By Josef Avesar
Israel has long prided itself on its military prowess. Time and again, it has demonstrated the capacity to defeat multiple enemies on multiple fronts. But history shows that Israel’s military triumphs have often led not to peace or stability, but to deeper political, moral, and strategic crises.
There have been two monumental military victories that dramatically reshaped the political map of the Middle East. The first was in 1948, when Israel was established through war and the displacement of Palestinians. The second came in 1967, when Israel seized the Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Heights, the West Bank, and Gaza. Now, in 2025, Israel appears to be celebrating another major military success—its unprecedented attack on Iran. While the long-term outcome remains uncertain, if history is any guide, this latest assault is likely to entangle Israel in yet another self-made quagmire.
Why? Because military success without political vision is a recipe for disaster. Israel has repeatedly proven it can win wars—but not peace. Its leaders are skilled at commanding armies but have failed to offer a meaningful future for both Jews and Palestinians. This is not accidental. It stems from the ideological limitations of a Jewish state—a nation that, by definition, privileges one group over others.
In 1948, Israel defined its founding around a narrowly constructed Jewish identity, choosing to expel rather than integrate the native Palestinian population. What could have become a multi-ethnic, democratic nation was instead transformed into a sectarian project. The justification was that Jews needed a state to protect them. But in adopting this rationale, Israel embraced the same logic long used by anti-Semites: that Jews are fundamentally different and cannot coexist with others. Rather than embracing equality and secular democracy, Israel institutionalized exclusion. That choice laid the foundation for decades of violence and displacement.
The 1967 war further entrenched this direction. With stunning battlefield victories, Israel became the occupying power over millions of Palestinians. Yet instead of extending equal rights or envisioning peaceful coexistence, Israel imposed a permanent and oppressive occupation. It established a dual legal system—democratic for Jews, authoritarian for Palestinians. The legacy of that decision is today’s apartheid reality and a continuing cycle of Palestinian resistance, most recently culminating in the horrific Hamas attack of October 7.
Now, with its strike on Iran, Israel appears to be repeating the same pattern. By most accounts, the operation dealt a serious blow to Iranian military infrastructure. But once again, Israel lacks a vision beyond the bombs. What comes next? A more determined enemy. A regional arms race. Another justification for surveillance, repression, and militarism.
This attack will likely strengthen Tehran’s argument for pursuing nuclear weapons as a deterrent. It will destabilize the region further, provoke retaliation, and perhaps ignite a broader war. Crucially, it will not erase the nuclear knowledge Iran has already acquired.
Behind Israel’s endless wars lies a deeper flaw: its leaders do not prioritize democracy. They prioritize weapons. Each war is treated like a new toy—met with excitement, recklessness, and little concern for long-term consequences. And when the house burns down, they point fingers everywhere but at themselves.
Israel is not securing its future. It is not achieving peace. Its military “successes” are only burying it deeper in a hole—a hole dug not by its enemies, but by its own refusal to embrace equality, democracy, and coexistence.
There is an alternative. A better future is possible.
That future lies in the creation of a Federal Government for Israel and Palestine—a new political structure that can finally bring peace, equality, and security to all people living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.
This federal government would be the only democratically and constitutionally elected body representing all inhabitants, regardless of religion or ethnicity. It would be grounded in a constitution that separates religion from state, guaranteeing equality, fairness, and civil rights for all. It would also include a vital safeguard: veto power for both the Israeli and Palestinian governments, ensuring that no group could dominate the other and that decisions would require mutual consent. This would be a fresh, independent institution—free to take bold steps toward peace.
Such a government could establish direct diplomatic channels with Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran. Its mandate would be clear: to make peace. Representing Jews, Muslims, Christians, and others, this federal government would be uniquely positioned to promote coexistence through shared interests and mutual respect.
It would push for a regional commitment to cease violence, end threats, and move toward genuine coexistence. It would expose those who perpetuate hatred and elevate those working for a better future.
Ultimately, a federal government in Israel and Palestine would provide the legitimacy and fairness the current national governments lack. It would be the only credible path to lasting peace. The time for nationalist power structures and unilateral aggression is over. The future must be cooperative, democratic, and inclusive.
The attack on Iran has changed the Middle East forever. Let it also be the moment the world recognizes the failure of the current path—and commits to a new one.
The choice is urgent and stark: endless war or shared peace.
It is time to choose peace. It is time to choose federation.

Josef Avesar is an attorney who studied politics at UCLA and law at Southwestern University in Los Angeles. He was born in Israel, where he completed his traditional education and military service. He is the founder of the Israeli Palestinian Confederation, which advocates for a federal government for Israelis and Palestinians.
He is an American Israeli of Iraqi background who frequently travels to Israel and Palestine.