- Dr. Josef Joffe
- Paper No. 77
While Israel is an ideal partner, Israeli membership in NATO will not happen for various reasons. Israel will lose important freedom of action, while the EU and NATO are reluctant to expand into the Middle East.
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.
- Lt. Col. (res.) Dr. Mordechai Kedar
- Paper No. 76
Hizballah is on a determined path to control Lebanon. The June 2009
parliamentary elections could be a watershed, leading to a result that the West will deeply regret – an Iranian-like regime.
- Prof. Efraim Inbar
- Paper No. 75
Obama’s intention to "engage" countries like Iran and Syria in order to
start a "new page" in bilateral relations strike most Israelis and Mideast Arabs as naïve. Both the Arabs and Israel want to see Iran and its proxies rolled back, not appeased, by Washington.
- Prof. Efraim Inbar
- Paper No. 74
Ehud Olmert failed to move Israel forward either in confronting or negotiating with the Palestinians. He lurched from unilateralism, to
negotiations, to military conflict with the Palestinians, and failed in all three tracks. His failure to deal effectively with Hamas is the most serious.
- Elizabeth Samson
- Paper No. 73
International law is being manipulated by radical Arab and Islamic ideologues, dictators and tyrants, to subvert real justice and attack Israel and Western democracies; to achieve objectives that they cannot pursue militarily. This "lawfare" must be countered with determination and no apologies.
- Prof. Eytan Gilboa
- Paper No. 72
Obama’s idealism will face harsh realities that limit his policy options,
especially with regard to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and Iran.
Obama and Netanyahu are both pragmatic leaders capable of adjusting to realities; and thus can be expected to make efforts to avoid a major confrontation.
- Fernando Navarrete
- Paper No. 71
The world financial crisis has hit the Chinese economy and Chinese banks hard, and individual Chinese may find that their savings are wiped out. The prospect of many Chinese seeing their future vanish could lead to political unrest and instability in the country.
- Prof. Efraim Inbar
- Paper No. 70
The Labor Party decayed because it abandoned the values of military
service and settlement, became identified with the wealthy, abandoned
Jerusalem, was identified with the failed Oslo peace process, and failed to stay in sync with demographic changes in Israel.
- Dr. Uzi Rubin
- Paper No. 69
Almost the entire Israeli home front has come under rocket and missile assault. This article surveys the Israeli response to rocket attacks, including the targeting of missile launchers and improved civil defense; and discusses the need for a comprehensive active missile defense.
- Dr. Uzi Rubin
- Paper No. 69
מלחמת לבנון השנייה ומבצע "עופרת יצוקה" הוו דגם בזעיר אנפין למלחמות העתיד. איראן וגרורותיה סוריה, החזבאללה והחמאס אינם משקיעים כמעט דבר במערכות נשק "קלאסיות" של מלחמה בעצימות גבוהה. במקום זאת הם בונים ורוכשים כמויות עצומות של טילים ורקטות. בכל מערכה עתידית יהיה העורף הישראלי כולו נתון למתקפה עזה של טילים ורקטות בעוצמה שלא ידענו כמותה. מאמר זה סוקר את אמצעי המענה של ישראל למתקפת הרקטות