometimes based on Shiites, but not always, and empowers, funds, trains, and commands them to generate terror, not only against Israel but also against other countries (29m40s).
• The regime's strategy is compared to an "octopus of terror," with Iran being the head and its proxies being the tentacles, and the mistake made by Israel is fighting the tentacles instead of the head (28m46s).
• To topple the Iranian regime, a strategy similar to the one used during the Cold War to bring down the Soviet Union can be applied, including diplomatic, economic, and covert pressures (31m11s).
• The Iranian government has very little support within Iran itself, with the regime being despised by its people due to corruption, inequality, and lack of basic necessities like good tap water (32m28s).
• The regime's weakness can be exploited by applying pressure and supporting the Iranian people, who are a great people, and helping them through various means, such as ensuring internet access during protests (33m39s).
• A plan to topple the regime can be divided into different vectors of action, including soft actions, and can be achieved through cooperation between countries, with the goal of accelerating the demise of the Iranian regime (33m21s).

The international community is not doing enough (34m2s)

• The Western countries, including the United States, are not doing enough to counter Iran, and their stance is perceived as ineffective or counterproductive in many cases (34m22s).
• Moderate Arab states, such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, and Jordan, hate radical Islam, whether it's the Shia strand represented by Iran or the Sunni strand represented by the Muslim Brotherhood (34m42s).
• These Arab states need Israel to lead the way in fighting radical Islam, weakening it, and choking its financial resources, as they cannot always voice their opposition publicly (34m56s).
• Israel is seen as a reliable partner in the region, as it is perceived as a stable presence that will not leave, unlike the United States, which is seen as unstable and prone to changing its policies (35m40s).
• Israel's credibility took a hit on October 7th, but it is in the process of strengthening again, and recent actions have shown promise in countering radical Islam (35m54s).
• There are many effective actions that can be taken to counter radical Islam, with a great return on investment, but they are not being implemented (35m15s).

How the worst actors operate: pathology and manipulation (36m13s)

• There are forward-looking leaders in the Muslim world who have been pushing for peace and productive relations, such as those who have been involved in the Abraham Accords and normalization of relations with Israel (36m15s).
• The possibility for peace and productive peace exists within the broader confines of the Islamic world (36m51s).
• In any population, there is a percentage of truly bad actors, with psychological data indicating that the prevalence of pure psychopathy is around 3% (37m8s).
• Psychopathic individuals are manipulative, parasitic predators who use language for their own benefit, are narcissistic, and have a strong proclivity towards sadism (37m22s).
• These individuals often hide behind a mask of victimization, claiming to be victims and identifying oppressors, and hijack the political agenda on both sides (37m55s).
• Psychopaths use different tactics to manipulate people, such as using compassion to manipulate the left and free speech issues to manipulate the right (38m15s).
• The psychological literature suggests that psychopathic individuals are unlikely to be rehabilitated, with the simple answer being "no" (38m34s).
• The 1% of criminals who are psychopathic are responsible for 65% of crimes, and their behavior is not corrigible (38m50s).
• Individuals who deviate from the path of law and order and make a mistake can be distinguished from psychopathic individuals, as the former can be corrected, whereas the latter cannot (38m55s).

Separating the genuine religion from radical Islam, defeating Hamas (39m4s)

• The Islamic world is complex, with some leaders genuinely believing in the need for Sharia law, while others manipulate religious claims for personal gain, making it difficult to distinguish between the two (39m9s).
• There is a movement in the Islamic world to establish peace with Israel and move forward productively, but a core of radical Islamists undermines this effort (39m45s).
• A significant percentage of Muslims may support radical Islam, but this does not necessarily mean they engage in terrorism (40m16s).
• It is easier for self-interested manipulators to influence an undereducated population and claim they are abiding by the doctrines of the one true religion (40m41s).
• Radical Islamists use their ideology to deflect criticism of their incompetence and maintain power (41m7s).
• Fighting radical Islam requires a different approach, as it is not possible to kill an ideology, but rather to defeat the groups that promote it, such as Hamas (41m32s).
• Defeating Hamas can help reduce its popular support among Palestinians, which is currently around 2/3 (42m2s).
• An analogy can be drawn with Nazi Germany, where defeating the Nazi regime was a necessary step before persuading the population that Nazism was bad (42m15s).
• Similarly, defeating Hamas and other radical groups can create an opportunity to change the hearts and minds of their supporters (42m51s).
• The Islamic Republic of Terror is discussed in relation to Hezbollah and Hamas, but the provided text does not contain any information about these topics.
• Over 38,000 businesses have found a way to futureproof their operations with NetSuite by Oracle, the number one Cloud ERP, which seamlessly integrates accounting, financial management, inventory, and HR into one fluid platform (43m29s).
• NetSuite provides a unified business management suite that gives users visibility and control to make quick, informed decisions, with real-time insights and forecasting (43m42s).
• The use of NetSuite allows businesses to close their books in days, not weeks, and adapt to their needs, helping them respond to immediate challenges and seize their biggest opportunities (44m4s).
• Historical precedents are mentioned, such as Japan and Germany, which rapidly transitioned from warlike states to peaceful and productive societies (44m46s).
• There is a lack of success in sustainable Arab democracies, with none of the countries in the Middle East being democracies, leading to the consideration of implementing a hybrid system (45m20s).
• The example of Sheikh Muhammad bin Zayed of the Emirates is given, who is considered a remarkable leader, despite the Emirates not being a full-blown democracy, but is doing good and has a positive vector (45m45s).
• The need for creativity in implementing systems and not imposing values and structures where they won't necessarily succeed is emphasized (46m4s).

The grounds for functional democracy, the Talmud encourages debate (46m15s)

• The grounds for functional democracy are rooted in Judeo-Christian culture, which emerged in its modern form as an offshoot of this culture, and the presumptions of Judeo-Christian morality are axiomatic in creating a stable democracy (46m19s).
• Preconditions for liberal individualism include a peaceful society where people trust one another, allowing for individualism and creativity to thrive (46m55s).
• Functional democracies are rare, and countries settled by England tend to have them, while countries settled by other nations, such as France, Spain, and Portugal, do not (47m30s).
• Israel is a remarkable exception, having formed a stable democracy despite being a nation of people who were in exile for 2,000 years and organized in small communities rather than as a nation (47m38s).
• Judaism, as it evolved in the diaspora and previously in the two previous states in Israel, was a democratic and open society that encouraged debate (48m19s).
• The Talmud, a law code of Judaism, is not a set of rules but rather a collection of debates between rabbis on various topics, teaching people to debate and think critically (48m37s).
• The method of study in Judaism is unique, involving two people learning together and debating, which has been done for thousands of years and is believed to be part of the secret of Israel's success as a startup nation (49m31s).
• This debating culture can bring innovations and progress, but it can also tear apart societies if the debate is not for the right reasons (49m55s).
• The Jewish state and Judeo-Christian democracies share a conceptualization of the logos, the idea that progress is made through thought and speech, which must be free and can be intense (50m33s).
• In Jewish communities, the most respected person was typically the rabbi, who was the smartest and best at studying the Talmud, and this respect led to a positive cycle of smart and successful individuals (50m57s).
• The fact that rabbis get married and have children, unlike priests, helped to create a genetic cycle of smart and successful individuals across the Jewish world (51m37s).

How an existential threat focuses a nation (51m49s)

• Israel is the only Western country with a positive demographic, with an average of 2.3 children per family, which is higher than the required 2.1 to retain a population (51m49s).
• The reason behind this positive demographic is unknown, but it may be attributed to the existential threat that Israel faces, which could be a motivating factor for people to have children (52m30s).
• The intensity of life in Jerusalem, where people live with a sense of uncertainty about the future, may also contribute to the desire to have children (52m53s).
• The concept of existential threat is compared to Hemingway's idea that every generation needs a war to sort out what is important, and this threat may play a role in focusing people's priorities (53m10s).
• The October 7th event shook the complacency of the Israeli people, who had taken the country's security for granted, and made them realize the existential threat they face again (53m59s).
• The October 7th event was a massive institutional failure of the state of Israel, but it also revealed the strength, courage, and willingness to sacrifice of the younger generation of Israelis (54m19s).
• Thousands of Israeli civilians, boys and girls, drove to the Gaza area to fight and defend people they had never met, showing the highest level of courage and sacrifice (55m14s).
• This event highlighted the difference between the reaction of the Israeli people and the reaction of people in other countries, such as the US on 9/11, where people generally moved away from harm's way (55m55s).
• The Israeli younger generation is being developed into a "nation of lions," a courageous and resilient group, due to their experiences fighting wars and being embedded with values such as work ethic and teamwork (56m41s).
• In comparison, some young people in other countries, such as the United States, are being developed in a way that prioritizes sensitivity and safety, which can lead to "neurotic suffering" and the creation of "feeble people" (57m5s).
• The Israeli generation is being shaped by their experiences, such as fighting terrorists and volunteering, which is developing them into strong and capable individuals (56m59s).
• The speaker's own children, Yoni and his daughter, are examples of this, with Yoni volunteering with children of evacuees and doing farming, and his daughter also volunteering and farming (57m44s).
• The speaker believes that this generation will be the one to carry Israel forward, with qualities such as innovation, self-reliance, and responsibility (58m27s).
• The speaker also mentions the importance of a strong and capable younger generation in the face of a tough world, drawing a comparison to the American GIs who returned from Europe and helped shape the country's best 50 years (57m32s).
• The speaker is optimistic about the next 50 years of Israel, citing this generation as the reason for their optimism (57m26s).

Marriage, family, and duty - the time is now (59m46s)

• A heroic commitment to the future needs to be developed in young men and women so they take up responsibilities, such as having a family (59m48s).
• Wealth and security can lead to procrastination, causing people to miss out on life's opportunities, including marriage and having children (1h0m5s).
• In the West, half of women will be childless at 30, and half will never have a child, with 90% of them likely to regret it (1h0m28s).
• South Korea has a low birth rate of 0.8, which is unsustainable, as one child will have to support four grandparents (1h0m44s).
• Establishing a relationship can be challenging, and people are fortunate if they get to try out five partners in their lifetime (1h0m58s).
• The choice realm is constrained, even for highly successful people, with possibly one in five people not having five people to choose from (1h1m15s).
• Assessing someone romantically and practically as a long-term partner can take between six months and a year (1h1m45s).
• Ultra-Orthodox Jews have arranged marriages with low divorce rates, but it's unclear whether they're happy or unhappy (1h1m57s).
• Alternative forms of marital arrangements are used in many cultures, and there's no evidence that people in these relationships are more unhappy or unstable (1h2m31s).
• The window to have children and get married is relatively short, and existential threats can bring this reality home (1h2m56s).
• A positive wave of young, talented men and women are entering Israel's public sector, motivated by a desire to save the country (1h3m11s).
• This influx of talent is a change from the past, when the best and brightest often went to the private sector, particularly in high-tech (1h3m32s).
• The current prime minister is a rare example of a CEO and founder who entered politics, and more people from the high-tech sector are expected to follow (1h3m49s).
• Despite this optimism, domestic wars and polarization are a concern, with the phrase "A house divided cannot stand" being particularly relevant to the Jewish community (1h4m21s).

The third Jewish state (1h4m31s)

• The current state of Israel is the third instance of a sovereign Jewish state in the land of Israel, with the first two instances being the First Temple under King David and Solomon, and the Second Temple. (1h4m31s)
• The First Temple period saw a united and sovereign Jewish state for about 80 years, but it was divided into Judea and Israel after Solomon's son, Rehoboam, took over, leading to the Assyrians conquering Israel and the loss of 80% of the Jewish people. (1h5m2s)
• The Second Temple period also saw a sovereign Jewish state for only 75 years, with internal divisions and conflicts, including a fight between two brothers in 76 BC, ultimately leading to the invitation of the Romans into Judea. (1h5m44s)
• The current state of Israel is in its eighth decade, and it is crucial to avoid the mistakes of the past, specifically domestic divide and internal division, which were the primary causes of the downfall of the previous two Jewish states. (1h6m11s)
• The descendants of the Jewish people today are primarily from the tribe of Judea, which is why they are called Jews, as the other 10 tribes were lost after the Assyrian conquest. (1h5m27s)
• The importance of unity and avoiding internal division is emphasized, as the eternity of the state of Israel is at stake, and past experiences have shown that external factors were not the primary cause of the downfall of the previous Jewish states. (1h6m18s)

October 7th: how it happened (1h6m27s)

• The events of October 7th were influenced by the internal division within Israel, which was a massive distraction and a "weapon of mass distraction" that weakened the country and made it more vulnerable to external threats (1h6m27s).
• Israel's external enemies, including Iran and Hamas, were waiting for an opportunity to attack, and the internal division in Israel provided them with the perfect chance (1h6m51s).
• The internal division in Israel was so severe that it seemed almost insolvable, and it was as if the country was "killing itself" (1h7m32s).
• The division was fueled by social media and bots, including Iranian and Russian bots, but Israelis were also doing a good job of "killing themselves" without external help (1h7m50s).
• To tackle this issue, it is necessary to have unity governments that bring together different sides and parties, at least for the next decade (1h8m4s).
• The situation in Israel is similar to the 50-50 divide between Republicans and Democrats in the United States, which has been growing over the past 30-40 years (1h8m23s).
• The divide in Israel is not just about different policies, but also about tribalism in the negative sense, where people are unwilling to interact with those who hold different political opinions (1h8m54s).
• The apparent massive security failure in Israel can be attributed to the fact that it is harder to keep things secure than it looks, and there are many points of attack and entry (1h9m16s).
• The security failure was also due to the fact that Israel was weakened and distracted by its internal division, and was focusing on itself rather than its enemies (1h9m48s).
• The internal division in Israel was so severe that it was as if the country was "killing itself," and this would not have happened if Israel had not had that horrible year of 2023 (1h10m18s).
• Historical examples show that mental rigidity in leadership can lead to ignoring intelligence, as seen in Stalin's response to the German Army amassing on the Soviet Union's border during Barbarosa, where he believed there would be peace with Hitler despite the facts (1h10m32s).
• A similar situation occurred with Hamas, where the government had erected a wall and fence with advanced technology, creating a sense of security that it could not be penetrated, but ultimately, this led to a lack of preparedness for an attack (1h11m17s).
• The intelligence system did not foster dissent, and some people who suspected an attack were silenced, highlighting the dangers of hierarchies in military organizations (1h11m54s).
• In any organization, it is essential to encourage open communication and allow people to speak up, which is why some leaders make a habit of bypassing hierarchies and talking directly to people on the ground (1h12m8s).
• This approach involves giving out personal contact information, such as a cell phone number, to hear directly from people and avoid the stultification that can occur in hierarchical systems (1h12m21s).
• Hierarchies can be dangerous as they can lead to distraction, presumption, and stultification, which can ultimately hinder an organization's ability to respond effectively to threats (1h12m29s).

Origins and operations of the Muslim Brotherhood (1h12m40s)

• The Muslim Brotherhood is a movement that aims to radicalize people and ultimately govern by Sharia law, with an ideology similar to that of the Islamic Republic of Iran, but as a Sunni variant, differing from Iran's Shia strand of Islam (1h14m33s).
• The movement is believed to have started early in the previous century, with the goal of establishing a government based on religion (1h14m36s).
• The Muslim Brotherhood engages in various social activities to garner popular support, and its ideology is considered fairly simple (1h15m12s).
• The movement has branches in many places, including Turkey, where it is associated with the government under President Erdogan, and Egypt, where it has significant grassroots support (1h14m9s).
• In Gaza, the Muslim Brotherhood's influence is mixed with that of Iranian actors, who provide funding and support (1h13m50s).
• The movement's incitement activities are considered a significant factor in the ongoing conflict, and stopping these activities in mosques, media, and schools is seen as a crucial step in potentially resolving the issue (1h13m29s).

Israel's response and what victory looks like (1h15m29s)

• The military campaign in Israel has been very successful and effective, with the soldiers and reservists performing well, but the government lacks a coherent strategy and has not outlined what victory means (1h16m38s).
• A proposed alternative strategy would have been to apply a siege on Northern Gaza, allowing civilians to leave while screening and smoking out terrorists from tunnels, but this plan was not adopted (1h17m20s).
• The current kinetic approach has its advantages but is not being prosecuted effectively, with the war being fought at only 3% intensity (1h17m48s).
• It is believed that Israel should have short, high-intensity wars rather than long, low-intensity wars of attrition, as the latter can harm global opinion and put pressure on the economy and reservists (1h18m8s).
• A short, high-intensity war would allow Israel to move on quickly and avoid prolonged negative global attention, which can be detrimental to the country (1h18m40s).
• The current approach also plays into Iran's hands, as it wants to exhaust Israel in a slow and draining war (1h19m13s).
• A possible alternative would be to surge and defeat Hamas or cut a deal to bring home the 100 Israeli hostages being held by Hamas (1h19m24s).
• Victory would be defined as Hamas raising a white flag, being transferred out of Gaza, and allowing the hostages to return home, with the leverage being the threat of killing Hamas leaders if they do not comply (1h19m38s).
• The key players, including the 5,000 kamnik, have already been identified, and the goal is to ultimately kill or capture them and bring the hostages home (1h20m5s).
• The most fundamental ethos in Israel is to not forget or leave anyone behind, which is why bringing home the hostages is a top priority (1h20m33s).

The victim/victimizer mind virus (1h20m43s)

• Protests against Israel's actions in the Middle East have emerged rapidly and are well-organized, with plans and strategies in place, including the involvement of Antifa types and professional protesters (1h21m32s).
• The protests appear to be a merge of two different strands: radical Islam and radical Progressive ideologies, with the latter viewing the world in a neo-Marxist frame where there is always a victim and a victimizer (1h22m2s).
• Radical Islam is not likely to change its views, and there is significant money being funneled towards these efforts, including from Qatar and Iran, which are considered to be supporting terrorism (1h22m21s).
• Qatar is seen as a regime with a facade of being Western and Progressive, while secretly funding and supporting terrorism, and Iran is also viewed as a terrible regime (1h22m28s).
• The radical Progressive ideology is characterized by a neo-Marxist frame, where Israel is seen as the aggressor and the Arabs as the victims, allowing them to justify violence and terrorism (1h23m20s).
• This narrative is not factually accurate, as the Arabs have large areas of land, and Israel is a small country, roughly the size of New Jersey (1h24m32s).
• The land of Israel has been the homeland of the Jewish people for 3,800 years, and they have a long history of praying for their return to Jerusalem, which they have now achieved (1h23m32s).
• The Arabs began to migrate to the area as the Jewish people returned and began to flourish, and many Palestinian names are actually of Egyptian or Iraqi origin (1h25m15s).
• The core ideology of the Arabs appears to be preventing Israel from having a state, rather than building their own future (1h25m47s).
• The victim-victimizer narrative is a powerful tool that is difficult to counter, as it creates a simplistic and misleading view of the conflict (1h25m55s).

Why are so many people against Israel? The politics of envy (1h26m0s)

• The politics of envy is a significant factor in why many people are against Israel, as Jews have historically been a disproportionately successful minority, evoking feelings of resentment and jealousy in others (1h26m10s).
• This phenomenon is not unique to the present day, as seen in the story of Exodus, where the Pharaoh rose up against the Jews due to their success in Egypt, despite the Egyptians initially benefiting from their presence (1h26m20s).
• There are two possible responses to the success of others: one can either be happy for their productivity and success, recognizing that it can benefit everyone, or one can view them as thieves and crooks, fueled by corruption and envy (1h27m1s).
• Jews have often been the "canary in the coal mine" when societies take a turn against those who are successful, and this trend is also seen in socialist and communist societies (1h27m25s).
• Anti-Semitism has thrived even when Jews were not successful, indicating that it is not solely driven by economic factors (1h27m47s).
• Ethnic differences can easily be inflamed, and people tend to be more insular, making it harder to extend concern and empathy to those outside of their immediate group (1h28m6s).
• The politics of envy can lead to a victim-victimizer narrative, which is pathological and oversimplifies complex moral issues (1h29m12s).
• This narrative can be damaging, as it leads to a loss of agency and hope, and can create a culture of dependency and resentment (1h29m52s).
• A more effective approach is to promote self-reliance and personal responsibility, rather than perpetuating a culture of victimhood (1h30m14s).
• Historically, envious and resentful movements have ultimately collapsed, as they are not sustainable in the long term (1h31m4s).

How the Jews are characterized in the Old Testament, the promised land and the desert (1h31m10s)

• The Jewish people in the Old Testament accounts are characterized by a refusal to construe themselves as victims, instead presuming that punishment is a consequence of their own insufficiency (1h31m15s).
• The Israelites' whining and complaining during their 40 years in the desert is seen as a reason for their prolonged stay, and they are not presented as morally laudable for presenting themselves as victims (1h32m4s).
• The Israelites' habits of slaves, including being impulsive and hedonistic, are seen as a major obstacle to their progress, and it took three generations for them to die out and for a new generation to take over (1h32m41s).
• The story of the 12 spies sent by Moses to scout out the promised land is relevant to the discussion, as 10 of the spies came back whining and saying that the land was occupied by giants, while two spies, Joshua and Caleb, were willing to take on the challenge (1h33m16s).
• The leadership of the Israelites was transferred to a new generation, led by Joshua, who successfully entered the promised land and established a new nation (1h34m29s).
• The initial entrance into Israel by Joshua and the subsequent hundreds of years of self-governance by a former slave nation are seen as a fascinating period in history (1h34m43s).
• The concept of realistically optimistic is discussed, which involves being optimistic while also being aware of the challenges and difficulties that may arise (1h35m25s).
• This concept is rooted in the faith element, which emphasizes the importance of maintaining a covenant with God and continuing to aim upward and act appropriately in the face of challenges (1h35m46s).
• The Bible and Judaism place a strong emphasis on action, with the Jewish faith caring little about one's feelings and instead measuring individuals by what they do (1h36m5s).
• In Judaism, repentance is not just about feeling bad, but rather about taking action to make things right, and a good deed is referred to as a Mitzvah (1h36m22s).
• The importance of action is also seen in the Jewish response to Moses and the 10 commandments, where they said "we shall do and we shall listen," indicating a commitment to action (1h37m4s).
• The idea is that the best way to inculcate a habit is by doing it repeatedly, rather than just teaching it or talking about it (1h37m26s).
• This approach is reflected in the way the speaker's father taught them, by doing rather than preaching, and the speaker has a strong inclination to action and little patience for people who just talk about it (1h37m44s).

Bennett’s message to the misguided progressives who support Hamas (1h38m2s)

• Israel is an experiment that has been placed in the middle of challenging conditions, with no water and no oil, yet it has managed to generate water through desalination and build a knowledge-based economy (1h38m32s).
• The country is surrounded by enemies and has to fight and innovate to survive, and it has shown the world how to fight terrorists in a moral way (1h39m23s).
• Israel has developed innovative solutions such as the Iron Dome to counter rocket attacks, and is working on laser technology as a next step (1h40m24s).
• The country's destiny is not only to be strong but also to pave the way for solutions to the world's biggest problems, and it is already doing so as a startup nation (1h40m33s).
• One example of this is the concept of Sabbath, which was innovated 3,300 years ago and involves turning off electronic devices for 25 hours to spend time with family and reduce addiction (1h41m2s).
• Israel is a democratic state with 10 million people who are trying to do their best to flourish and do good in tough circumstances, and it should not be second-guessed by people sitting in distant locations (1h41m59s).
• The country is fighting against enemies who want to destroy it, and it had a preview of what would happen if they were to succeed on October 7th, which would be a second Holocaust (1h42m29s).
• Israel faces an existential threat and has no room for error, as laying down arms or being soft could lead to a second Holocaust (1h42m38s).
• The country is imperfect and has its flaws, but it is trying to be strong and good, and this effort is commendable (1h43m1s).
• Anti-Semitism and hate against Israel should be stopped, as the country is wonderful and deserves appreciation (1h43m18s).
• Israel's internal divisions and external enemies are significant challenges that need to be addressed (1h43m29s).
• Reminding people of their common values and beliefs can help unite them and define a nation (1h43m43s).
• Identifying a core set of values and beliefs that unite everyone is essential, as seen in efforts in the US and Canada (1h43m49s).
• Israel's remarkable economic and military success over the last couple of decades will be discussed further, exploring the conditions that contributed to this success (1h44m23s).