The events that began in Israel on Oct. 7 are a historical hinge. Like 9/11, as has been said, 10/7 will be remembered by most observers as a bright dividing line between “before” and “after.” What’s at stake for Israel—a fight for its survival—has echoes in other battles taking place around the world like Russia’s war against Ukraine and the Iranian regime’s continued repression of its own people. The world keeps moving toward the future, but the past and those retrograde elements that want to move the world backward still want to have a say.
The attack by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas was unprecedented in its reach into Israel and the murderous rampage against innocent civilians that ensued. Israel’s military campaign, already underway, will likely be unprecedented, too. This new episode of a conflict between Israel and an extremist terrorist faction who rules millions of Palestinians in Gaza with fear and intimidation will have ripple effects across the region and the world.
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