The Israel Defense Forces have been in an intense state of alert in recent weeks. Israel is anticipating a retaliatory attack from Iran, and/or its proxy, Hezbollah in Lebanon, allegedly in response to last month’s elimination of Hamas senior leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut. For Israel and Israelis, this is an unacceptable situation. The 24/7 alert has taken a particular toll on the Air Force reservist pilots and ground crews, who must be away from their families and jobs. The overall Israeli economy, including the agricultural sector, has also suffered enormously. And, most critically, the war and the anxiety over the hostages continue to seriously impact the national morale and the psychological well-being of many in Israel.

As exhibited in previous situations, Israel would have launched a preventive strike against Iran and Hezbollah; however, in consideration of the Biden administration’s demand that it avoid doing so for fear that an Israeli strike might trigger a wider regional war, the Jewish state has…