Since October 7, Israel has become, in the eyes of many, not just an isolated state in the Middle East but the front line of the West in the face of rising radical Islam. The war in Gaza, the confrontation with Hezbollah in the North, and the Iranian threat all converge into a broader global struggle over the very identity of Western civilization.
While some European countries still struggle to name the enemy, in Israel, there is no doubt that this is an existential battle between a liberal, democratic culture and a violent, totalitarian ideology.
When Hamas launched its murderous terror attack, many in the West dismissed it as just another flare-up in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The reality is far more complex. Behind Hamas stands Iran – and behind Iran, China and Russia, exploiting every flashpoint to weaken the United States and its allies. Gaza is not just a strip of land ruled by a terror organization; it is a global testing ground.
Every rocket fired at Tel Aviv and every inciting video shared online is not only aimed at harming Israel but also at destabilizing the free world as a whole. Those who believe that this conflict will remain between “the river” and “the sea” ignore history. Radical Islam views itself not as a local movement, but as a mission for Muslims worldwide – especially the extremists among them.
Europe today is experiencing a wave of antisemitism unseen since the 1930s. In the streets of Paris, Berlin, and London, chants of “global intifada” are heard.
On elite campuses such as Oxford and Harvard, Hamas flags are waved. This is no coincidence. Decades of mass Muslim migration, coupled with Europe’s cultural weakness, have created fertile ground for anti-Western ideologies to spread. In this sense, Israel acts as a mirror for Europe, exposing its vulnerabilities.
While Israelis fight for their survival, many Europeans prefer to close their eyes and embrace a narrative that blames the victim. The result is the delegitimization of Israel and the strengthening of Islamist movements across the continent.
Divided we fall
Even in the United States, still the leader of the Western camp, a deep divide has emerged. On the one hand, Washington provides Israel with military, intelligence and diplomatic support. On the other, American streets and campuses echo with calls to cut ties with Israel, often in open solidarity with Hamas.
This split reflects a larger struggle: Will America continue to lead the free world and defend democratic values, or will it retreat and leave the field to Russia, China, and Iran? In this sense, Israel serves as a test for the United States as well – of how firmly it will stand by its ally in the Middle East, even when the domestic political price is high.
While the West hesitates, Israel fights for its very survival. This war reminds the world that against totalitarian ideologies, there can be no real compromise. Just as the West once had to stand firm against Nazism and Communism, so too must it now stand against radical Islam. Israel’s military, its security establishment, and its civil society form the West’s first line of defense. Israel absorbs the first blows, but in doing so protects Europe and America as well. Those who doubt this must ask: What would happen if Israel were defeated? What message would that send to every terror group, every radical Islamic regime, and every anti-Western populist leader?
The historical parallels are clear. In the 1930s, many in the West sought to “understand” Hitler, to appease him with concessions in the hope of peace. The result was World War II.
DURING THE Cold War, some believed in coexistence with the Soviet Union until reality proved otherwise. The same applies today. Anyone who thinks Hamas, Hezbollah, or Iran are seeking a “two-state solution” or “political compromise” ignores their openly declared goal: the destruction of Israel and the subjugation of the West.
Israel, standing at the forefront, reminds the West of a forgotten truth: values are not safeguarded by words alone but by determination and the willingness to pay a price. The greatest task now is not only military but also perceptual. Israel must explain again and again what should be obvious – it is defending itself against murderous terror. Yet at the same time, it is defending the free world as a whole.
For this struggle to succeed, deeper solidarity is required between Israel and Western nations – not only weapons shipments and diplomatic backing, but a recognition that Israel’s fight is the fight for the future of Europe and America. If Israel were to fall, the path would be opened to further attacks in London, Paris, and New York.
This war positions Israel not as a geographic periphery but at the very heart of the clash of civilizations.
The front line is not only the Gaza border fence or an outpost in Galilee – it stretches to Brussels, Washington, and Los Angeles.
Israel may be a small state on the front line, but this is the West’s battle too. The West faces a choice: to recognize Israel as its line of defense, or to continue deluding itself until the fire reaches its own doorstep.
The writer is CEO of Radios 100FM, an honorary consul, deputy dean of the Consular Diplomatic Corps, president of the Israel Radio Association, and a former NBC correspondent.