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Israel's Message in Gaza to Iran and Hizbullah
(Wall Street Journal) Yonah Jeremy Bob - While the Mossad blocked Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons for more than 20 years, questions persisted about whether Israel would actually launch a major strike against Tehran if Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gave the order to break out a nuclear weapon. My visit to Gaza answered that question. Northern Gaza has been flattened. The area will need years of rebuilding before Palestinian civilians can live there. The flattening of northern Gaza also sends a message to Hizbullah in Lebanon, to Tehran, and to Iranian proxies in Syria: Mess with us and expect the same. For years Israel feared using its military advantage against weaker adversaries. Why? Because of the damage rockets could do to the Jewish state's home front, the cost in Israeli soldier casualties, and worries about global legitimacy. With tools such as the Iron Dome missile defense system, Jerusalem avoided playing offense. Since Oct. 7, Israel has shown it is willing to go to the mat when pushed too far.