Once again, our heads are spinning. What once seemed merely theoretical, a direct Israeli strike on Iran's military leadership and nuclear capabilities, unfolded in the early hours of the morning in Israel, following days of threats, rhetoric, and leaks.
Iran has responded by launching two rounds of ballistic missiles. At the time of this writing, 15 Israelis have been injured, and Israelis are being told they can leave shelters and protected areas, but should stay close to them.
You can read our full statement here.
As with previous Israeli missions targeting Hamas and Hezbollah leaders over the past year, there is no need to mourn those who actively enabled and led authoritarian regimes that inflicted immense suffering on civilians.
And, just like those prior missions, including the ongoing war in Gaza, it is naïve to claim that Israel’s hostile neighbours pose no real threat or are not actively working toward its destruction.
To suggest, as some will, that these repressive, illiberal regimes would tolerate Israel’s existence if only the occupation of the West Bank ended, or if the war and siege on Gaza ceased, is wishful thinking. While the pursuit of peace must always be our aim, we must also live in the real world - a world where nations have enemies and as a result, have not only the right, but the responsibility, to defend their people.
That said, there is more than one way to defend your people. While strong militaries are essential, even for peaceful nations such as Canada, they should be one tool among many.
Much of the criticism of Israel’s strike on Iran is not rooted in sympathy for the Iranian regime, but rather in concern that diplomacy, another tool, was showing possible signs of success. Talks between the US and Iran, aimed at reviving a nuclear agreement nearly identical to the Obama-era JCPOA, the deal scrapped by Trump at Netanyahu's encouragement, were once again moving forward.
It would be foolish to believe that such a deal would immediately dismantle the Iranian regime or bring about Israeli tourism in Tehran and vice versa. But living in the real world also means recognising diplomacy’s limitations, and working within them. A global order shaped only by the whims of the powerful may feel just, especially if we find ourselves aligned with those powers. But it is ultimately unsustainable.
When you attempt to repress, oppress, and bomb your way toward such an order, the hypocrisy of claiming that only war brings peace becomes painfully clear. The best you can hope for is a pyrrhic victory, one so drawn out that the world moves on, leaving you mired in a fight with no clear end or purpose.
This is true for all nations and militaries. But it feels especially urgent for Israel, because the dream of the Jewish state has always been to provide safety for Jews, a refuge when no other existed. A place where life is valued above revenge, and whose leaders seek not just sovereignty in the ancestral homeland, but peaceful coexistence with our neighbours.
Henry Kissinger once said that Israel has no foreign policy, only domestic politics. That seems especially true now, as Netanyahu narrowly avoids a government collapse over the Haredi draft exemption. As his support plummets, he knows that a military operation, especially a successful one, can boost his popularity.
And he may not be wrong. The Middle East has shifted dramatically since October 7. Hamas misjudged its regional allies. Jordan cooperated with Israel during the April drone attacks and once again today. Hezbollah has weakened. The Assad regime has fallen. The so-called “axis of resistance” remains dangerous to the vulnerable, but weak when facing serious opposition.
Still, if your goal is peace, you must know when to stop fighting. You must recognise your own power and begin to use diplomacy and emerging partnerships to move beyond endless war. You must work to build the “new Middle East” you speak of, not just as a boast, but as a reality.
Critics often point to the absence of a "day after" plan for Gaza. But, as we've argued, there is a plan - one of ethnic cleansing, settlement expansion, and religious extremism. It would be a mistake to view the strikes on Iran as lacking strategy, when the strategy is clearly visible: sabotage diplomacy, alienate allies, maintain a permanent state of war, and feed your people a narrative of fear that only you can fix.
The people of Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and so many others deserve better than the zero-sum games of their leaders. They deserve more than false choices, where one side must lose for the other to win. They deserve, however timid or fragile, real steps toward diplomacy and democracy.
After nearly two years of relentless war, devastating loss, abandoned hostages, and global uncertainty, it’s time to take at least one small, hopeful step forward.