The World Defeated the Oil Crisis. Israel Can Still Win the Battle for Truth.
History has an extraordinary way of teaching lessons that too many people choose to forget. The oil crisis of the 1970s was one of those moments. It shook the global economy, frightened millions of people, and demonstrated how events in the Middle East could affect every family from New York to Amsterdam.
The crisis began after the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Israel was fighting for its survival after being attacked by Egypt and Syria on one of the holiest days of the Jewish calendar. Several Western countries, including the United States and the Netherlands, supported Israel. In response, Arab oil producing nations imposed an oil embargo on countries they considered allies of Israel. Oil prices exploded. Fuel became scarce. Inflation soared. Economic growth slowed dramatically.
Yet something remarkable happened.
The world did not surrender.
Governments acted. Citizens accepted sacrifices. Car free Sundays became a symbol of determination rather than defeat. Families adjusted their routines. Industries became more efficient. Nations invested in new energy strategies. The crisis was not solved overnight, but people understood that extraordinary times required creative thinking and shared responsibility.
There is another lesson from that period that deserves attention.
Many of the countries that today are among Israel’s strongest critics were once among its most reliable friends. Public opinion was different. Israel was widely viewed as a small democracy defending itself against overwhelming odds. That perception has changed over the decades for many reasons, including changing politics, repeated conflicts, humanitarian concerns, evolving international priorities, and the rise of digital media. Whether one agrees with that shift or not, no one can deny that Israel now faces an unprecedented battle for international public opinion.
This battle is unlike anything the world experienced in 1973.
Back then, news travelled slowly. Newspapers investigated stories before they reached the public. Television broadcasts were limited. People had time to reflect.
Today, information crosses the globe in seconds. Artificial intelligence can generate convincing images and videos. Social media rewards emotion instead of accuracy. False claims often spread faster than verified facts. By the time corrections appear, millions of people have already formed opinions.
Every democracy faces this challenge, but Israel faces it under a global microscope.
The battlefield is no longer confined to cities and borders. It exists on every smartphone. Every viral post. Every online video. Every algorithm that rewards outrage over truth.
Military strength alone cannot win that war.
The battle for credibility requires transparency, facts, consistency, and the willingness to communicate clearly every single day. Winning public trust has become almost as important as winning military victories.
Looking back at the oil crisis raises an interesting question.
If societies in the 1970s could voluntarily change their behaviour to conserve fuel, why is it impossible to imagine new habits that help conserve something just as precious today, namely our ability to think critically?
Imagine if people voluntarily stepped away from social media one day each week. Not because governments forced them. Not because anyone wanted censorship. But because constant exposure to endless streams of emotional content leaves little room for reflection.
Call it a Digital Reflection Day.
Hospitals would continue to operate. Emergency services would continue to function. Businesses that depend on the internet would continue their essential work. Life would go on. But millions of people might spend that day reading books instead of scrolling endlessly. They might speak with neighbours instead of strangers hiding behind anonymous accounts. They might compare multiple sources before believing sensational claims. They might rediscover patience in an age addicted to instant reactions.
Would misinformation disappear?
Of course not.
Would polarization vanish?
Certainly not.
But slowing the constant flood of information, even briefly, could encourage more thoughtful public discussion. The objective would not be to silence anyone. It would be to create space for independent thinking.
Israel cannot change every headline. It cannot control every algorithm. It cannot prevent every hostile campaign or every false accusation. No democratic nation can.
What Israel can do is continue strengthening its commitment to truth, transparency, accountability, and open communication while encouraging citizens everywhere to question information before accepting it as fact.
The oil crisis proved that free societies can overcome enormous challenges when people are willing to adapt.
Today’s crisis is different. It is not a shortage of oil. It is a shortage of trust.
That shortage affects every democracy.
Israel’s future will not be determined only by soldiers defending its borders. It will also be shaped by teachers educating young minds, journalists committed to accuracy, citizens willing to verify before sharing, and leaders who understand that in the twenty first century, ideas can travel farther than armies.
History reminds us that great challenges always demand great imagination.
The world once united to overcome an energy crisis.
Perhaps it is time to show the same determination in confronting the crisis of misinformation.
Israel cannot change the past.
But it can continue fighting for its future with courage, resilience, truth, and the confidence that facts, when defended honestly and consistently, remain stronger than propaganda.
CEO of Time to Stand Up for Israel, a nonprofit organization with a powerful mission: to support Israel and amplify its voice around the world. With over 200,000 followers across various social media platforms, our community is united by a shared love for Israel and a deep commitment to her future.
My journey as an advocate for Israel began early. When I was 11 years old, my father was deployed to the Middle East through his work with UNTSO. I had the unique experience of living in both Syria and Israel, and from a young age, I witnessed firsthand the contrast in cultures and realities. That experience shaped me profoundly.
Returning to the Netherlands, I quickly became aware of the growing wave of anti-Israel sentiment — and I knew I had to speak out. Ever since, I’ve been a fierce and unapologetic supporter of Israel. I’m not religious, but my belief is clear and unwavering: Israel has the right to exist, and Israel has the duty to defend herself.
My passion is rooted in truth, love, and justice. I’m a true Zionist at heart.
From my first breath to my last, I will stand up for Israel.