As conflicts unfold across the Middle East, two narratives about Israel dominate. On the one hand, there are accusations of disproportionate responses and international-law violations. On the other, there is a view that Israel is not just defending itself, but also securing the safety of the Western world. Both are true to some degree, but there’s a more pressing reality: Israel’s fight is a defence not only of its own sovereignty but of the Western values it shares and upholds.