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.
