This weekend, Israel again found itself under attack. Iran fired more than 300 drones and missiles

in a revenge attack for Israel's bombing of an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria. After decades

aspiring through proxies, assassinations and subterfuge, two titans of the Middle East are now

on the brink of full warfare. The region and the world is suddenly a much more dangerous

and precarious place. Israel says it will respond. How and when it does could be the difference

between stability and a full regional war. We appreciate the US standing alongside Israel,

as well as the support of Britain, France and many other

countries. We have determined a clear principle. Whoever harms us, we will harm them.

I took some flack over the weekend for immediately urging Israel to show restraint. In fact,

one of the people who criticise me most vociferously will be on my panel debating exactly

that point at a moment. Many people have argued that Israel is the only country on earth that's

expected to endure this kind of attack and respond with restraint, with caution. But my response

is to say that's exactly the point. The whole reason Israel is such a vital ally to the West is

because it's supposed to be

the adult in the room, a Western-facing democratic, socially liberal bulwark in a neighborhood

of trigger-happy fanatics. If you don't want the United States to be dragged into another

Middle Eastern bloodbath, you should agree that this is a time for its key ally in the region

to prove its commitment to peace.

And let's face it, Iran is already a big loser here.

Yes, many Israelis would have died if this attack had been successful, but it wasn't.

It was an abject failure.

99% of the drones and missiles were swatted from the sky.

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