Israel’s true secret weapon cannot be exported - opinion

It is indisputable that Israel is home to some of the finest soldiers and commanders in the world, both men and women, in regular service and the reserves. They are determined, committed, and deeply patriotic. Nowhere else do 18-year-olds routinely take on life-risking missions as a national duty.

The human element of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is our true secret weapon. Technology is only a force multiplier; it is the spirit behind it that gives it power.

Those who design and develop Israel’s defense technologies are among the country’s brightest minds, and those who sustain the military system with logistics, medical services, and civilian support are among the nation’s finest citizens.

And in moments of crisis, there is no vacuum. Volunteers emerge everywhere, caring for displaced families, supporting the relatives of hostages, searching for the missing, and assisting soldiers at the front and on the home front. An entire nation mobilizes, not because of any particular government, but because the state itself transcends politics.

Israeli pilots operate in complex long-range missions. Intelligence organizations, including the Mossad and other intelligence bodies, provide deep strategic awareness and operational precision. Behind every aircraft is a highly skilled technical and maintenance team ensuring that the systems perform flawlessly, even under extreme conditions.

Israel’s air defense units operate around the clock, with nearly half of the soldiers being women. These women also make up about 30 percent of IDF commanders, responsible for real-time life-and-death decisions.

The IDF operates one of the most advanced multi-layered air defense systems in the world – a system that is constantly evolving, learning from every interception, improving algorithms, upgrading sensors, and refining operational concepts. Israeli engineers, operators, and commanders continuously think beyond conventional frameworks, adapting technology and doctrine under fire.

Everyone involved, from pilots to intelligence analysts, from technicians to air defense operators, knows the purpose of the mission: protecting the citizens of Israel.

But perhaps the most remarkable dimension of Israel’s strength lies beyond the battlefield in the resilience and social cohesion of its citizens.

Since October 7, Israel has been living through one of the most difficult periods in its history. Nearly two years of continuous war, painful losses, thousands of wounded, families shattered, and entire communities displaced. Yet despite the trauma and the cost, Israeli society has not collapsed under the pressure.

Civilian discipline, solidarity, and mutual responsibility allow the government and the military to carry out their missions. Citizens follow life-saving instructions, adapt to emergency conditions, support the effort of war, and continue to function as a society, even under constant threat.

Such national resilience is extremely rare. It would be difficult to find another society that could endure such sustained pressure, militarily, emotionally, and economically, while continuing to stand firmly behind its soldiers and the mission. The Israeli public understands that defending the country is not only the army’s responsibility; it is a collective national effort.

Today, Israel exports some of the most advanced defense technologies on the planet. Nations line up to purchase its systems, capabilities, and operational experience. But the true formula behind Israel’s strength is its human DNA that cannot be exported.

Mutual responsibility. A deep sense of mission. The willingness to bear painful costs in defense of home and future: These are what produce world-class soldiers, commanders, scientists, and volunteers.

That is the real source of Israel’s strength. Not only weapons. Not only intelligence. Not only technology. But the people.

And that weapon will always remain uniquely ours.