Security
Security is a core issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and has always been at the forefront of Israeli strategic thinking. In order to be accepted by Israel, any potential peace agreement will have to include security guarantees by the Palestinians.
Articles
With Golan fence, Israel closer to surrounding itself with barriers
William Booth / The Washington Post (June 11, 2013)
Questions over the benefit of Israel's system of walls are addressed as a new barrier in the Golan Heights nears completion. Read More >
The Gaza war one year later: strategic lessons learned
Yossi Alpher / Americans for Peace Now (January, 2010)
Security expert and former Mossad analyst Yossi Alpher discusses Operation Cast Lead, Israel's 2009 military campaign in the Gaza Strip. Costs, benefits for Israel, the international response, and lessons for the future are examined. Read More >
Audio and Video
Recording of APN's briefing call with "The Gatekeepers" director Dror Moreh
Americans for Peace Now (2013)
Moreh discusses his Oscar-nominated documentary and reaction to the film. He also shares his views on the dearth of leadership among Israelis and Palestinians and lack of contact between them. (36:41) Listen >
The Security Issue in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Shaul Arieli (2013)
Overview of the state of Israel's security, including current and former threats. Questions related to Israel's security alongside an independent Palestinian state are also addressed. (3:31) Watch >
Books
Zion's Dilemmas: How Israel Makes National Security Policy
Charles D. Freilich | Cornell University Press (2012)
Book Review (The Middle East Journal) | CampusBooks
Fortress Israel: The Inside Story of the Military Elite Who Run the Country - and Why They Can't Make Peace
Patrick Tyler | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (2012)
Book Review (The Washington Post) | CampusBooks
A High Price: The Triumphs and Failures of Israeli Counterterrorism
Daniel Byman | Oxford University Press (2011)
Book Review (Foreign Affairs) | CampusBooks
Israeli Statecraft: National Security Challenges and Responses
Yehezkel Dror | Routledge (2011)
Book Review (Ha'aretz) | CampusBooks
Official Documents
PLO Security Non-Paper
May 2010
Summary of PLO positions on security in permanent status negotiations, as they were presented in previous negotiation rounds, and consistent with the discussions held with US Special Envoy for Middle East Regional Security (SEMERS) in 2008. Read Document >
Israeli Threat Assessment
December 8, 2008
Classified U.S. diplomatic cables containing an account of Rep. Robert Wexler's meeting with Israel Defense Intelligence Director Yadlin in which Yadlin outlines the imminent threats to Israeli security. Yadlin identifies Palestinian terrorism as the fourth highest priority threat that Israel faces, following Iran, Syria and Hezbollah. Read Document >
Public Opinion
The Voice of the People: Israeli Public Opinion on National Security 2012
The Institute for National Security Studies (April 2013)
Finds that support among Israelis for a two-state solution remains high despite skepticism regarding prospects for peace, while "support for the ideal of Greater Israel" has dropped. Concludes that "it seems certain that a 'package deal' on a complete and permanent agreement with the Palestinians presented by the government would be approved in a public referendum." PDF >
Reports and Data Sources
Advancing the Dialogue: A Security System for the Two-State Solution
Ilan Goldberg, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Gadi Shamni, Nimrod Novik, and Col. Kris Baumen / Center for a New American Security (May 2016)
This report proposes a security system to address both Israeli security concerns and Palestinian concerns of continuous occupation. PDF >
Middle East Military Balance
Jewish Virtual Library (2013)
Statistical breakdown of the armed forces for each country in the Middle East. Includes troop totals as well as military vehicles, ships, and aircraft. Read More >
An Uncertain Road: Testing the Durability of an Israeli-Palestinian Borders and Security Agreement
The Saban Center for Middle East Policy (May 2011)
Results of a simulation held by the Brookings Institution to test the resilience of a hypothetical agreement between Israelis and Palestinians on the issues of borders and security. Kenneth M. Pollack analyzes the simulation's implications for an Israeli-Palestinian border and security agreement. Read More >
Security for Peace: Setting the Conditions for a Palestinian State
Center for a New American Security (2010)
Examination of what kind of security arrangement would be necessary to serve as a facilitator for a future Palestinian state. Features comparative case studies, expert military and political lessons, and a look at four scenarios that could precede a possible peacekeeping force. Read More >