Iran against Israel minus U.S.

Israel is our friend and in this war we are behind the Israelis. Israel helps us in a number of ways and takes care of OFWs as well. But this is real talk about realpolitik. Without the help of the U.S., Israel would have been finished against Iran in a matter of hours or less than three days at the most.

Without America, Israel could have been beaten by Iran in less than 72 hours. It is the U.S. that holds the key to war or peace in the Middle East. Iran is a humongous behemoth in area, population, oil, and even war wherewithal. Without the unauthorized support of President Trump, and I mean unauthorized by the U.S. Congress, the ongoing conflict would have been expeditiously terminated in three days or earlier.

Iran has an area of 1,648,195 square kilometers with well-secured and strongly-defended borders, while Israel has only a minuscule 22,072 square kilometers. In area alone and with its vast oil and gas reserves, Iran beats Israel by leaps and bounds. Iran has a population of 92,417,651 in 2025 while Israel has only 10,147,200 people whose army, air forces, and navy men and women are busy fighting multiple wars. Again, Israel is beaten by leaps and bounds.

Iran's nominal GDP is $356.513 billion while its GDP (PPP) is $1.879 trillion, which number 22 in the whole world. Iran's nominal per capita income is $4,074 only while its per capita PPP is $21,473 number 88 in the whole global economy. Israel commands a much stronger economy because of modern technology and strategic connections with western allies. Israel has a nominal GDP of $610.75 billion and nominal per capita of $60,010 which is number 14 in the whole world. Its GDP PPP is $567.55 billion and a per capita PPP of $55,770, it is number 35 globally.

Israel is surrounded by many enemies mostly among the Arab states. It has an ongoing war with Lebanon in the north, and its unresolved hostilities in the Gaza and the West Bank against Palestine are dissipating its assets and wasting the lives of its people. Without America, Israel would also be an enemy of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. Israel has had a series of wars and armed conflicts against many of its neighbors.

Both Iran and Israel have formidable armed forces and war arsenal but Israel's resources have been used too much and too often. Israel is proud of its military strength in the form of defensive and offensive systems dubbed as David's Sling, Israel's Arrow, and Iron Dome Defense Systems reinforced constantly by the U.S. Iran has a distinct advantage with a land mass four times bigger than Israel and population almost ten times bigger. Iran has thousands of tanks, artillery pieces, and naval armaments. It has a five times bigger army, navy, and air force.

The Philippines is much closer to Israel although we have thousands of Muslim Filipinos who are sympathetic to the cause of Iran. We have a long historic alliance with Israel. The Philippines was one of the staunchest supporters to the UN move for the creation of the Jewish state of Israel. When the Jewish people were being exterminated by Hitler during the holocaust, the Philippines was one of the very few nations that welcomed the Jews to our land. That is why today, we go in and out of Israel without the need for a visa.

Among a total of more than 300,000 foreign workers in Israel, there are now more than 31,000 Filipinos legally working in Israel, many of whom are doing caregiving, health services, and domestic work. They are mostly concentrated in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa. In war and in peace, the Filipinos remain loyal to Israel and the Israeli cares for and respects the Filipinos. But in times like these, the lives of OFWs are in grave and imminent danger. Many of them have perished and more may be at high risk.

The bottom line is that if America keeps on fueling the conflict in the Middle East, we shall be adversely impacted. Today, our economy is suffering from skyrocketing prices of oil, gas and kerosene. Many of our OFWs have been repatriated and our sources of dollar remittances are seriously being disrupted. We pray for and stand behind Israel. We fear a war of attrition which shall bring untold suffering to our people.