Jewish and Arab leaders and public figures at all levels in Israel should now mobilize to assuage feelings of animosity between the two sectors. They must condemn hatred and racism loudly and clearly, and emphasize that this is a vital interest for both Arabs and Jews. Instead of holding a grudge against Arab society following the recent clashes, a government plan for combating violence and crime should be funded and implemented in coordination with the Arab leadership. Multi-year economic and social programs should be launched,...
Crime and violence in Arab society in Israel continue to exact a heavy toll: 113 Arab citizens were killed in the past year, and state and local authorities are called to deal with the challenge. On the table there are two plans for curtailing the crime wave: one drawn by the Arab leadership and the other by a team of directors of government ministries. A comparative analysis of these plans reveals that the former emphasizes the state’s responsibility for the acute crisis but also highlights socio-economic measures that could help...
The strategic assessment for Israel for 2021 is shaped by significant uncertainty in three principal areas: the level of success in coping with COVID-19; the modus operandi and policies of the new administration in the United States; and the political developments in Israel. The current assessment is based on a broader conception of national security, which places greater weight than in the past on the domestic arena and on threats to internal stability, social cohesion, values, and fabric of life. This of course does not detract...
Most Arab citizens of Israel aspire to integrate into the fabric of Israeli society and participate in national decision making on issues of importance to them. The Joint List of Arab parties supports these aspirations but continues to emphasize nationalist issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In contrast, the Ra’am party and its leader Mansour Abbas support a more pragmatic approach and work with Zionist parties, including Likud, in order to maximize the party’s impact. In addition, Ra’am seeks to leverage the...
The State of Israel’s strategic balance in 2020 is the basis for the policy recommendations for the coming year. In implementing these recommendations, it is important to emphasize the State of Israel’s overarching objectives: to strengthen Israel as a Jewish, democratic, secure, prosperous, and just state that is at peace with its neighbors. These objectives define Israel’s purpose, both in the eyes of the Israeli public and in the eyes of the international community.
The State of Israel’s strategic efforts and...
In January 2020, the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) hosted its 13th Annual International Conference. Entitled “Strategic Assessment for Israel: A Look at the Coming Decade,” the conference included discussions, simulations, and lectures on strategic issues important to Israel’s national security. The conference was attended by decision makers, opinion leaders, and leading researchers from Israel and abroad. We invite you to read the digital version of the booklet that summarizes the conference...
The global, regional, and internal implications of the coronavirus are still not fully clear, but Israel’s 35th government will have no 100-day grace period. It must quickly restore the economy to full activity, despite the presence of the virus and the possibility of a renewed outbreak. On the security level, all the regimes in the Middle East are busy with the pandemic and internal affairs, and will most likely seek to avoid escalation in conflicts with Israel. At the same time, the risk of unplanned escalation (in Syria,...
There has been a significant rise in COVID-19 infection rates in Arab communities in Israel, along with increasing awareness of the challenges of the pandemic and a higher level of adherence to Ministry of Health regulations, which followed widespread distribution of Arabic-language explanatory materials. The month of Ramadan, which is commonly celebrated with large public gatherings, demands sharpened awareness and particular preparations regarding information dissemination, enforcement of health regulations, and urgent provision of...
The dissemination of information in Arabic about the coronavirus pandemic, along with social distancing and hygiene-related instructions to the public has increased the Arab community’s awareness of the severity of the crisis. The Arab public as a whole and its leaders – political, social, and religious – have devoted greater attention to the guidelines and worked to implement them on a broader basis. At the same time the Arab public must cope with social, religious, and economic challenges particular to their communities. The crisis...
The INSS 13th Annual International Conference (January 28-30, 2020) hosted senior political and military figures, experts, and decision makers from Israeli and abroad. Discussions centered on four areas: the international power system; the regional environment; Israel’s political and security challenges; and Israel’s internal arena – all with a view toward the coming decade. Particular attention was paid to “the deal of the century,” Iran after Soleimani, and Israel’s northern front. This article presents the main insights from...
The INSS 12th annual international conference addressed the web of challenges and opportunities Israel faces at the start of 2019. As in previous years, we chose strategic issues from the different spheres – domestic, regional, and international – that make up Israel’s strategic reality, and examine these individually and in context of one another. Continuing a trend from our previous conferences, we approached Israel’s national security priorities critically from a variety of perspectives.
The Soldiers’ Talk and the Movement for Greater Israel were both born during the period following the Six Day War. Even when examined in their early stages of development, both illustrate the different viewpoints of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that have existed from then until today. In order to support this claim, this essay compares the characteristics of the discourse represented by these two opposing pillars, which originated during the shock of the 1967 victory. This is done by analyzing texts that appeared immediately...
