Most important thing I draw from this is that Israel must be self-sufficient in producing its own weaponry. I never knew that Israel wanted to strike first before the Yom Kippur war broke out. The US, because of Israel's reliance on American weapon supply, was able to stop her. Same problem we had with Biden and other Presidents. No more. We need to be as independent as possible. Thank you for a great read through our history!
Excellent history lesson. At the same time that you explain Israel's strengths and express an optimism that we must hold on to, I see and hear that we must continue to work hard and innovate. We must somehow work, innovate, and pray to overcome the strategic disadvantages that are inherent in The Land of Israel and plague Bnei Yisrael.
From another source: before enlightenment we chop wood and carry water and after enlightenment we chop wood and carry water. And, as H' said to Yaakov, This World is for work. You can rest in the Next World. We can gather energy from our accomplishments and we can continue forward to new accomplishments.
Thank you, Josh, for this very helpful and timely article. I have been eating my heart out about the jets to Saudi Arabia, but for me, this was a reminder: 'Don't worry, be happy'!
Thank you, Josh, for this very helpful and timely article. I have been eating my heart out about the jets to Saudi Arabia, but for me, this was a reminder: 'Don't worry, be happy'!
Yes, pretty much what I have been saying on these posts for over a year: that Israel is going to become the main protector and enforcer of the New Middle East, not America or any other country. All the moderate Arab countries know this and support it because they know Israel has no interest in conquering other lands (never have), and is absolutely key to the success of the new economic plans. The past two years, Israel has proven it can do the job; the world said that Iran could not be taken down, and that Hezbollah was too powerful to be dealt with, but Israel, single-handedly, did just those relatively easily (and when time comes, will finish the jobs). As for weapons, no doubt the new plans will include weapons manufacturing plants in the region--weapons provided for Israel to protect the New Middle East and for sale to allies around the world--and that will provide jobs and more independence from outside interference not only for Israel but for all the people in the region. How great it will be for Israel to be a totally independent world power and not to have to worry about America or others interfering with Israel's survival. I just hope this is all locked in place before the Israel haters get elected in America (could happen in three years) and try to mess up the New Middle East plans (why would they want to? Because all the conflicts in the Middle East have been a boondoggle of corrupt money for decades and the "Palestinian" issue is the biggest hoax the world has ever seen and those guilty of perpetuating it have very big monetary stakes in seeing conflict continue).
1) Army - Israel can and does make all ground vehicles and weapons including tanks and APC's.
2) Navy - it builds all naval vessels except the largest Sa'ar 6 Class Corvettes and its (6) Dolphin Class submarines. It has already contracted for its next generation of Dakar submarines. Those were/are/would be all made in Germany. That would be expensive but doable. Germany may not be reliable in the future, so Israel might want to start on this now.
3) Air Force - it would need to build all its transport and attack helicopters and fighter/bomber jets. Those are virtually all made in the United States. Israel could design and build a 4.5 generation fighter like the Swedish Saab Gripen. The 5th generation F-35 is now 20 years old, and the US just let the 6th generation contract to Boeing for the F-47. This would be the most challenging aspect of making their own weapons systems, I believe
Presently Israel has about $230 billion in foreign reserves. It would take a large portion of that to build out and start these weapons systems. The F-35 has parts sourced all over the world and that is something to take into consideration.
Israel should not and must not trust the next Democrat administration. The Democrat base detests Israel. Why?
I'm talking about getting the kinds of weapons the US threatens to withhold. The big bombs. And whatever else they need to maintain their ranking of 4th most powerful military in the world. And I'm not talking about Israel paying for building out factories--that's what all the Arab money is for (even Qatar is going to have to find another industry to fund to start their reformation). The Arabs all have a young people population problem: no jobs, no future. To drag themselves out of the Middle Ages, they must get on board with the plans. They have to bring all kinds of manufacturing in, they need to provide safety and security and hope for the future or the Islamists will take over them all, with Russia and China helping to make that happen. And at the rate the Republicans are going, it might not be trustworthy if the Republicans remain in office (post-Trump)--and the struggle of the antisemitic faction is gaining strength and members every day.
I agree about the JDAMS and other bombs that Biden held back on. That is why Israel is making its own PGM's and is contracting with Elbit to make JDAMS. That is the easy part.
What I am trying to do is think like the IDF and Israel's intelligence agencies.
As of right now Israel is relying on Germany and the US for its high end naval vessels and virtually all its aircraft. How much longer do they want to do this? If as you say the Republicans may not be reliable after Trump, then what does Israel do without a reliable airplane provider. That is incredibly serious.
So, like a lot of Israelis I know, they are discussing and thinking about all their weapons procurement.
Very nice thoughts but you underestimate the Arab countries. They are educating their youth in Western universities. They certainly know how to manipulate the world with their astute propaganda. Even western Jews fall for their publicity stunts and support the “poor Palestinians” on whom Israel is committing genocide. The Arabs are not stupid. In another generation they could compete with the Israelis in technology and AI. They can certainly learn to fly planes! Moreover as in 2000 of Jewish history even the the Israeli Jews can’t stand together to confront a common enemy. Half of them want an unelected legal hierarchy to rule the country and the ultra orthodox refuse to join the IDF. Never mind the egos of most of the politicians who put their own political ambitions over the well being of the country. You then have a more “woke” population than most western countries residing in the middle of very conservative religious states that hate them.
The only positive thing I can say in Israel’s favor is …thank God for Trump! But what will happen in a couple of years when he is no longer in power. Not one other country in the western world supports Israel. Not even a huge percentage of ignorant American Jews! Anti semitism runs rampant across the western world. Maybe as bad as 1930s Germany. What do we do when Trump is gone!
Qatar is pumping in billions of dollars to our universities and brainwashing western students apart from having Arab students spreading anti semitism over the whole student body and the majority of young people in America. Israel has to get it its act together regarding world opinion. And don’t underestimate the intelligence of the Arabs. Our own Jewish kids of this generation have no understanding of Jewish history and believe this Arab propaganda apart from not having the the will to succeed as their parents and grandparents did. Even in Tel Aviv we only hear of partying and acceptance of every crazy modern idea.
Qatar is buying it's way to a reputable reputation, whilst undermining western civilisation with its funding of islamic jihad through the worldwide tentacles of it's Muslim Brotherhood .. Qatar is duplicitous, mendacious and dangerous.
It is nice that you suggest calming the seas, that the sale of F-35 to Saudi Arabia is only to help them feel safe with Iran trying to take over the neighborhood, but Joshua, you don't give enough weight to the fact that, based on the dominant religious sect that runs Saudi Arabia and populates Saudi Arabia are still taught to hate Jews and Israel. While Saudi Arabia may fear Iran's hegemony, it itself played a role in 9/11. Maybe they didn't mastermind 9/11, but they didn't try and stop it either. And today, Israel's neighbor, Egypt, permits terrorists on their soil to fly very, very large drones used to airlift weapons into the hands of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. So, let us not mislead your readership that having sold F-35s to both Saudi Arabia and, worse, to Turkey, was a good idea for either America or Israel. Nope. It could well prove to be a very bad idea.
An outstanding history of the Yom Kippur War was written with that title by Abraham Rabinowitz, with a second edition in 2005 that has substantial additions. There's much more to Israel's surprise in 1973 than just a US warning: IDF Intelligence Chief Eli Zeira manipulated intelligence to downgrade the chances of attack which is why no troops were moved to reinforce the Bar-Lev line. Nasser's son in law passed detailed intelligence to Mossad but military intelligence refused it. It was fortunate that Moshe Dayan overrode IDF Chief of Staff Elazar a week before the war and directly ordered an additional tank brigade into the Golan, raising the number of Israeli tanks there from 73 to 170 (against over 2000 Syrian tanks)
F35 have not been sold or promised to Turkey; it was removed from the program after buying Russian S-400 air defense systems.
There was a lot of concern when President Ford offered F15s to Saudi Arabia and, later, when President Reagan offered AWACS. Despite that, and an understanding that Israel's F15 fleet will be capped at 50% of Saudi Arabia's (but no limits on F16s), Saudi Arabia never developed an effective airforce, as can be seen by its campaign in Yemen.
The extreme selectiveness of Israel's IDF flight academy shows why: 20,000 apply to the flight academy every year, about 800 are accepted and, of those, about 80 are able to complete the course and graduate. There's nothing remotely like that in the Arab world.
MBS is trying to negotiate an Arab-Israeli peace, to bring about an end to the Arab-Israeli war that began in 1948, which would materially increase Israel's national security.
@Joshua, thank you for yet another insightful piece.
Rule Number One, never underestimate your enemy .. and whilst Israel has the edge on so many aspects, there is nothing stopping the Arab world from determining Israel’s weak spot, wherever that may be, and taking advantage.
Most important thing I draw from this is that Israel must be self-sufficient in producing its own weaponry. I never knew that Israel wanted to strike first before the Yom Kippur war broke out. The US, because of Israel's reliance on American weapon supply, was able to stop her. Same problem we had with Biden and other Presidents. No more. We need to be as independent as possible. Thank you for a great read through our history!
Sara, please read what I posted in comments. Israel is going to be independent...
And the same problem they’ll have with trump now he’s sold Israel out.
Excellent history lesson. At the same time that you explain Israel's strengths and express an optimism that we must hold on to, I see and hear that we must continue to work hard and innovate. We must somehow work, innovate, and pray to overcome the strategic disadvantages that are inherent in The Land of Israel and plague Bnei Yisrael.
From another source: before enlightenment we chop wood and carry water and after enlightenment we chop wood and carry water. And, as H' said to Yaakov, This World is for work. You can rest in the Next World. We can gather energy from our accomplishments and we can continue forward to new accomplishments.
Outstanding and insightful essay, Joshua!
Thank you, Josh, for this very helpful and timely article. I have been eating my heart out about the jets to Saudi Arabia, but for me, this was a reminder: 'Don't worry, be happy'!
Thank you, Josh, for this very helpful and timely article. I have been eating my heart out about the jets to Saudi Arabia, but for me, this was a reminder: 'Don't worry, be happy'!
Yes, pretty much what I have been saying on these posts for over a year: that Israel is going to become the main protector and enforcer of the New Middle East, not America or any other country. All the moderate Arab countries know this and support it because they know Israel has no interest in conquering other lands (never have), and is absolutely key to the success of the new economic plans. The past two years, Israel has proven it can do the job; the world said that Iran could not be taken down, and that Hezbollah was too powerful to be dealt with, but Israel, single-handedly, did just those relatively easily (and when time comes, will finish the jobs). As for weapons, no doubt the new plans will include weapons manufacturing plants in the region--weapons provided for Israel to protect the New Middle East and for sale to allies around the world--and that will provide jobs and more independence from outside interference not only for Israel but for all the people in the region. How great it will be for Israel to be a totally independent world power and not to have to worry about America or others interfering with Israel's survival. I just hope this is all locked in place before the Israel haters get elected in America (could happen in three years) and try to mess up the New Middle East plans (why would they want to? Because all the conflicts in the Middle East have been a boondoggle of corrupt money for decades and the "Palestinian" issue is the biggest hoax the world has ever seen and those guilty of perpetuating it have very big monetary stakes in seeing conflict continue).
1) Army - Israel can and does make all ground vehicles and weapons including tanks and APC's.
2) Navy - it builds all naval vessels except the largest Sa'ar 6 Class Corvettes and its (6) Dolphin Class submarines. It has already contracted for its next generation of Dakar submarines. Those were/are/would be all made in Germany. That would be expensive but doable. Germany may not be reliable in the future, so Israel might want to start on this now.
3) Air Force - it would need to build all its transport and attack helicopters and fighter/bomber jets. Those are virtually all made in the United States. Israel could design and build a 4.5 generation fighter like the Swedish Saab Gripen. The 5th generation F-35 is now 20 years old, and the US just let the 6th generation contract to Boeing for the F-47. This would be the most challenging aspect of making their own weapons systems, I believe
Presently Israel has about $230 billion in foreign reserves. It would take a large portion of that to build out and start these weapons systems. The F-35 has parts sourced all over the world and that is something to take into consideration.
Israel should not and must not trust the next Democrat administration. The Democrat base detests Israel. Why?
Islam is the Democrat Party at prayer.
I'm talking about getting the kinds of weapons the US threatens to withhold. The big bombs. And whatever else they need to maintain their ranking of 4th most powerful military in the world. And I'm not talking about Israel paying for building out factories--that's what all the Arab money is for (even Qatar is going to have to find another industry to fund to start their reformation). The Arabs all have a young people population problem: no jobs, no future. To drag themselves out of the Middle Ages, they must get on board with the plans. They have to bring all kinds of manufacturing in, they need to provide safety and security and hope for the future or the Islamists will take over them all, with Russia and China helping to make that happen. And at the rate the Republicans are going, it might not be trustworthy if the Republicans remain in office (post-Trump)--and the struggle of the antisemitic faction is gaining strength and members every day.
I enjoyed reading your analysis.
I agree about the JDAMS and other bombs that Biden held back on. That is why Israel is making its own PGM's and is contracting with Elbit to make JDAMS. That is the easy part.
What I am trying to do is think like the IDF and Israel's intelligence agencies.
As of right now Israel is relying on Germany and the US for its high end naval vessels and virtually all its aircraft. How much longer do they want to do this? If as you say the Republicans may not be reliable after Trump, then what does Israel do without a reliable airplane provider. That is incredibly serious.
So, like a lot of Israelis I know, they are discussing and thinking about all their weapons procurement.
Thanks for your reply, Dana.
Yes. It is serious. And I have faith, like always, that Israel will find a way to do what is necessary. You might enjoy reading this: https://www.futureofjewish.com/p/10-unbelievable-stories-about-israel?utm_campaign=email-half-post&r=13oax4&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Food for thought, nonetheless, I'd prefer America not supply Saudi Arabia with F-35s. I don't see how this benefits Israel in the least.
It has nothing to do with Israel. It’s against Iran.
Nothing to prevent them from being used against Israel.
Very nice thoughts but you underestimate the Arab countries. They are educating their youth in Western universities. They certainly know how to manipulate the world with their astute propaganda. Even western Jews fall for their publicity stunts and support the “poor Palestinians” on whom Israel is committing genocide. The Arabs are not stupid. In another generation they could compete with the Israelis in technology and AI. They can certainly learn to fly planes! Moreover as in 2000 of Jewish history even the the Israeli Jews can’t stand together to confront a common enemy. Half of them want an unelected legal hierarchy to rule the country and the ultra orthodox refuse to join the IDF. Never mind the egos of most of the politicians who put their own political ambitions over the well being of the country. You then have a more “woke” population than most western countries residing in the middle of very conservative religious states that hate them.
The only positive thing I can say in Israel’s favor is …thank God for Trump! But what will happen in a couple of years when he is no longer in power. Not one other country in the western world supports Israel. Not even a huge percentage of ignorant American Jews! Anti semitism runs rampant across the western world. Maybe as bad as 1930s Germany. What do we do when Trump is gone!
You give western universities too much credit.
Qatar is pumping in billions of dollars to our universities and brainwashing western students apart from having Arab students spreading anti semitism over the whole student body and the majority of young people in America. Israel has to get it its act together regarding world opinion. And don’t underestimate the intelligence of the Arabs. Our own Jewish kids of this generation have no understanding of Jewish history and believe this Arab propaganda apart from not having the the will to succeed as their parents and grandparents did. Even in Tel Aviv we only hear of partying and acceptance of every crazy modern idea.
Qatar is buying it's way to a reputable reputation, whilst undermining western civilisation with its funding of islamic jihad through the worldwide tentacles of it's Muslim Brotherhood .. Qatar is duplicitous, mendacious and dangerous.
Sandra is right, never under estimate one's enemy
It is nice that you suggest calming the seas, that the sale of F-35 to Saudi Arabia is only to help them feel safe with Iran trying to take over the neighborhood, but Joshua, you don't give enough weight to the fact that, based on the dominant religious sect that runs Saudi Arabia and populates Saudi Arabia are still taught to hate Jews and Israel. While Saudi Arabia may fear Iran's hegemony, it itself played a role in 9/11. Maybe they didn't mastermind 9/11, but they didn't try and stop it either. And today, Israel's neighbor, Egypt, permits terrorists on their soil to fly very, very large drones used to airlift weapons into the hands of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. So, let us not mislead your readership that having sold F-35s to both Saudi Arabia and, worse, to Turkey, was a good idea for either America or Israel. Nope. It could well prove to be a very bad idea.
An outstanding history of the Yom Kippur War was written with that title by Abraham Rabinowitz, with a second edition in 2005 that has substantial additions. There's much more to Israel's surprise in 1973 than just a US warning: IDF Intelligence Chief Eli Zeira manipulated intelligence to downgrade the chances of attack which is why no troops were moved to reinforce the Bar-Lev line. Nasser's son in law passed detailed intelligence to Mossad but military intelligence refused it. It was fortunate that Moshe Dayan overrode IDF Chief of Staff Elazar a week before the war and directly ordered an additional tank brigade into the Golan, raising the number of Israeli tanks there from 73 to 170 (against over 2000 Syrian tanks)
F35 have not been sold or promised to Turkey; it was removed from the program after buying Russian S-400 air defense systems.
There was a lot of concern when President Ford offered F15s to Saudi Arabia and, later, when President Reagan offered AWACS. Despite that, and an understanding that Israel's F15 fleet will be capped at 50% of Saudi Arabia's (but no limits on F16s), Saudi Arabia never developed an effective airforce, as can be seen by its campaign in Yemen.
The extreme selectiveness of Israel's IDF flight academy shows why: 20,000 apply to the flight academy every year, about 800 are accepted and, of those, about 80 are able to complete the course and graduate. There's nothing remotely like that in the Arab world.
https://www.twz.com/air/flying-and-fighting-in-the-israeli-air-forces-f-16i-sufa
Love this, as always. Great facts I did NOT know. And so optimistic. Really needed this.
It’s not the size of the wand. It’s the magic of the magician.
Wrong!
OK what is wrong?
MBS is trying to negotiate an Arab-Israeli peace, to bring about an end to the Arab-Israeli war that began in 1948, which would materially increase Israel's national security.
Maybe MBS should take in all "Palestinians" - Saudi Arabia has lot of empty space and tons of oil/gas money.
Or he could bribe Egypt with $50 billion and let them move to the Sinai.
Israel is then free of the "Palestinians" and voila a (2) State Solution that everyone wants. just not on Israeli land. .
??
The one fly in the ointment about Israel's military prowess and invulnerability is October 7th.
Had Hezbollah joined Hamas that fateful day, things might well have turned out very different. And the Arabs know it.
Yes‼️🙏🇺🇸🇮🇱❤️✝️❤️
@Joshua, thank you for yet another insightful piece.
Rule Number One, never underestimate your enemy .. and whilst Israel has the edge on so many aspects, there is nothing stopping the Arab world from determining Israel’s weak spot, wherever that may be, and taking advantage.