In times of fear, war, and confusion, people naturally cling to strong leaders. For many in Israel, including those of us from historically marginalized communities, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has become a symbol of strength and survival.
We love you, Mr. Netanyahu, because in our darkest moments you told us that only you could protect us and we believed you, even when our families still suffer in Ethiopia because your government refuses to bring them home under the Law of Return.
Even when we have begged repeatedly for all Ethiopian Jews with close relatives in Israel to be airlifted to their homeland, and you have said no, choosing instead to leave them in a foreign land, we have not turned our backs on you. These are people who long to come home, to serve, and even to sacrifice for the protection of Israel. We still love you. We still trust you.
You have spoken to our fears, but also to our faith. We believe you will likely win the next election. We followed you not out of blind loyalty but because we saw no one else with your resolve and stamina to confront the forces threatening our nation’s existence. Others came and went – some sent abroad to serve in the UN, others undermined or silenced. None stayed to grow alongside you, like Joshua with Moses. But even kings must listen. Even heroes must learn.
Israel missed critical opportunities
We are still at war. Our enemies are clear in their intention: to destroy us. You have never stopped fighting, and we are grateful. But we must admit a painful truth: We missed critical opportunities earlier when negotiations might have brought our hostages home and saved lives. If we do not learn from them, we will fail again.
Israel must not only fight; it must also speak. We must speak our historical truth, our cultural truth, our Abrahamic and theological truth, and the geopolitical truth of the Middle East. We must speak with wisdom. Our enemies often distort reality, yet the world sees their cruelty and brutality so we must become masters of diplomacy rooted in fact, compassion, and moral clarity.
Mr. Prime Minister: You are a gifted diplomat. You have excelled at navigating the egos of Western leaders and making Israel’s case to the world. But as head of state, your responsibility goes beyond waging war; it is to lay the foundation for peace.
Tell the world about the young Ethiopian Jewish soldier who ran miles under enemy fire to stop evil and to defend a land his ancestors dreamed of for centuries. Let him speak not just of sacrifice but of dignity and belonging.
We love you not out of naivete, but out of hope that you will grow with the moment, not cling to the past. Hope that you will lead not only as a warrior but as a mentor to those who will come after you. Yet here lies a danger: You have taught the public, perhaps unintentionally, that no one else can be trusted. So we ask: Who will lead if something happens to you?
You have not cultivated successors. Instead, emerging leaders have been quietly pushed aside. This has left the nation dependent on one man, a position that breeds insecurity, not stability. True leadership builds trust in the future, not just in the present.
Military power can win battles, but it cannot guarantee lasting peace. For that, we need communication, vision, diplomacy, and relationship-building both with our neighbors and with the wider world. We must build bridges, not only fortresses.
We have missed opportunities to educate the world about our truth. We had the moral high ground, but we did not broadcast it effectively. Perhaps we have dismantled Hamas’s military capability, but we have not defeated its ideology. The slogan “From the river to the sea,” once fringe, now echoes in major capitals, supported by social movements, student groups, and even governments. This is Hamas’s diplomatic victory, and we allowed it to happen.
We need a unified, strategic diplomatic team
Mr. Netanyahu, now is the time to create a unified, strategic diplomatic team drawing from all political parties and all communities in Israel. Let the opposition join in the work of saving our people. Share power. Prepare the next generation of leaders of humility, courage, and vision.
And perhaps now is the time to bring Ethiopian Jews into Israel’s diplomatic corps not just as soldiers or silent citizens but as representatives of our country. Let us speak. Let us show the world the full diversity of the Jewish people and the soul of the Israeli nation.
You have led us through fire, Mr. Netanyahu. But no one stays king forever. True greatness is not only in holding power, but in passing it on wisely, gracefully, and in service to the future we all share.
The writer is an international educator, community activist, and diplomacy expert. He has served in the Israel Police and represented the Knesset on matters of international public affairs. He holds a doctorate in educational leadership and administration from Yeshiva University, NY.