Golda Meir once quipped that when the Arab armies put down their weapons, there will be no more war, but if the Israeli army put down its weapons, there would be no more Israel. This fundamental reality still defines Israel’s security doctrine today and has been tragically reinforced by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, which demonstrated the existential threats Israel continues to face.[1]
Every military action that Israel has taken, or takes, is done for the purpose of securing the safety of the country, and its people. Each war Israel has fought has been a result of Arab aggression, and Israel’s army is indeed Israel’s Defense Forces. From the 1948 War of Independence – when five Arab armies invaded the newly established state – to the 1967 Six-Day War triggered by Arab mobilization on Israel’s borders, to the 1973 Yom Kippur War launched as a surprise attack on Judaism’s holiest day, Israel has consistently fought defensive wars for its survival.[2]
When Israel has struck abroad, like in 1981 or 2007 when it destroyed Iraq’s and Syria’s nuclear reactors, respectively, it did so to prevent an attack against Israel. Its blockade of Gaza is to prevent rocket and weapon parts from being smuggled into the territory and used to attack Israeli civilians. So too when Israel attacks weapons convoys in foreign countries. These pre-emptive actions, while sometimes controversial internationally, are based on Israel’s “Begin Doctrine” – the strategic principle that Israel cannot allow existential threats, particularly nuclear ones, to develop within hostile regimes that have explicitly called for its destruction.[3]
Though many improperly accuse Israel of being a regional aggressor, such allegations are without merit. Israel acts to protect itself and its people, and given the nature of modern warfare, this sometimes involves striking at targets outside of its borders. It has jumped at the opportunity to forge a meaningful peace with any country that will have those relations with them. This commitment to peace is evidenced by historic treaties with Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994), as well as the more recent Abraham Accords with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan (2020).[4]
Understanding Israel’s defensive military posture is crucial to countering antisemitic narratives that portray Israel as an aggressive colonial power. The double standard often applied to Israel’s military actions – where defensive measures taken by Israel receive disproportionate condemnation compared to similar or more aggressive actions by other nations – is recognized in the IHRA working definition as a form of antisemitism.[5] When discussing Israel’s military operations, it’s important to consider both the existential threats the country faces and its consistent efforts to minimize civilian casualties through tactics like roof-knocking, leaflet drops, and phone calls warning civilians before strikes.[6]
Sources
[1] Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “October 7, 2023: Hamas’ Terrorist Attack Against the State of Israel,” 2023. This official report details the Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis, primarily civilians, demonstrating the continuing existential threats Israel faces.
[2] Israel Defense Forces Archives, “History of Israel’s Wars,” 2024. This comprehensive historical analysis documents how each of Israel’s major wars began with aggressive actions or threats from neighboring states or terrorist organizations.
[3] Shai Feldman, “The Begin Doctrine: The Lessons of Osirak and Deir ez-Zor,” The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 2018. This scholarly analysis explains Israel’s strategic doctrine of preventing existential threats through preemptive action when necessary.
[4] U.S. Department of State, “The Abraham Accords,” 2020. This official documentation of the peace agreements between Israel and multiple Arab nations demonstrates Israel’s consistent pursuit of diplomatic solutions and regional peace.
[5] International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, “Working Definition of Antisemitism,” 2016. The IHRA definition specifically identifies “applying double standards by requiring of [Israel] a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation” as an example of antisemitism.
[6] Israeli Military Ethics Code, “Tohar HaNeshek (Purity of Arms),” updated 2023. This document outlines Israel’s military ethical principles, including its commitment to minimizing civilian casualties through warning mechanisms and precision targeting.