Publications

Over the past five years, Iran’s activity in the arena of international terrorism has significantly intensified, spreading across vast geographic regions and incorporating criminal organizations in the execution of terrorist operations. Although most Iranian terrorism attempts have been thwarted, there is no guarantee that this success will persist in the future. It is therefore necessary to examine the characteristics of Iran’s use of terrorism in order to improve the chances of countering it. This memorandum examines...

Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025 signaled dramatic changes in how the United States addresses threats of foreign influence and interference in the digital realm. The administration swiftly moved to dismantle government mechanisms that had been established in previous years to protect the United States from hostile foreign influence. These steps—from the dismissal of senior security officials to the shutdown of dedicated teams in government departments—raise concerns about the West’s overall capacity to...

Once the Israeli-Iranian exchange of blows ended impressively, the question of continuing the war in the Gaza Strip has returned to the center of public controversy in Israel, inextricably tied to the issue of the remaining hostages still held by Hamas. Disagreements and differing predictions about the future—always marked by uncertainty—are legitimate. So too are the value-based differences that guide decision-making, for which no objective resolution exists—only a decision about what norms to adopt and what not to, after weighing...

Operation Rising Lion took place during a challenging time for Israeli national resilience. The combination of a prolonged, multi-front military campaign and deep societal polarization—fueled by the politicization of various aspects and phenomena related to the ongoing war—significantly eroded resilience. An examination of factors known to shape resilience revealed a marked decline, particularly in the areas of trust, social solidarity, optimism, and hope. In contrast, there was a notable improvement in the area of functional...

Since the outbreak of the Swords of Iron war, the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) has been regularly conducting public opinion surveys aimed at examining public attitudes toward key national security issues, as well as national resilience and public trust.[1] Click here to view the trends among the Jewish public  | Click here to view the trends among the Arab public Following the first survey conducted by the Data Analytics Center after the launch of Operation Rising Lion against Iran’s nuclear and military...

Syria is currently undergoing an accelerated process of reintegration into the international community, which appears increasingly inclined to legitimize its new regime under the leadership of Ahmed al-Sharaa. As an Arab Muslim country that shares a border with Israel, it is important to examine how Egypt—Israel’s most important neighbor and a major Arab state—is receiving Syria. While Egyptian–Syrian relations have fluctuated over the past decades, a fundamental ideological gap is now emerging for the first time. Nevertheless, Egypt...

The IMEC initiative reflects the shifting dynamics of the regional and international system, in which traditional and new players seek to reshape the map of transportation, economy, and geopolitical influence between Asia and Europe. The initiative highlights the economic potential of inter-regional connectivity and also the political complexity it entails—from geopolitical rivalries and infrastructure considerations to diplomatic constraints. Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and other actors each seek to...

Hezbollah’s position has deteriorated following the war between Israel and Iran. The organization’s decision to refrain from opening an additional front against Israel—despite expectations—highlighted its weakness. The outcome of the war has further exacerbated the challenges it now faces: Iran currently lacks the attention and capabilities to support Hezbollah; the IDF continues to target its operatives and infrastructure; and Lebanon’s new leadership is taking action against the organization, particularly in hopes of disarming...

In light of the dramatic shift in the balance of power in the region following the confrontation between Israel and Iran—the restoration of Israeli deterrence; the open motivation of US President Donald Trump to bring an end to the war; the weakening of the resistance axis and its non-state actors; Hamas’s weakened and isolated state, dependent on the mercy of mediator states; the willingness of Arab states to engage and assist in stabilizing Gaza without Hamas rule—a window of opportunity has emerged to close the circle of war that...

The Data Analytics Center at the INSS provides accurate and updated data during the Swords of Iron War