Our battlefield execution restored global confidence, revived capital flows, and reaffirmed Israel’s reputation as the world’s most resilient innovation economy.
Totally agree with General Gallant. In the world today a country either has the military strength to prevail or enemies will take advantage of weakness. Wish the need for a strong military posture wasn't necessary but that is not reality especially for Israel. The General is correct that an effective military goes hand in hand with economic strength. Investors look for stability and not constant unrestrained chaos.
Israel suffers from the fact that 12% of the population who is Jewish does not engage in productive work of any kind. I am referring to the Ultra Orthodox. They get by for the most part on government handouts and other forms of charity. Israel which has a population of about seven million Jews cannot afford the luxury of allowing these Jews to use their religiosity to avoid serving in the IDF along with staying on the dole to be a "learner". The excuse that they use prayer as a weapon against Israeli destruction will not fly anymore. Its causing way too much social strain and disruption. Israel needs that extra brain power and hands to continue to be the export nation of various tech systems because of a absence of natural recourses.
Nobody is telling the ultra Orthodox to give up their way of life, but they have to make a accommodation with a secular Israeli government that not only helps support them but also protects them from people who wish them dead. Yes the Orthodox Rabbi's are loath to give up any power they hold over their followers. But with their high birthrate at some future date they will be 20% of the Israeli Jewish population shortly after 2050. A country the size of Israel cannot support it and it will retard the financial viability of their international and domestic markets.
In my own families case I have a distant relative that lost a son to the various recent wars Israel had to fight. He is modern Orthodox but over the last few years has grown very bitter against the ultra Orthodox. What Israel cannot do is manage dissention within large segments of the population against the conduct of the super Orthodox and its external enemies at the same time. They do not have that luxury with such a small population.
💯 I have an insider's understanding of the Charedi. They are not interested in the welfare of Jews who are not Shomer Mitzvot - Chabad is the exception. For that matter, many are not interested in the Shomer Mitzvot who are different from their dynasties. There are other small exceptions that are dwarfed by the power of Satmar, Belz, the Yeshivish, and all the other dynasties. Some of these anti-Medina groups actively weaken Israel, others through the parasitic behavior you describe.
The behavior is inimical to the Torah and to decent people anywhere behaving with integrity. In this way they are little different from most people dwelling in This World. Hooray for our team and others be damned. It is also true that those who learn Torah honestly and through hard work are an asset to Bnei Yisrael. These people can be exempt from military service with dignity.
If the Israeli govt would create a department to separate the wheat from the chaff it would be a reasonable and productive endeavor. Cut off state welfare to those who are not in the top 10pct of their shiur. Period.
Moreover, the Charedi (both in The Land and in Chutz L'Aretz) are not all poor. There is a lot of money in these communities. There are moneyed dynasties. No one will starve. All the children can still go to chedar. These communities will have to put their money where their words and dogma are. Chabad-Lubavitch already does this. Chabad kicks people out of Colel or never lets them in.
Obviously it can be and is being done. Refuse to go into the IDF, do national service: learn a skill that can support a community. Construction, natural resources, accounting, emergency medical responder, nursing assistant to the disabled and disabled vets. Janitors etc. Maritime. For a few years. Do something with dignity instead of spending time on how to avoid taxes, receive more welfare. Often smart but wasted.
yes military challenge drives economic development and israel's software prowess partially honed by the diverse challenges and strong focus entailed with military threats is world class and provides a solid foundation for the enclave. however a larger and more rewarding challenge, which software engineering and the IDF also form the basis for and make feasible, is reunification of Great Jerusalem, with citizenship for all and constitutional checks on tyranny of the majority, and surveillance protection of every community. the enclave can likely persist for another 75 years of conflict with excluded arabs constituting 40% of the population. but the greater goal is to reunify in a structure that nurtures continued advance of software and military institutions, and the extension of Israeli technique, business and trade not just to West Bank and Gaza but throughout west Asia. the conflict isn't really settled until jews return and flourish in their historic cities throughout west Asia and northeast Africa. that requires the legitimation of Hebrew power through ending partition and reunifying Great Jerusalem.
I completely agree. Factor in the expansion of the Abraham Accords to include Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, Israel's recognition of Somaliland, Israel's partnerships with Greece and Cyprus, pending relationship with Armenia, and trade with India, and of course. NATO. And the instability in Iran - where the IRGC killed some 90,000 people, mostly protesters and also including the medical professionals who treated them.
I am not worried about Israel.
I am concerned, however, about the future of the United States.
Palo Alto Networks Completes $25B Acquisition Of CyberArk For Identity Security Push
By Kyle Alspach - February 11, 2026
“The acquisition of the identity security powerhouse provides Palo Alto Networks with an offering in nearly every major category in modern cybersecurity.
The recent Palo Alto acquisition signifies a significant development within the technology sector. This transaction represents a substantial investment in a rapidly evolving industry. It highlights the growing global interest in Israeli innovative solutions. Such strategic moves often precede further advancements and market expansion. This event underscores the dynamic nature of technological innovation and its economic impact.
This comes after the EU clears Google’s $32 billion of Israeli Wiz purchase.
Totally agree with General Gallant. In the world today a country either has the military strength to prevail or enemies will take advantage of weakness. Wish the need for a strong military posture wasn't necessary but that is not reality especially for Israel. The General is correct that an effective military goes hand in hand with economic strength. Investors look for stability and not constant unrestrained chaos.
Israel suffers from the fact that 12% of the population who is Jewish does not engage in productive work of any kind. I am referring to the Ultra Orthodox. They get by for the most part on government handouts and other forms of charity. Israel which has a population of about seven million Jews cannot afford the luxury of allowing these Jews to use their religiosity to avoid serving in the IDF along with staying on the dole to be a "learner". The excuse that they use prayer as a weapon against Israeli destruction will not fly anymore. Its causing way too much social strain and disruption. Israel needs that extra brain power and hands to continue to be the export nation of various tech systems because of a absence of natural recourses.
Nobody is telling the ultra Orthodox to give up their way of life, but they have to make a accommodation with a secular Israeli government that not only helps support them but also protects them from people who wish them dead. Yes the Orthodox Rabbi's are loath to give up any power they hold over their followers. But with their high birthrate at some future date they will be 20% of the Israeli Jewish population shortly after 2050. A country the size of Israel cannot support it and it will retard the financial viability of their international and domestic markets.
In my own families case I have a distant relative that lost a son to the various recent wars Israel had to fight. He is modern Orthodox but over the last few years has grown very bitter against the ultra Orthodox. What Israel cannot do is manage dissention within large segments of the population against the conduct of the super Orthodox and its external enemies at the same time. They do not have that luxury with such a small population.
💯 I have an insider's understanding of the Charedi. They are not interested in the welfare of Jews who are not Shomer Mitzvot - Chabad is the exception. For that matter, many are not interested in the Shomer Mitzvot who are different from their dynasties. There are other small exceptions that are dwarfed by the power of Satmar, Belz, the Yeshivish, and all the other dynasties. Some of these anti-Medina groups actively weaken Israel, others through the parasitic behavior you describe.
The behavior is inimical to the Torah and to decent people anywhere behaving with integrity. In this way they are little different from most people dwelling in This World. Hooray for our team and others be damned. It is also true that those who learn Torah honestly and through hard work are an asset to Bnei Yisrael. These people can be exempt from military service with dignity.
If the Israeli govt would create a department to separate the wheat from the chaff it would be a reasonable and productive endeavor. Cut off state welfare to those who are not in the top 10pct of their shiur. Period.
Moreover, the Charedi (both in The Land and in Chutz L'Aretz) are not all poor. There is a lot of money in these communities. There are moneyed dynasties. No one will starve. All the children can still go to chedar. These communities will have to put their money where their words and dogma are. Chabad-Lubavitch already does this. Chabad kicks people out of Colel or never lets them in.
Obviously it can be and is being done. Refuse to go into the IDF, do national service: learn a skill that can support a community. Construction, natural resources, accounting, emergency medical responder, nursing assistant to the disabled and disabled vets. Janitors etc. Maritime. For a few years. Do something with dignity instead of spending time on how to avoid taxes, receive more welfare. Often smart but wasted.
Great essay!
Am Yisrael Chai! ✊🏼🇮🇱💙
Shabbat shalom General Gallant
Am Y’Israel chai
https://substack.com/@rockadocka/note/c-214263640?r=2q93jc&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
yes military challenge drives economic development and israel's software prowess partially honed by the diverse challenges and strong focus entailed with military threats is world class and provides a solid foundation for the enclave. however a larger and more rewarding challenge, which software engineering and the IDF also form the basis for and make feasible, is reunification of Great Jerusalem, with citizenship for all and constitutional checks on tyranny of the majority, and surveillance protection of every community. the enclave can likely persist for another 75 years of conflict with excluded arabs constituting 40% of the population. but the greater goal is to reunify in a structure that nurtures continued advance of software and military institutions, and the extension of Israeli technique, business and trade not just to West Bank and Gaza but throughout west Asia. the conflict isn't really settled until jews return and flourish in their historic cities throughout west Asia and northeast Africa. that requires the legitimation of Hebrew power through ending partition and reunifying Great Jerusalem.
I completely agree. Factor in the expansion of the Abraham Accords to include Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, Israel's recognition of Somaliland, Israel's partnerships with Greece and Cyprus, pending relationship with Armenia, and trade with India, and of course. NATO. And the instability in Iran - where the IRGC killed some 90,000 people, mostly protesters and also including the medical professionals who treated them.
I am not worried about Israel.
I am concerned, however, about the future of the United States.
Palo Alto Networks Completes $25B Acquisition Of CyberArk For Identity Security Push
By Kyle Alspach - February 11, 2026
“The acquisition of the identity security powerhouse provides Palo Alto Networks with an offering in nearly every major category in modern cybersecurity.
https://www.crn.com/news/security/2026/palo-alto-networks-completes-25b-acquisition-of-cyberark-for-identity-security-push
The recent Palo Alto acquisition signifies a significant development within the technology sector. This transaction represents a substantial investment in a rapidly evolving industry. It highlights the growing global interest in Israeli innovative solutions. Such strategic moves often precede further advancements and market expansion. This event underscores the dynamic nature of technological innovation and its economic impact.
This comes after the EU clears Google’s $32 billion of Israeli Wiz purchase.
If you are looking for a hand out you are going about it the wrong way.