The Iranian regime can be considered rational, but it cannot be trusted with nuclear weapons. History has proven that radical regimes can seek the destruction of others if faced with an immense threat. Israel cannot rely on deterrence and must be prepared to confront Iran militarily or invest in ballistic missile defense.
Israeli National Security
Since Israel’s establishment it has dealt with existential threats from its neighbors. This study - available in English and Hebrew - argues that not only is Israel a big success story, time is definitely on Israel’s side. A survey of Israel's military, economy, social cohesiveness, and political system indicate long term processes that favor Israel over its regional foes. The State of Israel can be confident in its ability to overcome the challenges that stand in its path.
- Prof. Avi Kober
- July 18, 2013
- Paper No. 209
The IDF must take into consideration that a smaller military comes with a price, as even low-intensity conflicts require a large number of troops to enable the army to succeed.
- Dr. Anna Geifman
- July 15, 2013
- Paper No. 208
Israel benefits from having a Muslim ally on Iran’s border and Azerbaijan has gained a serious partner in the political, military, and technology spheres. The countries have much to gain from strengthening their ties even further.
- Dr. Eado Hecht
- April 18, 2013
- Paper No. 203
A low-tech attack on Internet hardware infrastructure can be a crippling act of cyber warfare. Israel is vulnerable to an attack of this nature and must plan accordingly.
- Prof. Avi Kober
- February 25, 2013
- Paper No. 199
Praise for Iron Dome may be deserved, yet Israel’s deterrence capability has not been enhanced, and Israel’s enemies may initiate an arms race to try and defeat it.
- Prof. Uzi Arad
- September 5, 2012
- Paper No. 180
The NSC’s main achievement is the quiet integration of foreign affairs, defense, and intelligence inputs for the prime minister and the other top decision-makers in the government. But its effectiveness remains hampered by turf battles with other defense and intelligence bodies.
- Dr. Uzi Rubin
- July 3, 2012
- 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. Yaacov Lifshitz
- February 13, 2012
- 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.
Dramatic events have unfolded in the Middle East since the beginning of 2011. This unstable environment indicates trouble for Israel. What follows is an assessment of the implications of the changing regional environment for Israel’s national security.