For nearly two years since Hamas’s barbaric October 7, 2023 massacre, Israel has endured relentless scrutiny—not only on the battlefield but also in the court of global opinion. Critics, particularly in Europe, are quick to argue that Israel should soften its approach, seek “better PR,” and win back friends abroad. But as Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar makes clear, such thinking is a dangerous trap. For Israel, survival—not public relations—must come first.
The False Comfort of “Good PR”
It is tempting to imagine that had Israel ended the war early, its reputation would now be recovering. But that illusion collapses under the weight of reality. A premature cease-fire would have left Hamas in firm control of Gaza, Hezbollah unchallenged in Lebanon, and Iran emboldened to accelerate its nuclear ambitions. Instead, Israel chose the harder path—sustained military pressure, strikes deep into Iran, and a dismantling of the proxy network designed to strangle the Jewish state.
The result is strategic strength, even as diplomatic costs have mounted. Israel has reminded the region that it is not weak, and that aggressors will pay dearly. “We restored Israel’s image of strength after the low point of Oct. 7,” Sa’ar notes. “By dealing with the proxies around us, we exploded the architecture Iran built for decades.”
European Recognition: Rewarding Terror
What has the West offered in response? France and others have rushed to recognize a Palestinian state, not as a reward for peace, but as a direct result of Hamas’s war. As Sa’ar observes, Hamas itself called such recognition “the fruit of Oct. 7.” By granting legitimacy to Palestinian factions precisely when they reject peace and glorify violence, Europe signals to terrorists everywhere that massacres can achieve political victories.
The hypocrisy is staggering. France scolds the U.S. ambassador for speaking out against antisemitism on its own soil, while freely dictating terms to Israel on how to wage its fight for survival. Sa’ar calls it exactly what it is: “the height of hypocrisy.”
Humanitarian Reality vs. Propaganda
Israel’s enemies also weaponize humanitarian concerns. The U.N. accuses Israel of engineering famine in Gaza, while ignoring hard data showing food prices plummeting as aid flows increased. Sa’ar points out the absurdity: no other nation on earth would allow two million tons of aid to flow into a territory whose rulers openly vow to destroy it, seize hostages, and divert supplies to fuel their war machine.
Lessons of History
Calls for Israel to pursue “better PR” echo the same disastrous advice given in 2005, when Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza. Then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was applauded at the U.N. for his “courage.” Within months, Hamas took over, and Israel has been paying the price in blood ever since. As Sa’ar rightly says, good press is fleeting; strategic realities are not.
Survival First, Diplomacy Second
Israel is a small nation under siege from enemies sworn to its destruction. In such a context, “winning the narrative” is secondary to winning the war. Sa’ar puts it bluntly: “We will not risk real interests for a temporary period of quiet and better PR.” Israel’s survival is the foundation of any future diplomacy; without it, no amount of positive press matters.
The Path Forward
The lesson is clear: the world’s pressure for “better optics” cannot outweigh Israel’s imperative to secure its borders, dismantle terrorist infrastructures, and neutralize Iran’s threats. Peace will never be achieved by concessions that embolden violence. It will only come when Israel’s enemies understand that terrorism brings defeat, not reward.
Israel does not reject diplomacy—indeed, Sa’ar serves as its chief diplomat. But diplomacy without security is an illusion. As he reminds us, “We need to survive first. After that, there comes popularity.”
And survival, not applause, is the truest victory for the Jewish state.