The military and political arenas are closely linked in Israel’s fight against terrorist and guerrilla organizations. Israel is a democratic country subject to legal and moral constraints and restraints, and therefore, when it initiates a military operation against such organizations, its justifications are important, as they will later affect its international legitimacy or lack thereof. This article discusses the Iron Dome system, which is designed to provide active protection for Israeli citizens. It attempts to answer...
Focus in the analytical essays compiled here is on Israel’s strategic environment, particularly the challenges and opportunities that await Israel in 2014. In 2013 the Middle East continued to grapplewith several risk-laden issues and processes that began in previous years, includingthe socio-political unrest in many Arab states and the increased power ofradical Islamic elements in lawless areas near Israel’s borders; the ongoingcivil war in Syria; the unresolved Iranian nuclear issue; and the wide gaps betweenIsrael and the...
The only episode in 2013 that came close to being an acute threat to the Israeli civilian front involved the tension between Washington and Damascus concerning the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Today, even if the fate of the chemical arsenal in Syria remains unclear, the episode highlighted one important lesson about the complexity and volatility of the risks facing the Israeli home front: in the conflict ridden and frequently changing Middle East, the home front can suddenly find itself facing an unanticipated conflagration in...
In October 2011, the Israeli government appointed a committee headed by Water and Energy Ministry director general Shaul Tzemach to examine the government’s policy on natural gas. The government is supposed to adopt the committee’s recommendations, which were published in April 2012, immediately upon completion of the budget deliberations. On May 13, 2013, however, Knesset Finance Committee chairman Avishai Braverman stated that the Knesset would decide on the future of the recommendations – in particular, how much gas will be...
The parliamentary elections in Jordan on January 23, 2013 failed to produce a clear answer as to the impact of the Arab uprisings on the kingdom’s real balance of power between the establishment, headed by the King, and the opposition, led by the Muslim Brotherhood. Both sides stayed deeply entrenched in their initial positions. Thus the struggle between the King and the opposition will likely continue, both in the parliament, where it will be played out by the representatives who do not come from the traditional, mainly tribal,...
If indeed the world is engaged in a global war on terrorism, what is the optimal way to defend against it? Should the response be focused on defensive aspects or should offensive ones augment defensive measures? Who are the enemies and where is the battle zone? This essay examines these questions from an historical perspective in order to draw conclusions and attempt to formulate some insights about the right strategy and most effective tactics involving technology as a critical component in the response to this type of warfare.
Five years have passed since the Second Lebanon War, a major turning point in the conceptual and practical development of the civilian front in Israel. The question of how to assess the efforts of the past few years stands at the center of the discussion that follows. Given the growing nature of the threat, an integrated national strategic plan that covers all the organizations involved is essential. This chapter discusses to what extent the actions taken in recent years create an encouraging picture of preparedness of the Israeli...
For years Israel has been subject to extortion by terrorist organizations holding Israeli soldiers and civilians hostage, with their release conditional on the release of hundreds of imprisoned members of these organizations. If there was a realistic chance of releasing its citizens by force, Israel chose that route; lacking that option, Israel consistently paid a steep price for the release of its captives. This policy was formulated over decades, starting in the late 1960s. Consequently, terrorist organizations, depending on their...
Although there is no direct link between them, both the recent elections in Jordan and Egypt and the WikiLeaks publications are instructive regarding the determination of conservative regimes in the Middle East to defend themselves and enhance their survivability.
Even before the first round of direct peace talks began in the renewed diplomatic process, a serious dispute emerged regarding the agenda of the Israeli-Palestinian discussions that threatens the future of this process. While as in the past the Palestinians continued to demand that the division of territory head the list of issues for discussion, Netanyahu has deviated from the outline presented by Israel in previous rounds of negotiations and demanded that the talks start with agreements on security arrangements and a recognition of...
Beyond explaining where Israeli intelligence erred in the Yom Kippur War, the book probes expectations of military intelligence in general and the relationship between military and political assessments. It considers what kind of assessment an intelligence branch is capable of producing with a great degree of certainty, and conversely, what kind of assessment it should not be asked to produce. Based on the intelligence failure of the Yom Kippur War, this book also reviews possible organizational changes and methodological...
The Turkel Commission investigating the flotilla raid began its deliberations last week. Testifying during the first three days were the three central figures connected with the episode: Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Barak, and IDF Chief of Staff Ashkenazi. Testimony by the three, most of which was public, has raised some questions, especially regarding the sensitive and vital interface between the political and military echelons.
