Israeli Society and National Security

Chapter 5 presents the primary societal changes in Israel in recent decades and their ramifications for its national security. The motivation to serve and bear the defense burden, national security consensus, and societal resilience remain strong. Conversely, Israel has become two societies, one at the forefront of international technology; the other, largely the ultra-orthodox and Arab populations, lags behind and may cause an economic crisis. Deep divisions over the West Bank, the one major exception to the national security consensus, and fundamental cleavages over domestic issues erode Israel’s societal strength. Public, media, judicial, and market considerations increasingly constrain national security decision-making, as does the institutionalization of casualty aversion into the process. When an effective case is made, however, Israeli society remains highly supportive of military operations. Israeli politics have been stalemated over the West Bank issue for decades, and Israel has been unable to chart a clear national course.