Mideast Security and Policy Studies

Mideast Security and Policy Studies serve as a forum for publication or re-publication of research conducted by BESA Center research associates.

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The Israel–Iran War:
Israel’s New Strategic Opening

The June 2025 open war between Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran marked a watershed moment in the history of the Middle East and in the evolution of Israeli warfare. While Israel had previously conducted long-range, high-risk operations such as the 1976 Entebbe raid, the 1985 strike in Tunis and operations against the Houthis in Yemen in the Iron Swords war, the Iran war was the first time in its history that Israel waged a sustained, multi-domain campaign against a geographically distant regional power with no shared border. For 12 days, Israel brought to bear the full weight of its long-range strike capabilities, missile defenses, intelligence networks, cyber arsenal and spectrum warfare, demonstrating a level of operational reach, integration and coordination unprecedented in its military history.

Debunking the Genocide Allegations:
A Reexamination of the Israel-Hamas War from October 7, 2023 to June 1, 2025

This research offers a thorough historical exploration and a quantitative-statistical analysis of the allegation that the State of Israel committed genocide against the Gazan population following the October 7, 2023, massacre. Specifically, we address the claims that Israel intentionally starved the Gazan population, that IDF ground forces deliberately massacred civilians, and that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) carried out indiscriminate bombings, failing to distinguish between combatants and civilians and conducting disproportionate strikes.

The FPV Revolution and Its Implications for Land Warfare and Other Dimensions of Warfare

The FPV drone revolution represents a paradigm shift in modern warfare, fundamentally altering tactical operations, force organization, and strategic thinking across all military dimensions.Combat evidence from the Russia-Ukraine conflict demonstrates the unprecedented lethality, operational scale, and tactical versatility of FPV systems. Yet most military establishments remain anchored to obsolete paradigms, failing to comprehend the implications of this transformation.

Battlefield Decision in the Iron Swords War: Renewing the Discussion

In the Iron Swords War, the IDF achieved battlefield decision over the enemy in two theaters of war in a manner contrary to customary IDF doctrine. In Gaza, a tactical and operational battlefield decision was achieved against Hamas based on the erosion of the enemy’s forces and capabilities, mainly through offensive ground activity. In Lebanon, a strategic, operational, and tactical battlefield decision (in that order) was achieved against Hezbollah that was based on the stratagem of a series of strikes, including the explosion of pagers, air strikes against capabilities and commanders, and a later ground operation against combat infrastructure in the border area. The concept of the battlefield decision has gradually disappeared from IDF discourse in recent years, but it warrants renewed discussion.

War With Iran: Israel’s Legal Obligation to Prevent Iranian Nuclear Weapons

Israel is currently at war with Iran. Despite being non-nuclear, Iran could draw Israel into a protracted conflict involving "only" conventional missile and drone weaponry. Quickly, any such conflict in which both sides would seek "escala-tion dominance" and wherein the Israeli side might not be sufficiently advan-taged could compel a time-urgent decision in Jerusalem: (1) threaten calibrat-ed and plausible nuclear reprisals, or (2) submit to seemingly interminable at-trition warfare. Though the first option would amount to making threats of "asymmetrical nuclear war," it could still represent the most rational and cu-mulatively humane approach to Israeli national survival. In the final analysis, Israel can only succeed in its current war if it prevents Iranian nuclearization.

Reshaping the Global Landscape:
How Will Trump’s Return Redefine Global Dynamics?

In the complex and often unpredictable realm of global politics, few political developments carry as much potential for transformative impact as the prospect of a second Trump presidency. This collection of expert analyses delves into the multifaceted implications of such a scenario, offering a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of how a Trump return to the White House could reshape global strategic landscapes. With a special focus on the Middle East and Israel, the publication provides an in-depth examination of how potential shifts in US foreign policy could reconfigure regional dynamics and strategic relationships.

Israel: The Making of a Global Cyber Power

In the aftermath of October 7, there is a clear need to reexamine Israel’s principles of defense. It is already clear that a considerable military build-up and additional investments will be required. However, we must be careful not to repeat the mistakes of the past. More of the same – the restoration of a strategy based on deterrence, greater firepower, a wider order of forces, and more durable fortifications – may prove unsatisfactory and even distracting. This study seeks to contribute to the formulation of a sustainable strategy. We will do this not by citing principles that should be added to the concept of security but by addressing the type of discussion that is required. Along the way we will question some of the automatic responses to the crisis.

Could Israel’s Nuclear Deterrent Support “Escalation Dominance” Against Iran?

A Sustainable Strategy: Principles for Updating Israel’s Strategy and Security Concept

National Cyber Strategy: Issues for Discussion

This paper raises essential issues for discussion regarding the design of Israel’s national cyber strategy. It deals with aspects related to the promotion of national cyber security and the improvement of national resilience and the private sector’s ability to cope with major attacks that have security, economic and social impact. The paper concentrates on what the author considers to be the key issues. It neither pretends nor aims to encompass all the elements involved in formulating a national cyber security strategy. It is intended to point out the complexity of the issues concerned and create a basis for deepening discussions about them. In the service of the discourse, it does not contain decisive or unequivocal recommendations. Nor does it deal with the offensive component, which is a fundamental component of an overall national cyber strategy.