Allied forces launched “Operation Overlord,” a daring and pivotal assault on Nazi-occupied France, known as D-Day, which was June 6, 1944. As dawn broke over the Normandy coast, 156,000 soldiers stormed the beaches to liberate Europe from the grip of tyranny.
Allied soldiers faced a heavily fortified coastline. Soldiers waded through treacherous waters under a relentless barrage of artillery and machine-gun fire, many never making it to the shoreline. American troops—many in their teens—stormed the beaches under a hail of enemy fire, displaying unmatched bravery and determination.
They faced unimaginable horrors as they waded through the surf and onto the blood-soaked sands of Omaha Beach. The initial wave of American forces suffered devastating casualties. They demonstrated extraordinary valor against overwhelming odds, breaking through enemy lines and securing critical positions.
The success of D-Day was not without immense cost. The Allies suffered 10,000 casualties, including more than 4,000 dead. These soldiers gave their lives in the fight against pure evil, confronting the Nazi regime’s brutal oppression and genocide. Their sacrifice paved the way to the defeat of Nazi Germany and the liberation of Europe, but the battles also claimed mass civilian casualties across Europe.
Why Israel fights: Eight months of hell for hostages
In another war against evil 80 years later, Hamas violently attacked Israel on Oct. 7, leaving hundreds of civilians and soldiers dead or wounded. Israel’s response has killed not only Hamas terrorists but tragically, many Palestinian civilians the terrorists hide behind.
It has now been eight months of captivity for the hostages who were violently seized by Hamas terrorists. Kibbutz Nirim recently announced that hostage Nadav Popplewell was killed in captivity only weeks after he appeared in a Hamas propaganda video. Palestinian terrorists cruelly abducted Nadav and his 79-year-old mother. Three elderly hostages were also confirmed dead after previously appearing together in a Hamas propaganda video. Their bodies are still being held by Hamas in hopes of trading their remains for dozens of Palestinian terrorists imprisoned in Israel.
Hamas terrorists mutilated Israelis and burnt bodies beyond recognition, leaving many families in a state of uncertainty.
Volunteer medic Dolev Yehud’s body was so badly disfigured that his remains were only recently identified by a new scientific test. His family thought that he was a hostage, like his 28-year-old sister, who is still in captivity. Dolev left his home on the morning of Oct. 7 to help the wounded. He leaves behind a wife and four young children, including a baby he never met.
Another Oct. 7 hero was Petel, a dog that helped save her family in Kibbutz Be’eri. She recently died of shrapnel wounds from the Hamas terrorist onslaught.
The misery of the hostages and the existential war imposed upon the Jewish nation highlight the relentless evil that Israelis are confronting in their just war of self-defense. Israel is defending itself against dangerous and lethal enemies in a larger war on multiple fronts—east, west, north, south—rockets from near and far, and even in cyberspace.
(East) Iran’s war of genocide: ‘A weapon of mass distraction’
Jews around the world are in mortal danger. Iran continuously targets Jews and Israelis wherever they live. A recent report revealed that Iran-backed criminal networks operating in Europe planned attacks against Jewish and Israeli locations, including the Israeli embassies in Sweden and Belgium.
The Islamic Republic ultimately wants to “wipe Israel off the map.” Its belligerent leaders routinely threaten Israel while pursuing the production of nuclear weapons. Iran also funds, trains and arms numerous terrorist groups dedicated to annihilating the Jewish state.
There has been much less attention and scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear weapons program since Oct. 7. Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies: “Oct. 7 was a weapon of mass distraction so Iran can expand its weapon of mass destruction.”
Only recently did the United Kingdom, France and Germany demand Iran allow U.N. inspections of its nuclear sites.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett recently posted: “The goal of Iran’s octopus strategy is to distract Israel with wars against its tentacles (Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hamas and more) so that we don’t deal with stopping Iran.”
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, recently tweeted: “The Zionist project is breathing its last breaths. This is the beginning of the end of the Zionist regime.” The Iranian leader also thanked student protesters at American universities for “forming a branch of the Resistance Front. As the page of history is turning, you are standing on the right side of it.” Resistance is synonymous with terrorism.
(West) Hamas leader vows: ‘We must attack every Jew on the globe’
A senior Iran-backed Hamas leader urged: “All of you 7 million Palestinians abroad, enough of the preparing. You have Jews everywhere, and we must attack every Jew on the globe by way of slaughter and killing.” His statement was made four years before Oct. 7, and the ensuing pro-Palestinian protests in the streets and tent encampments at college campuses.
The current leader of Hamas in Gaza attended a 2021 celebration that glorified violent attacks: “We will trample on the heads of the Jews in front of everyone.” This vision was carried out by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7. A terrorist participating in the atrocities called his father, boasting: “Dad I’m calling you from the phone of a Jew! I just killed her and her husband, with my own hands. I killed 10!”
Hamas continues to carry out terrorist attacks against Israelis from the West Bank. Israel announced that it killed 18 Gaza-based Hamas terrorists in charge of West Bank attacks. Most of the members of the terror cell were released to Gaza as part of a 2011 deal where Israel released 1,027 Palestinians convicted of terrorism for the life of one Israeli hostage: soldier Gilad Shalit.
(North) Hezbollah rocket barrages: ‘Depopulated Israeli territory’
Iran-backed Hezbollah controls southern Lebanon. The terrorist army boasts that it has 100,000 fighters and a growing lethal drone, rocket and missile arsenal. It is a far more formidable threat than Hamas and experts have warned Israel that this powerful terror group is capable of executing a far deadlier version of the Oct. 7 attacks.
Hezbollah opened an additional front against Israel following the Hamas attack. Its incessant rocket fire forced 60,000 Israeli civilians, including 15,000 children, to flee their homes, businesses and schools. Israeli communities on its northern border became ghost towns; “Hezbollah imposed a depopulated zone inside Israeli territory.” Several Israelis have lost their lives. Evacuated residents do not know when they will be able to return.
The most recent barrages of rockets, drones and mortars are striking deeper into Israel. Some rockets sparked fires burning 2,500 acres and causing injuries. Iran’s foreign minister met with Lebanon’s political leaders to discuss “the resistance front to counter the Zionist regime.” He perversely claimed that resistance (terrorism) is “the basis for stability in the region.”
Michael Makovsky, president and CEO of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, said: “Hezbollah’s military buildup would have been impossible without more than a decade of concerted and steadily increasing Iranian assistance designed to transform the group into a much more lethal threat to Israel than in 2006.” Hezbollah launched an attack against Israel that year, leading to a 34-day war. He added that Iran increased its rocket and missile arsenal from 10,000 in 2006 to about 150,000, including long-range rockets far more powerful than those used by Hamas.
(South) Yemen’s Houthis want to invade Israel: ‘Jihad in Palestine’
Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen also are part of Iran’s war against Israel. The Houthis have launched missiles and drone strikes against Israel, despite the impoverished country being more than 1,000 miles away. They have also used their weapons against American, British and French naval vessels and international cargo ships. Iran supplied them with ballistic missiles to “challenge the U.S. and Israel.”
The Houthis slogan includes: “Death to America. Death to Israel. A Curse Upon the Jews.” The terrorists even trained in a mock Israeli city for a potential invasion of Israel. Their leader is requesting help to move its fighters to Israel to “carry out jihad in Palestine.”
The tentacles of the Iranian octopus stretch around the globe. Iranian-backed militias in Iraq continue to target Israel with missiles and drones. A leader of Hamas met with Afghan Taliban leaders in Iran to discuss cooperation for defeating Israel. The Jewish state foiled a Hamas suicide bombing plot directed by Hamas terrorists in Turkey. And Iranian hackers are engaged in a digital front against Israel.
Points to consider:
- D-Day is a reminder of courage and patriotism in the face of a deadly enemy.
The significance of D-Day cannot be overstated. American soldiers and their allies displayed an unwavering commitment to justice that forged a path towards peace. It marked the beginning of the end of Nazi tyranny. The sacrifices of those who stormed the beaches and those who fell cannot be forgotten. Their valor and selflessness serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for future generations, reminding us of the price paid for freedom in the face of pure evil. On this 80th anniversary, we honor their memory and pay tribute to the valor of those who gave everything for the cause of liberty, democracy and freedom.
- Iran’s threats provoke attacks against Americans and Jews around the world.
Iran’s menacing rhetoric—“Death to America” and “Death to Israel”—fuels real-world attacks. Iran-backed Hezbollah massacred hundreds of American soldiers, notably the 1983 U.S. Marine barracks bombing in Lebanon. Hezbollah also perpetrated the horrific 1994 AMIA Jewish Community Center bombing in Argentina, claiming 85 lives. Iran continues plotting and executing attacks in America and against Jewish targets worldwide. These brazen attacks prove that Iran’s belligerence extends beyond its own borders, while its relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons demands urgent attention.
- Defeating evil requires a commitment that tragically comes with a heavy cost.
Throughout history, the fight against tyranny and oppression has demanded immense sacrifices. Israel’s struggle is no different. The Jewish state confronts existential threats from terrorist organizations and hostile regimes intent on its destruction. These adversaries employ brutal tactics, using civilian populations as shields and perpetuating violence without regard for human life. In defending its citizens and preserving its values, Israel endures harsh scrutiny and criticism. Yet, the necessity to combat malevolence remains undeniable. Upholding democracy and human rights while ensuring national security is daunting. The sacrifices in this just war against evil emphasize the enduring fight for freedom and peace, highlighting the high stakes and profound costs involved.
- Israel is held to an impossible standard in war.
Israel’s responses to terrorist attacks are scrutinized through a lens that often distorts reality. The Jewish state confronts existential threats not faced by other countries and is subjected to an unrealistic standard that few other nations would bear. This standard demands perfection amid chaos where split-second decisions can mean the difference between life and death. Terrorist groups deliberately endanger civilians, yet Israel faces undue criticism for its defensive efforts. The international community’s failure to recognize Israel’s security challenges perpetuates this impossible standard and hinders its ability to protect Israeli citizens.
- Israel battles an existential and mortal threat.
Israel is a tiny nation—about the size of New Jersey—that is subjected to a coordinated war effort by multiple militaries attacking it from all directions, a scenario no other country has faced in recent history. The world harshly judges only Israel while offering minimal moral support for its self-defense. This global scrutiny extends to the battle for public opinion, where Israel’s efforts are often misunderstood and misrepresented. The Jewish state often stands alone in enduring relentless criticism against its right to defend its sovereignty and protect its citizens. Israel’s efforts to defend itself from Iran and its allies transcends territorial disputes and political disagreements; it is an essential act of survival.
