Were it possible to encapsulate the current strategic threats Israel faces in three categories, they would be: a) Iran and its nuclear program; b) the Arab-Israeli conflict, with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at its center; and c) asymmetrical confrontations with non-state or hybrid players, as discussed by Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin. The question is: does the Israeli government have a comprehensive plan or strategy for tackling these threats? My sense is that the answer is no.
The vision of Israel as both a Jewish and a democratic state lies at the core of Israel’s existence. These are not contradictory ideals, rather complementary values that enable Israel to exist as a secure state, living in peace with its neighbors to the extent possible in the land of Israel. This is my vision, and it underlies a long line of decisions we must make here at home. What follows are some of the conclusions that emerge from this vision and relate to the relationship between us and our Palestinian neighbors.
It took between 12 and 14 hours for release of the tapes showing Israeli soldiers being beaten in a coordinated and planned attack aboard the Mavi Marmara. That footage, if released earlier, might well have drastically changed the international perception of what happened aboard the ship. The picture could also have been dramatically different had it been made known to the media in advance who was aboard that ship, as well as the truth regarding the nature and affiliations of the organizations behind the mission and the identities of...
This essay suggests responses that the State of Israel – not necessarily the IDF – should provide to five types of problems presented elsewhere in this volume: (a) the problem of Lebanon; (b) the high trajectory threat, which although it relates to Lebanon is a more general threat, as also appears from the Gaza Strip, Syria, and Iran, and harbors great damage potential that may not have been presented in its full the preceding discussions; (c) what is the right way of prosecuting a war with Syria; (d) coping with the Iranian nuclear...
On February 10, 2009, 3.4 million Israelis went to the polls to elect the 18th Knesset. The results reflect and demonstrate Israel’s complex reality: a vibrant and healthy democracy – the envy of many – coupled with a system of government that leads to inherent instability and an electorate that is almost evenly split regarding the key issues facing the country.
The results of the Israeli elections to the 18th Knesset will obviously have a significant impact on the political process in the Middle East and more specifically on the Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Syrian tracks. Beyond the general trends of Israeli public opinion, the configuration of the new Israeli government will be significant as to the way Israel approaches the Iranian nuclear program and the peace process. While the political platforms of the various parties are not exclusive indications nor are political parties always...
Severe financial crises are connected to national security. They impinge on a state’s national resilience and its ability to realize its national objectives: they impose budgetary constraints on the defense system, limit political maneuverability, jeopardize the public welfare, increase crime, and are liable to invite dangerous social processes. Therefore it is important to deal with them swiftly, firmly, and from a comprehensive systemic perspective.
The book includes ten analytical essays written by INSS researchers that dwell on Israel’s strategic environment in the period under review. The ongoing challenges represented by the Palestinian issue and the Iranian nuclear program are well documented, as well as developments elsewhere in the Arab and Muslim world and in Israel.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s legacy vis-à-vis the occupied territories will be a strengthened Israeli hold on the settlement blocs west of the security fence, in particular around Jerusalem. Olmert’s fundamental approach views the security fence as Israel’s de facto border, and is the basis of his decisions regarding new construction in the territories and his positions in negotiations with the Palestinian Authority. “Dividing the land in order to ensure a Jewish majority is the lifeline of Zionism,”...
The Israeli TecSAR satellite was launched on January 21 by an Indian Polar Space Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C10 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at the Sriharikota range in south-east India. It entered orbit about 80 minutes after launch. Less than two weeks later, on January 31st, it sent its first images. The photographs, which were taken at night in stormy weather, were said by Israel Aerospace Industry personnel to be of exceptional quality. TecSAR undoubtedly constitutes a technological breakthrough for Israel’s defense...
Shab’a Farms, the hilly ridge that forms the western extension of Mount Hermon next to Israel’s primary water source, appeared on the agenda after the IDF withdrawal from Lebanon in May 2000, and it reemerged prominently during and after the Second Lebanon War. The Lebanese government has repeatedly demanded possession of Shab’a Farms, known in Israel as Mount Dov. Security Council resolution 1701 explicitly includes it as an issue to be discussed in the context of relations between Lebanon and Israel and instructs the UN...
