Operation Rising Lion – Israel’s precision strikes against Iranian nuclear and military sites this week – is a declaration of Jewish sovereignty.
Jewish sovereignty means the decisions are Israel’s to make – not the United Nations’, not the European Union’s. Allies may advise. But the right and responsibility to act belongs to Israel alone.
Never Again means taking action
“Never Again” is more than remembrance. It is a vow fulfilled through courage, strength, and moral clarity.
Israel’s actions this week embody that vow. By striking deep into the heart of Iran’s nuclear and terror infrastructure, Israel disabled weapons systems, disrupted supply chains, and sent a message to Tehran and its proxies: the Jewish people will not be passive targets of genocidal regimes.
For over four decades, Iran has waged war against America and the West – bombing embassies, killing Marines, plotting assassinations, and chanting “Death to America.” Israel is not just defending itself. It is protecting the free world.
Nearly half a century ago, prime minister Menachem Begin declared:
“On no account shall we permit an enemy to develop weapons of mass destruction against the people of Israel.”
The Begin Doctrine remains clear, moral, and essential. In 2025, the promise of 1948 lives on. The Jewish people stand as a nation among nations – unapologetic, unafraid, and unwavering.
A Zionist moment unfolds. The world watches as Israel exercises the most basic right of any sovereign state: the right of self-defense. No apologies. No equivocation. Only clarity of purpose and the courage to act.
US President Donald Trump and his administration play a decisive role. Joint missile interceptions and strategic coordination show what real partnership looks like – grounded in shared interests and mutual trust. They save lives, bolster deterrence, and reinforce Israel’s ability to confront one of the West’s gravest threats.
The horror of October 7, 2023, the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust, did not end with Hamas’s attacks. In too many places, it is celebrated. Protests erupt in support of Hamas. Social media amplifies the hatred. Across Western capitals, Hamas sympathizers chant “Globalize the Intifada” and “From the river to the sea.” These are not slogans. They are calls to kill Jews.
Antisemitism, once whispered, now shouts. The mask has slipped. And in far too many elite institutions, incitement is met not with condemnation, but with complicity.
There is reason to hope for progress on the release of the hostages, whose continued captivity remains a moral stain on the international community. Hamas now stands more isolated than ever, cut off from an enfeebled Tehran and reeling from Israel’s blows.
Vigilance is not optional. The next assault may come through cyberattacks, lone wolves, or sleeper cells. Iran’s proxies operate globally. The danger does not stop at Israel’s borders.
Still, this moment presents a historic opportunity. October 7 revealed the depths of our enemies’ hatred. This week reminded the world of the strength of our resolve.
This is a moment for moral clarity and Jewish unity. Across the world, we stand as one people. We do not flinch. We do not falter.
We face the future with resolve, unity, and the faith that carries us through generations.
In 2025, the promise of 1948 lives on.
The writer is the executive vice president and chief executive officer of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Follow him on X at @Daroff.