A Soviet military veteran has issued a blistering indictment of Israel’s military leadership following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, comparing their failures to dereliction of duty he witnessed during Cold War service. Edward Topol, who served in Estonia under Soviet occupation, argues that Israel’s generals violated their oath by leaving borders undefended despite obvious threats.
Lessons from the Iron Curtain
Topol recounts his experience guarding Soviet barracks in 1950s Estonia, where even minimal risk required constant vigilance. ‘We guarded against an attack that would never come,’ he writes, ‘but could any soldier abandon his post because statistically, it seemed safe?’ The analogy cuts deep against Israeli commanders who withdrew troops before history’s deadliest single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.
The Unforgivable Calculus
While acknowledging government failures in underestimating Hamas, Topol reserves special scorn for military leaders who ‘removed troops from their posts along the entire southern border.’ His central question stings: Why should junior officers follow orders today if generals face no consequences for leaving civilians unprotected? The absence of court-martials or demotions, he argues, creates a dangerous precedent that erodes military discipline.
A Tsunami of Consequences
The article traces how October 7 became a global antisemitic rallying point, with Topol dismissing hopes for a return to pre-attack norms. He describes a ‘genie of antisemitism’ unleashed through digital networks and Western media, fueled by what he calls ‘Islamic lunatics and European pro-Palestinian idiots.’ His bleak assessment suggests permanent damage to Jewish security worldwide.
Controversial Prescription
In a jarring conclusion, Topol half-jokingly advises American Jews to endure ‘a couple of pogroms’ before considering aliyah to Israel. While advocating for larger Jewish populations to strengthen Israel’s defenses, he admits self-interest in not wanting wealthy immigrants to inflate housing costs. The dark humor underscores his fatalism about global antisemitism’s escalation.
The piece blends personal history with scathing institutional critique, offering few solutions beyond accountability and demographic growth. Its unsparing tone reflects deep disillusionment from an immigrant who’s witnessed multiple collapses of Jewish security.
Source: www.americanthinker.com โ https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/11/sit-out-a-couple-of-pogroms-please/