It happened so fast. 

A week ago (up until Oct. 7), we were all lulled into thinking that, aside from political chaos inside Israel, things in the Middle East were relatively stable. 

Violence was at a minimum. Tourists crowded historic sites and restaurants. There were even hints of progress on a U.S.-brokered deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Then, suddenly, all hell broke loose. And we’re back in the middle of war in the Middle East for the first time in decades.

As readers of this column know, I generally stick to domestic politics and policy. I seldom venture into foreign policy because, frankly, that’s not my area of expertise. But events like this violent, unprovoked attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists, and Israel’s declaration of war against Hamas, force all of us to reflect and respond. Here are my five take-aways.

One. We stand with Israel. Period. Granted, Israel’s far from perfect, especially under Bibi Netanyahu. His relentless building of new settlements in the West Bank is inexcusable. His determination to undermine Israel’s democracy is indefensible. His stubborn refusal to pursue a two-state solution is unacceptable.

But this is no time for two-sideism or what-aboutism. There’s only one side in this war. We must stand with the people of Israel, who are victims of the worst, most sickening war crimes we’ve seen since the days of ISIS: innocent civilians targeted and murdered, babies slaughtered, hundreds ripped from their families and taken hostage, more Jews killed at any time since the Holocaust. 

There is no justification for, nor no defense of, that unspeakable evil. None.

Two. President Biden’s providing bold leadership. No hesitation. No poll-taking. No huddling with feckless members of Congress.

Immediately, Biden was on the phone with Prime Minister Netanyahu and on the air with the American people. He pledged our unqualified support for Israel. He sent the Sixth Fleet to the Mediterranean. He dispatched shipments of arms to the Israeli military, and vowed more would soon be on the way. He warned other players in the region not to get involved.

“The United States has Israel’s back. We will make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself, today, tomorrow – as we always have,” he declared in a speech to the nation on Oct. 10 – which Israeli leaders hailed as the most powerful support for Israel shown by any sitting U.S. president since Harry Truman recognized the Jewish state in 1948.

And, despite the media’s focus on one or two outliers, the entire leadership of the Democratic Party stands with him.

Three. Meanwhile, the Republican Party’s missing in action. For a party that used to pride itself on its foreign policy expertise and support for Israel, their response to Hamas’ attack on Israel is embarrassing. Without a Speaker of the House, they couldn’t even convene to pass a resolution in support of Israel. Despite all the new demands on our armed forces, Senator Tommy Tuberville, still refuses to lift his blockade on military promotions. Thanks to Senate Republicans, we don’t even have an ambassador to Israel.

Worst of all, starting with Donald Trump, the only response idea-bankrupt Republicans could think of was blaming the Hamas attack on Joe Biden – which was the last thing the people of Israel or America wanted to hear, and so pathetic nobody believed it.

Four. Israel and Ukraine are both important. Both are victims of terrorist attacks. And both deserve our support. Again, how embarrassing. 

Last week (first week of October), Republicans were insisting we had to cut off aid to Ukraine because we can’t get involved in what’s happening thousands of miles away. 

Then, suddenly, the same Republicans said we had to immediately send more aid to Israel. Total hypocrisy.

They don’t get it. Israel and Ukraine are one and the same. They both need our help. You can’t support one without supporting the other. This is who we are. When democracies come under attack, anywhere in the world, we stand to defend them.

Five. Eliminating Hamas is not the final answer. No doubt, Israel will win this war. Hamas will no longer exist. But Gaza, the West Bank, and the Palestinian people will still be there. Then the hard part begins.

We can only hope the Israeli people get back on track: ditch Netanyahu, unite behind new leaders who will reaffirm Israel’s democracy, and revive and actively pursue the goal of a two-state solution spelled out in the Oslo Accords. 

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