- Lt. Col. (res.) Dr. Dany Shoham
- Paper No. 174
It is practically impossible and very unlikely that Western intelligence could detect an unambiguous order from Iranian leadership to build a nuclear bomb.
Perspectives Papers
Perspectives Papers provide analysis from BESA Center research associates and other outside experts on the most important issues pertaining to Israel and the Middle East.
- Dr. Uzi Rubin
- Paper No. 173
If the appearance of Iron Dome on the battlefields of southern Israel was what compelled Palestinians to scale down the scope of their rocket fire, this would be a major strategic achievement of Israel’s newly deployed missile shield, and a resounding exoneration for the resources invested in it.
- Dr. Can Kasapoğlu
- Paper No. 172
Syria and Iraq have become battlefields on influence between Turkey and Iran. In Syria, a proxy war is underway, with Iran supplying weapons to its Alawite client and Turkey actively arming the opposition. In Iraq, Turkey and Iran vie for political influence along Sunni-Shiite fault lines.
- Dr. Can Kasapoğlu
- Paper No. 170
As the turmoil in Syria continues and the security environment of Turkey worsens, two factors might lead to unilateral Turkish military intervention in Syria: a refugee crisis that forces Ankara to establish a buffer zone within Syrian territory, or defensive military measures needed to stop PKK terrorism.
- Dr. Tsilla Hershco
- Paper No. 169
France’s formal, coercive, educational, and correctional measures against anti-Semitism should not be underestimated, and have largely borne fruit. Yet the country’s unbalanced approach to the Arab-Israeli conflict has created an altogether too comfortable environment for the resurgence of anti-Semitic violence in France.
- Prof. P. R. Kumaraswamy
- Paper No. 168
American inability to provide effective leadership in the Middle East has resulted in India’s readiness to defy the oil sanctions against Iran. India seeks to assert an independent foreign policy.
- Prof. Efraim Inbar
- Paper No. 167
Israel has to respond to the attacks from Gaza with a large-scale military operation. If no such action is taken, the attacks against Israel will surely increase.
- Prof. Eytan Gilboa
- Paper No. 166
Mixed messages are continuously being broadcast and international
powers remain disunited on how to halt Iran’s nuclear program. It is unsurprising then that all of this “talk” has led to no action.
- Prof. Jonathan Rynhold
- Paper No. 165
Support for Israel in the strategic sphere has become an acid test of presidential credibility on national security.
- Dr. Yaacov Lifshitz
- Paper No. 164
The Israeli defense industry is largely focused on arms exports to the global market, with insufficient attention paid to the IDF’s military technology and equipment needs.