Time for Israel to Take the Gloves Off

It’s easy for the United States, the mainstream media, and many in the West to urge Israel to exercise restraint and even institute a cease-fire in the aftermath of the massacre of Israelis by Hamas terrorists on Oct 7.

Those calling for such things have not had their fellow countrymen, women, and children beheaded, burned alive, and massacred by a group dedicated to their destruction.

Israel and its citizenry can only trust themselves and their government to save the future of their country and their people.

If Jews are not safe in Israel, those in the United States should start looking over their shoulders at the anti-Israel demonstrations around the country, and now globally, as well as the rising tide of antisemitism on college campuses.

Even more disturbing is the rising level of hatred for Israel and Jews in the United States Congress.

Israel’s enemies are openly gathering and no doubt planning its destruction, as evidenced by the recent meeting in Beirut, Lebanon, between the leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group and senior Hamas and Palestinian Islamic jihadist players.

The safety and security of Jews globally are at stake; whether they are in Israel or on college campuses in the United States.

Who would have ever thought that Jewish students at major elite universities would have to live in fear of anti-Semitic rhetoric and threatening conduct in 2023?

And, who would have thought that so few presidents of such so-called higher education bastions of elitism would, like University of Florida President Ben Sasse, strongly support Israel and Jewish students?

Others, like Vanderbilt University and Ohio State University, have been more neutral.

Not even the United Nations is immune from anti-Israeli sentiment.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres justified Hamas's vicious attacks on Israel, stating that they "did not happen in a vacuum."

He said the Palestinian people "have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation."

Historically, Israel has always been able to count on massive support from the United States.

In the present crisis, Israel had better be ready to go on its own if the Biden administration urges it to implement a cease-fire or asks it to delay a full-scale invasion of Gaza to go after and destroy the Hamas killers.

Israel cannot allow its people and forces to be attacked by Iranian surrogates without punishment, unlike Biden, who has taken no significant action on the drone and rocket attacks on coalition military bases in Iraq and Syria last week, which injured 21 U.S. service members.

In the final analysis, Israel must inform the world, especially Iran and Lebanon, that it will not hesitate to use whatever weapon or weapons necessary to totally destroy those who seek to eliminate it and its people from the earth.

It’s time for Israel to take the gloves off.

Clarence V. McKee is president of McKee Communications, Inc., a government, political, and media relations and training consulting firm in Florida. He is the author of "How Obama Failed Black America and How Trump Is Helping It." Read Clarence V. McKee's Reports — More Here.