Securing the Electrical System in Israel: Proposing a Grand Strategy

Executive Summary

Many countries in the West, including Israel, have realized that their national security depends in part on the resilience of the home front. This resilience relies largely on the reasonable and continuous functioning of the various systems that serve it, first and foremost the orderly provision of the basic products of the critical national infrastructures. The electrical system has a major place among these infrastructures because of the potential risk of a protracted blackout over large parts of the country and the paralysis of its vital systems.

This research, the first of its kind, examines the major external threats facing Israel’s electrical system and the current responses to these threats. This analysis provides a basis for our recommendations regarding what should be done in order to improve the preparedness of the electrical system to cope with significant risks to Israeli national security.

The security of the electrical system during emergencies and a reduction in the risk of an excessive and protracted blackout are critical issues that demand national attention and response. We maintain that the current systemic responses to threats against the electrical system are inadequate in light of the unique geostrategic characteristics of the State of Israel. Hence, they demand a broad and integrated approach by the government and the industry in order to improve the level of preparedness and the capability to cope with these threats.

The security of the electrical system depends ultimately on the existence and operation of a comprehensive systemic strategy for the various components of the national infrastructure in general and the secure supply of cheap and available energy to meet Israel’s civilian and military needs in particular. Such a strategy does not currently exist in Israel, but should be formulated as soon as possible. This is the responsibility of the Israeli government and the ministries associated with electricity: the Ministry of National

Infrastructures, Energy, and Water and the Ministry of Defense (through the National Emergency Management Authority). The systemic response to emergencies must be based, as much as possible, on the response in routine conditions and on the capacity for flexible and rapid transition from routine to emergency conditions.

Contents

Executive Summary 

Preface   

Major Points from the Research

Chapter 1 The Threats to the Electrical System and Their Significance

Background

The Kinetic Threat: Missiles and Rockets

Natural Disasters and Climate Change

Cyber Threats

Chapter 2 The Electrical System in Israel 

Components of the Electrical System

The Current and Future Electrical System

Chapter 3 The Current Response to the Threats to the Electrical System

Preparedness for Kinetic Attacks: Missiles and Rockets

Preparedness for Natural Disasters and Climate Change

The Level of Preparedness for Cyber Attacks

The Level of Preparedness in the Face of EMP Threats

Chapter 4 What Can Be Learned from International Experience?

Chapter 5 Conclusions

General

Selecting a Comprehensive Strategy

Technological and Operational Guidelines

Guidelines regarding Organization and Structure

Community Guidelines

Summary

Appendix: Basic Terms in the Electrical System

Notes

Authors and Contributors