Ambassador’s message for the New Year

The three years since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023 have been extraordinarily difficult for Israel, and for Jewish communities worldwide facing a rise in antisemitism unlike anything in living memory. As the Day of Atonement approaches, it is worth taking stock of the achievements and positive developments over the past year.

Israel has risen from the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust, and prevailed. The enemies bent on our destruction have been significantly weakened.

Hamas’s leadership has been decapitated, its military capacity in Gaza diminished, and a security zone now protects the communities of the Gaza envelope. It no longer poses the threat it did before.

In Lebanon, Israel executed one of its most sophisticated attacks, the pager assault, taking out thousands of Hezbollah militants in one strike. Infamous leader Nasrallah, who preached about the end of Israel, scoffed at Israel’s weakness and compared Israel to a spider’s web, has been taken out. The bulk of their rocket stockpiles have been destroyed. Those achievements paved the way for the election of a Lebanese president who is not an instrument of Tehran, and who is engaging in peace talks. Israel and Lebanon are united in our call for Hezbollah to disarm.

The existential threats emanating from Iran have been set back years. A regime that was weeks away from a nuclear weapon is now years away. The majority of its ballistic missile production and stockpiles have been decimated. Its supreme leader and senior command have been removed. The foundation for a regime change has been laid.