Right, so Benjamin Netanyahu has made himself a victory film, because, of course, he has. Explosions. Soldiers. Trump is praising him. Congress clapping. Netanyahu in body armour, looking as though he personally carried the entire Israeli military up a hill before breakfast.

Lots of fire, lots of flags, and absolutely no sign of the people who have to keep making it all happen, because there is one scene missing from Netanyahu’s film.

The one where Israel’s military chief warns that severe manpower shortages, repeated reserve call-ups, and too few new recruits are pushing the IDF towards its limits, with a risk of it “collapsing in on itself.” That bit did not make the final cut.

Neither did the manpower shortage. Nor the exhausted reservists. Nor the coalition deal protecting tens of thousands from service while those already s ...