This Friday marks the fiftieth anniversary of the start of the Yom Kippur War. Israel had faced moments of existential crisis before 1973, not least the War of Independence itself. But it remains a sobering thought that Israel’s very survival was under threat within many of our lifetimes.
The picture today looks very different, with peace deals and the Abraham Accords especially the prospect of a deal with Saudi Arabia. So it is easy to take Israel’s existence for granted. That would be a mistake.
Israel is a miracle of the modern world, a haven for Jews in our historic homeland and — despite the current political upheaval — a beacon of democracy and tolerance in the region.
Although for many it now seems impossible to imagine a world without it, existential threats remain.
