Israel’s secret weapon is not technology, not money-but society

In an age where headlines focus on new technologies, laser systems, artificial intelligence and stealth aircraft, we sometimes forget Israel’s most vital weapon. A weapon that cannot be purchased with money, imported or exported. A weapon not stored in bunkers but embedded in the heart of every citizen: our social resilience.

Resilience, mutual responsibility, camaraderie, civic initiative and national pride are the five pillars of Israel’s secret weapon. It is a uniquely Israeli formula irreplaceable and unreplaceable that has enabled us to withstand prolonged wars, economic crises, pandemics and national upheavals. This weapon has been with us since the founding of the state.

Resilience is the backbone of Israeli society. It is expressed in the capacity to withstand pressure, recover, and grow even after severe blows. In recent years, resilience has been evident during the ongoing war in the South and North, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and through economic shocks. Israeli society knows how to regroup, adapt to changing realities, and rebuild quickly, often through pain.

Mutual responsibility is the glue that binds individuals together. It is the understanding that “each person shall help his fellow and say to his brother, "Be strong." From the earliest moments of conflict to the massive civilian aid efforts that follow, Israelis take personal responsibility for one another: families "adopt" soldiers, homes are opened to evacuees, and support networks form overnight. This sense of mutual responsibility lies just beneath the surface and strengthens precisely in times of crisis.

Camaraderie begins among soldiers in the field, but it permeates all layers of society. It is the sense of brotherhood that enables people to fight shoulder to shoulder and return stronger. It gives meaning to the struggle and turns the IDF into a truly citizen army, one where every soldier carries not only a physical weapon, but also a moral one.

One of the most striking characteristics of Israeli society is the capacity of citizens to identify needs and act immediately, without waiting for orders from above. NGOs, volunteer groups, civic coalitions and community initiatives spring up overnight. This is our "social Iron Dome" built from the bottom up which turns Israeli society into a living, breathing, proactive force, even in the midst of crisis.

National pride is not a slogan. It is a deep sense of mission and belonging. It is what sustains society even through fierce disagreements. It allows us to distinguish between internal ideological debates and standing united in the face of external threats. “We have one country,” Israelis remind themselves again and again - and that conviction is a source of strength.

Jared Kushner, speaking at a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on September 9, 2025, highlighted the power of this weapon: "This all would not have been possible without the bravery of the IDF and its soldiers… But particularly seeing the way your citizen army  you know, a lot of you have been through sacrifices on the line to fight for your country to try and make a difference , I think that made a very very big difference there".

Every soldier in the IDF carries this weapon with them. Alongside Israel’s most advanced technological systems, it is this social power that repeatedly enables the country to change reality.

This social weapon is not to be taken for granted. The social rifts and divisions that have surfaced in recent years have exposed vulnerabilities and pose a major challenge: to mend, reconnect, and invest in strengthening the social fabric. When it comes to national resilience, there is no Right and Left , there is one country (without negating anyone’s ideology).

Like any strategic defense system, this weapon must be maintained, upgraded, and passed on to future generations. It is the foundation upon which innovation, military strength and national development rest. It is Israel’s insurance policy if we know how to preserve it.