Israel: A Strategy for the 21st Century
Abstract
The security environment in the Middle East is presenting new challenges to the state of Israel. To the traditional threats coming from unfriendly, though not openly hostile, states, Israel should now add the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. Other emerging threats are the possible collusion of Hamas and Hezbollah, supported by Iran and Syria and bent on the destruction of Israel; the growing influence of the Shi'a branch of Islam in the region and its potential influence on Lebanon and other countries; and the actions of other international terrorist groups with Islamic origins. Israel will have to confront these challenges in the face of a growing demographic imbalance between Israeli Jews and Arabs and a growing dispute over scarce natural resources in the region, water being the most important. This paper reviews the evolution of the Israeli security environment since Independence, identifies its permanent principles, examines the current security challenges Israel faces, and proposes a possible Grand Strategy to guide Israel into the future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 26, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA501213
Entities
People
- Salvador S. Tapia
Organizations
- United States Army War College