T
he discussion over how Israel should make its major defense and foreign
relations decisions is as old as Israel itself. Israel is a state born in a storm—
having been invaded the day after its declaration of independence by the
armies of all its neighbors—and in many ways has remained in that storm
ever since. Its government’s defense spending, including military and nonmilitary
security organizations, accounts for a substantial portion of the total government
budget, and security issues are, as a matter of course, headline news items.
Discussion has intensified in recent years because of changes in Israeli society;
security threats faced; and, most of all, the evolving nature of military clashes: Israel
has not fought a major war against a neighboring army in close to 40 years. Past
conflicts were asymmetrical and waged against nonstate organizations. In these
campaigns, the desirable outcome was a matter of debate, even as the fighting was
OFER SHELAH
National Security Decisionmaking
Processes in Israel
Persistent Flaws and How to Amend Them
C O R P O R A T I O N
Perspective
EXPERT INSIGHTS ON A TIMELY POLICY ISSUE
November 2022
“The Lord is my shepherd,” says the Book of Psalms, and fortunate this is,
for the decision-making process in Israel is deeply flawed.
Charles D. Freilich, Zion’s Dilemma
