Journalist and author Matti Friedman argues that what is often framed globally as an “Israeli-Palestinian conflict” has, in reality, long served as a strategic smokescreen for a much broader and more dangerous campaign led by Iran.
According to Friedman, the Iranian regime has successfully positioned Israel as the central villain on the international stage—promoting accusations of “colonization” and “genocide”—while quietly building, funding, and directing a network of proxy terrorist groups including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
These groups have carried out repeated attacks against Israel, culminating in the October 7 massacre, in which over 250 hostages were taken.
At the same time, a dominant global narrative portrays Israel as a powerful “Goliath” facing a weak and oppressed “David.” However, this framing overlooks the much wider reality Israel faces: not just a localized conflict, but a multi-front campaign supported by regional actors, ideological movements, and state-backed networks that provide funding, weapons, and diplomatic cover funneled by the 1.8 BILLION Muslims around the globe.