Since 1948, when Israel was established, its national security policy had to do mostly with Israel’s conflict with Arab states.David Ben Gurion, Uniqueness and Destiny (Tel Aviv: Ministry Of Defense, 1972); Avner Yaniv, Politics and Strategy in Israel (Tel Aviv:...

The book starts by explaining Israel’s national security policy while examining its neighbors. Then the book focuses on the IDF’s doctrine and buildup, mostly by looking into the air and the ground corps. Other issues have to do with offense and defense, infrastructure and man-power.

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Arab states are no longer a substantial threat to Israel. Egypt still has the strongest Arab military, but as long as Egypt does not change its policy, the 1979 peace treaty between the two states will remain. Jordan too has peace with Israel, although, as with Egypt, this peace has been quite cold. The most positive factor is the security cooperation between Israel and both Jordan and Egypt....

Israel’s national security policy was formed following the 1948–1949 war. It deals with the Arab–Israeli conflict, relations with world powers like the United States, and issues such as strategic depth.

Israel has been dealing with guerrilla warfare and terror since it was established, mostly by fighting Palestinian groups. Since the 1980s Hezbollah became one of Israel’s main foes in regard to hybrid and low-intensity wars. The IDF had to adjust its doctrine and buildup according to that.

Air superiority gives complete control of the air: the ability to conduct bombardments without running into major resistance while preventing the foe from launching massive air attacks. This was a main goal of the IAF in every high-intensity war. In hybrid wars, the IAF enjoyed air superiority since its foes had no air force, yet the IAF faced other challenges, such as intercepting rockets.

The IAF strives for air supremacy so it can focus on assisting Israel’s ground units by carrying out missions such as air strikes, gathering information, and delivering supplies. The IAF can also conduct strategic bombardments.

Airpower played a major role in both high-intensity wars and in fighting hybrid forces. However, ground units were essential too and often they could not have been replaced by aircraft. The traditional corps—armor, infantry, artillery, and combat engineers—and the logistic ones remain the backbone of the IDF.

The IDF had to take into consideration several operational factors that had to do with airborne attacks, sea combat, intelligence, deception, and close combat.

The IDF gained vast experience in running operations, mostly offensive ones. The IDF strove to concentrate its forces in one sector and then to break through while using surprise.

Forward defense means taking a static position and at most conducting a very limited maneuver in the frontline. The goal is to hold the land, whatever the cost is. Defense in depth allows the defender to withdraw and to maneuver in a much larger area that could extend to dozens and even hundreds of kilometers. In defense in depth it is possible to give up ground in order to save strength while...

Israel’s infrastructure, military and civilian, has been a basic part of Israel’s war effort in both high-intensity and hybrid wars. It has to do with infrastructure that is on the rear and on the front line as well.

The IDF’s manpower could be examined in all kinds of aspects such as in its ability to adjust to changing circumstances. The reserves have been a major part of the manpower due to their numbers and experience.

Since the establishment of Israel in 1948, the IDF has focused on preparing for a war against Arab militaries. Over the years, Israel dealt also with guerrilla and terror groups, mostly Palestinian ones. Since 2006 nonstate organizations took center stage, as was seen in the 2006, 2008–2009, and 2014 wars. This shift occurred due to the rise of hybrid outfits such as Hezbollah and Hamas and...

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Ehud Eilam holds an MA and a PhD in his field of expertise: Israel’s national strategy and military doctrine. He has been involved with research into those subjects for more than twenty years. He previously worked as a researcher in his field for Israel’s Ministry of Defense, as a private contractor.