Chuck Holton
Politics • Culture • News
Surviving the Hot Zone: A Firsthand Look at Israel’s Ongoing Conflict
March 12, 2025

I just returned from Israel, and let me tell you—things are heating up over there. The sheer volume of daily attacks coming out of Judea, Samaria, and Hebron is staggering, but it barely makes international news anymore. While there, I got an incredible firsthand look at what Israelis are facing, and I want to share one story that highlights the reality on the ground.

An American Marine vs. a Terrorist with a WWII Submachine Gun

One of the most remarkable interviews I did was with Dave, a former U.S. Marine who made aliyah to Israel and now serves as a security coordinator in Samaria. A few days ago, he was driving with his wife when a terrorist armed with a World War II submachine gun stepped into the road and opened fire on their windshield.

But Dave wasn’t your average target. He had his hand on his weapon, trained and ready. The second the gunman fired, Dave shot back through his own windshield, hitting the attacker multiple times and neutralizing him. If it had been almost anyone else, they likely would have died on the spot.

This story underscores why Israelis need self-defense training. While I was there, I visited a new training center being built to help Israeli civilians prepare for these daily threats. It’s not a luxury—it’s a necessity.

Israel’s Response: Destroying Terrorist Homes, But Is It Enough?

Israel’s current policy is to demolish the homes of terrorists as a deterrent. The problem? It doesn’t work. The Palestinian Authority immediately rebuilds these houses, and the families receive financial rewards. Instead of stopping terror, this system encourages it.

According to Dave, Israel should take a more decisive approach—seizing entire neighborhoods where terrorists come from and driving out their supporters. Harsh? Maybe. But in a war for survival, half-measures won’t cut it.

The Chaos in Syria: Massacres and Misinformation

Meanwhile, Syria is in flames. Reports indicate that over 10,000 people have been massacred, but independent verification is nearly impossible. Terror groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—a rebranded version of Al-Qaeda—are systematically wiping out Alawites and Christians.

What makes it worse is the flood of fake videos spreading online. Russian, Iranian, and North Korean-backed bot farms are muddying the waters, making it nearly impossible to separate truth from fiction. This is modern information warfare, and it's working.

The U.S. Pullout from Syria: A Dangerous Power Vacuum

One of the biggest geopolitical shifts happening right now is the U.S. withdrawal from Syria. The Kurdish forces, once strong U.S. allies, are now being forced to submit to HTS just to survive. That means thousands of ISIS fighters currently imprisoned could soon be back on the battlefield.

As I’ve warned for years, when America creates a power vacuum, extremists fill it. We may soon regret pulling out, just like we did in Afghanistan.

 

 

 

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This week, the Houthis took their war to a whole new level—sinking two commercial ships in the Red Sea in just a matter of days. First, the Magic Seas was hit and went down. Then came the Eternity C, boarded by armed Houthi fighters who planted explosives on the hull and detonated them. The shocking video released by the group shows militants moving through the ship, firing weapons into walls and windows. Most of the crew is still unaccounted for.

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Ceasefire Illusions and the Battle for Real Peace in the Middle East

By Chuck Holton
Reporting from Jerusalem, Israel

Another Strike Looms: Israel Eyes Fordow, Again

As tensions simmer just beneath the surface in the Middle East, the illusion of ceasefires continues to dominate headlines. But from the ground here in Jerusalem, the reality is far different. Israel appears to be preparing for another potential strike on Iran—particularly the Fordow nuclear facility—amid concerns that time is running out to neutralize the threat of uranium enrichment. Israeli leadership is not waiting for diplomatic ceremonies. They’ve made it clear: the truce was conditional, and they reserve the right to act if Iran continues to endanger Israeli security.

That resolve was evident in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s recent visit to Washington, D.C., where he met twice with President Trump. Despite public speculation, it’s clear Netanyahu was not simply seeking peace talks. He emphasized the necessity of "finishing the job in Gaza" and praised America’s support—particularly the determination of U.S. B2 bomber pilots—as instrumental in reshaping the conflict.


Houthi Menace: Political Theater with Real Victims

Meanwhile, in a display of violence as propaganda, the Iranian-backed Houthis released another highly-produced video showing the sinking of commercial vessels like the Magic Seas—Greek-flagged, Liberian-registered, and completely unaffiliated with Israel. These attacks aren’t strategic; they’re sensational. Poorly trained operatives parading around as commandos show that the goal isn’t military victory but media relevance.

The real tragedy? Innocent seafarers becoming casualties in a conflict they never signed up for. And with every new attack, the narrative of peace grows thinner.


The Ceasefire Charade

Despite high-level efforts—most notably by President Trump—to broker ceasefires across the region, the facts on the ground reveal continued hostilities:

  • In Lebanon, Israeli forces are conducting daily drone strikes and eliminating Hezbollah leadership.

  • In Syria, IDF troops continue operations, targeting Iranian militias and weapons depots.

  • In Iran, mysterious explosions still rock military sites and infrastructure, hinting at covert operations.

  • In Gaza, heavy IDF activity persists as troops push deeper into urban strongholds like Beit Hanoun and Khan Yunis.

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Facts, Not Feelings

“Why Don’t You Talk About the Deaths in Gaza?”

That question came up—again. And here’s my answer: I do talk about it, just not in the way people want me to. If your side orchestrates an atrocity like October 7th, you don’t get to demand that the world ignore your consequences. Self-defense isn’t genocide.

Do civilians die in war? Of course—and every loss is tragic. But according to third-party data, the civilian-to-combatant ratio in Gaza is one of the lowest in modern warfare. Lower than in Iraq or Afghanistan. Lower than in Yemen. Lower even than Israel’s last major operations.

And no, Gaza isn’t being depopulated. In fact, population numbers show there are more people in Gaza today than at the war’s start. For a so-called genocide, that’s one remarkably inefficient campaign.


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