Strategic Assessment

Although Israel has benefited from nearly absolute physical military superiority in recent decades, it appears, paradoxically, that its achievements against its enemies are diminishing. Theoreticians have explained this as “predestined,” deriving from the nature of new confrontations. This article will present an alternative approach, arguing that the phenomenon derives mainly from a weakening of military thinking in the IDF. It maintains that strengthening military thinking is critical for the development of an innovative doctrine, which the IDF and the State of Israel have needed in order to contend with the changing threats since the Six Day War and the Yom Kippur War.