By Rabbi Leor Sinai, JNS
The potential for a union, analogous to the European Union, is no longer a distant dream.
History is unfolding before our eyes. The world is witnessing the emergence of a fundamentally transformed Middle East, with Israel ascending as the region’s dominant power. Still engaged in a multi-front battle for its survival and now in direct conflict with Iran, Israel is pioneering a new era of regional dynamics.
While global diplomatic strategies have traditionally relied on appeasement, negotiations and agreements with threatening actors, Israel has chosen a different path. It is taking its enemies at their word, especially in the aftermath of Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
When a terrorist organization or authoritarian regime declares its intention to wipe you off the map and actively pursues that goal, the lesson is clear: believe them. There can be no negotiation over existence itself. History has shown that the only reliable insurance policy for defending Israel’s right to exist is the exercise of military strength. This is the doctrine of peace through strength—a principle that those who haven’t lived in the region, witnessed the terror or spent nights in bomb shelters cannot fully comprehend.
The people of Israel are not merely defending their homeland; they are defending the principles of the free world. This small nation—roughly the size of New Jersey with a population of about 10 million people—stands as a bulwark against the greatest threats to regional stability. These threats pose challenges to European security and American hegemony in an era of destabilizing powers like China and Russia.
Israel’s remarkable military achievements following Oct. 7 and its comprehensive campaign against Iranian aggression via Tehran’s proxy network have established Israel as the region’s superpower. This transformation signals a fundamental realignment of Middle Eastern power structures.
For decades, Iran has held the region hostage, preventing it from advancing toward an era of peace and stability. The theocratic regime in Tehran has systematically undermined progress through its network of proxies, spreading chaos from Lebanon to Yemen. Israel’s current position offers a different vision of what the Mideast can become.
Consider the evidence: Israel maintains peaceful relations with Egypt and Jordan, has normalized ties with signatories to the 2020 Abraham Accords: the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. It stands on the threshold of a potential agreement with Saudi Arabia. Looking ahead, there’s the possibility of Lebanon and Syria joining this expanding circle of peace, once they are freed from Iranian influence.
Israel’s strength lies not just in its military capabilities but in its democratic foundations. As the region’s only functioning democracy, Israel offers a model of governance that respects human rights, protects minorities and operates under the rule of law. This democratic framework makes Israel a natural partner for the United States and other Western democracies in promoting stability and progress throughout the Middle East.
Unlike authoritarian regimes that rule through fear and oppression, Israel’s democratic institutions provide legitimacy and resilience. This democratic foundation, combined with military strength, positions Israel to lead a regional transformation that could benefit all peoples of the Middle East.
The potential for a Middle East union, analogous to the European Union, is no longer a distant dream. Such a regional bloc could foster economic cooperation, cultural exchange and lasting peace among member nations. Israel’s position as the region’s dominant power, combined with its democratic values and proven ability to make peace with former enemies, makes it the natural catalyst for such an initiative.
The key to unlocking this potential lies in removing the Iranian regime’s grip on regional politics. The ayatollahs’ ideology of destruction and support for terrorist proxies have been the primary obstacles to Middle Eastern integration and prosperity. With Iran’s proxy network weakened and its regional influence diminished, the path toward a more peaceful and prosperous Middle East becomes increasingly viable.
Israel’s emergence as a regional superpower would also strengthen American interests in the Middle East. As a democratic ally sharing Western values, Israel serves as a reliable partner in maintaining regional stability and countering threats from authoritarian regimes. This partnership benefits both nations while contributing to global security.
The United States gains from having a strong, democratic ally that can independently address regional threats without requiring American military intervention. Israel’s military capabilities and intelligence assets provide invaluable support for American strategic objectives in the region.
What stands before us is a historic opportunity to reshape the Middle East for the better. Israel’s position as the region’s superpower, earned through defensive necessity rather than imperial ambition, creates the possibility for a fundamentally different regional order. This new order would be based on cooperation rather than conflict, economic integration rather than isolation and democratic values rather than authoritarian oppression. The removal of Iran’s destabilizing influence represents the final piece of this puzzle.
The new Middle East is taking shape, and Israel stands ready to lead it toward a future of peace, prosperity and democratic governance. History will judge this moment as the turning point when the Middle East finally broke free from cycles of violence and embraced its potential as a beacon of progress and cooperation.
