Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, IDF International Spokesman, has been seen all over international television in recent weeks, earning kudos for his expert and frank representation of Israel during this war against Hamas.
I sat with Lt. Col. Hecht in his office on an army base in the center of the country yesterday, and had a far reaching conversation with him about the various reasons for Israel’s providing humanitarian aid to Gazans, what America's unprecedented support for Israel, including two carrier groups in the Mediterranean sea, does but also does not mean, the 47 atrocity-movie which has been shown to journalists and finally, some reflections on what this war might be called.
We’re making this conversation available to all of our listeners. The link at the very top of this page will take you to the recording.
It’s not that often that an AMERICAN news broadcast or op-ed goes viral in Israel. It’s even less often that someone in Israel (I don’t know who, in this case) decides to subtitle an American clip. After all, most Israelis speak enough English to get the basics, if not more than that.
But someone here decided that what Jake Tapper said in the clip below was so important that all Israelis needed to be able to understand it. All of it. It’s not long, and there’s nothing in the clip that you probably don’t already know.
So why has it gone viral? Because when hundreds of thousands of people protest (essentially) in favor of Hamas in London, Paris and elsewhere, Israelis feel a long yearned-for breath of fresh air when someone finally explains how we see this conflict, how we see this world.
Here’s Jake Tapper, gone viral on Israeli social media.
Given that today’s episode with Lt. Col. Richard Hecht is about telling Israel’s story, as is, essentially, the CNN Jake Tapper clip, it seems only natural to highlight and to encourage you to read an essay by my friend, Sarah Hurwitz, in SAPIR, which is now running an excellent issue on War in Israel. Sarah is an incredibly gifted writer, and the freshness of her voice, coupled with her passion and honesty, provides a message all Jewish college students (and their parents, too) ought to read.
Sarah Hurwitz is former head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama and author of Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life—in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There).
Read Sarah Hurwitz’ essay here.
A few links for which people have been asking:
The IDF Spokesperson’s Division has started its own Substack, and is asking those of us who can to share it. It’s here:
The IDF Spokesperson’s Division also has a podcast, which is here:
Some people have asked for the link for signing up to do volunteering on farms. There are a few websites, but this is by far the biggest. Yes, it’s in Hebrew (though Google might be able to translate … I haven’t tried) and it might require an Israeli ID number .. not sure. But that’s the link.
Finally, several people have asked for the URL to the video directed as Muslims, arguing that the horrors of October 7 are an absolute violation of Islam’s principles. I can’t find it online, but have uploaded to YouTube and you can watch it or or share the link here.
And this opportunity for volunteering (just passing it on … I have no further information):
If you’re just joining us, Israel from the Inside typically posts a written column on Mondays and a podcast on Wednesdays. That is obviously irrelevant for the time being.
We’ve delayed all the podcasts that were ready to go, because the people whose stories they tell deserve to tell them when we all have the bandwidth to hear. Hopefully, that will return some day.
In the interim, we’ll post as possible. Here in Israel, there are non-stop funerals to go to, shiva homes to visit, grandchildren to help care for while sons and daughters are in the army, so we’ll see.
Schedules are the least of our worries.
Impossible Takes Longer is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble and at other booksellers.
Music credits: Medieval poem by Rabbi Shlomo Ibn Gvirol. Melody and performance by Shaked Jehuda and Eyal Gesundheit. Production by Eyal Gesundheit. To view a video of their performance, see this YouTube:
Our twitter feed is here; feel free to join there, too.
Our Threads feed is danielgordis. We’ll start to use it more shortly.
This war is justified. The Hamas needs to be eliminated and take out the Hezbollah. The government is doing the right thing surgically removing these bastards. Unfortunately in war there’s always death of civilians. This is ghastly for the IDF. The PTSD involved in urban warfare is severe and your soldiers are brave in face of this brutality. Godspeed Israel
You two seem so out of touch about Joe Biden and his intent towards Israel and Jews. Perhaps, you think it strategic not to speak honestly since Israel needs the US due to weapon dependencies . You actually ask “Will the US let Israel continue?” Has Israel joined the the United States as a vassal while I slept?
Listen to American citizens. Listen to what real Americans think of the Biden and Obama position on Israel and the Jewish people. Look what the United States allows in its streets. Listen to Jewish students in American schools. The democrat party is widely perceived as illegitimate and anti-Semitic right now. When you embrace its leaders you seem delusional and self destructive. And too dishonest to take seriously.
There is a simple solution to the madness of killing innocent civilians on both sides and resolving years conflict.....for Israel to get out of West Bank and Gaza and allow Palestinians to build their own country just as Israel has built its. And second for Israel to recognize that the Jews who remained from Romans to Ottoman and changed their religions to Christianity or Islam, are still Jews and equally entitled to same heritage as anyone in that land.
Let's be honest, if this happened there would be no more Israel because (based on past experience) Gaza and the West Bank would just become a staging ground for Iran and other genocidal nations/organisations within a few miles of Tel Aviv and virtually every major Israeli population centre.
It doesn't really matter anyway, because the PA will not accept any agreement with Israel, having rejected several entirely fair proposals already.
Seriously!? Israel GOT OUT of Gaza in 2005 and look what that got them!!
Yes, they mistake Israel continues to make is the mistake Hitler and every oppressor continues to make. Get out and leave them alone. Israel never got out Gaza in 2005. It withdrew troops but continued to blockade, restrict and prevent a 2 state solution. Mad men are everywhere.
So Egyptians are madmen too then, as they have a border with Gaza through which people and goods could, and can, flow at their discretion.
On the two state solution question, the Palestine leaders have rejected every single two state solution. Israel has agreed to every one. So who do the historical facts show is really blocking a two state solution?
Well done ! Sharing everywhere !
Excellent interview
I cried a bit but am hopeful
This feels like a biblical moment
I think hashem is reminding us we are one family with many different voices and if we just fight internally our enemies will rise up and kill all of us.I pray after we are at peace we learn how to have a family fight with love regardless of secular or Haredi straight or gay or ashkenaz or Sephardi or Russian or Ethiopian or mizrachi just as fellow jews with various backgrounds living once again in a biblical moment in our homeland we all love !
I am a 77 year old American Christian and I do not think there should be any type of cease fire. I am of the firm belief that Israel should totally level Gaza and bulldoze the remains into the sea after all of Hamas and other enemies of Israel are dead. But, I am happy that you are much kinder than I.
The USA should be supporting Israel more than we are. I am ashamed of my nation and the way that our so-called leadership is non-existent.
My God bless the nation of Israel. I look forward to all of His promises for His chosen people being fulfilled.
You sound like a man who would have killed Jews who became Christians and remained in Palestine. Read a bit more about Jews who lived under Romans and Ottoman and converted to Christianity or Islam before you push the your false belief about the Palestinians.
After consulting with peers I am sorry to report this shall be called the Second War of Attrition.
FTW.
To paraphrase Mr. Churchill, there is a lesson to be learned here. Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy. Israel stood all alone 75 years ago, and to many countries it seemed that your account was closed, you were finished before you’d even started. All the tradition of Israel; God, songs, history, were gone, finished, and liquidated. But, you are still here and we supporters of Israel know that you will still be here fighting until the very end when Messiah arrives to put an end to the battle. Remember Isaiah, “Here am I, send me.”
As for watching the video. Daniel, I think you feel you want to. I would be wary. Think of the story of the Pardes; one went mad, one died, one survived. I saw 2 minutes of some other video, and had to stop. Likely as bad as you think it was, it will be worse.
Daniel, you seemed troubled by our reliance on the USA. I understand we do not want to rely on anyone to defend us. But the strategic alliance with the USA is precisely for situations like this. I think we should be grateful for the work over the years by many governments to create this relationship. NATO, for e.g. was formed to have unity and strength. It is good to have at least one friend.
I was disappointed in Richard Hecht's remarks about the IDF's humanitarian efforts. To paraphrase, with my parenthesis added "For the IDF, humanitarian aid is an operational tool to allow us to pursue our goal of eliminating Hamas by allowing us time to do the job, and (oh by the way) of course It's a Jewish value". Sounded backwards to me, especially for international media consumption, and in general in my reading of the media landscape it always appears that re: Gaza war, Israel is only focused on Humanitarian aid when the U.S. presses, and then it reluctantly agrees. I doubt if this is really true, but it sure seems that way from reading many int. news sources, and not just from the U.S. left wing ones.
Instead of being reactive, the IDF should be proactive, and let the world know what their humanitarian strategy looks like (when possible) at any given moment . Richard Hecht's statement paraphrased above is representative of Israel's continually ineffective hasbara. The govt/IDF Often saying nothing when a statement is called for, or presents brashly when sensitivity and nuance is needed. We have and continue to lose the PR war, and a significant reason is our own ineptitude. This problem has persisted for decades, and continues to persist. Very upsetting!
Were the Allies expected to provide humanitarian aid to Dresden in WWII? Could Egypt or any other Arab nation provide aid via the Egyptian crossing into Gaza? Why is Israel expected to be all good things to all people?
As ever, thank you.
Please know that Jews the world over are with you at this critical time of survival of Israel and world wide jewelry! חזק ואמץ. יחד ננצחק עם יקר ואהוב
What are the IDF doing about rescuing the Hostages as they are now in Gaza ??
Please read history.
Ah yes, the UN, that entirely reliable and totally unbiased source on the Israel-Islamist conflict.