From the Global Front in Israel

February 14 – 20, 2026

Skin in the Game

Several days ago I mentioned something to an Israeli friend that I find curious.

“President Trump is on the verge of triggering a huge military conflict,” I began. “He has deployed no less than one-third of US naval power to the Middle East. If he gives the nod to attack Iran, perhaps taking down its murderous regime – and I hope he will – the risks are huge. It could ignite a regional war, cause thousands of casualties, create a global economic crisis, and more.

“Why, then, is it virtually hidden in US news? Yes, it’s mentioned, but the headlines there are dominated by Epstein, a kidnapping, and a lot of voyeuristic scandal. Isn’t that odd?”

My friend’s immediate reply was emphatic and very Israeli.

“Not at all,” she replied. “For Americans, it’s on the other side of the world. Because it’s so far away, it feels theoretical, not real. There is no sense of urgency. Not yet, anyway.

“And none of their soldiers are known. Nobody there knows their names, their stories, or the reality they are facing. It’s nothing more than a distant story with characters no one really cares about.

“For us, we are in the line of fire. Missiles are shot at us, all of us. We know that the enemy wants to kill us, that we need to protect ourselves.

“And we know our soldiers. They are friends, members of our own family. It’s not the same as America.

“Actually,” she concluded, “I get it. Don’t you?”

The subtext of her entire answer was something like, “It’s obvious. What’s wrong with you?”

(As I write these last few words, I’m laughing. The implied, “what’s wrong with you,” is a classic Israeli style of dialogue.)

The point she made was spot-on. It’s impossible to care unless we have skin in the game.

The challenge is to embrace the reality that we do; we do have skin in the game.

When someone we love is threatened with harm or death, our hearts hurt. Their reality is our reality too.

That’s why, of all people, those of us who are disciples of Yeshua care, or should care, about these things.