Israeli Defense and Intelligence Before and After October 2023

The Cultural Roots of Strategic Surprise and Resilience
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-041-07488-5
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 264 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 376 g

Reihe: Studies in Intelligence

This book provides a cultural analysis of the Israeli defense and intelligence establishments before and after the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023.

The Hamas attack was one of the most colossal intelligence and security failures in modern times, and brought Israel to one of the darkest points in its history. The book outlines the traits of Israeli strategic and intelligence cultures, such as hubris and a lack of critical thinking, which account for this failure. It also examines the traits responsible for Israeli security resilience during the regional war throughout 2024–25, which peaked in the campaigns against Hizballah, in September 2024, and Iran, in June 2025, such as flexibility and practice preceding theory. Drawing on academic and professional literature in English and Hebrew, as well as elite interviews with former Israeli practitioners, the book offers a novel cultural perspective on October 7 and its aftermath, a topic that will be of considerable interest for many years to come. By discussing the cultural roots of Israeli strategic surprise and resilience, the book contributes to the study of the interaction between culture and security performance and to our understanding of cultural change over time.

This book will be of much interest to students of intelligence studies, strategic studies, Israeli politics, Middle Eastern Studies, and international relations.

Zielgruppe

Postgraduate, Professional Reference, and Undergraduate Advanced

Autoren/Hrsg.

Shapira, Itai

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Internationale Beziehungen Nachrichtendienste, Geheimdienste
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Kultur Staatsbürgerkunde, Staatsbürgerschaft, Zivilgesellschaft
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Militärwesen Nationale und Internationale Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Geschichte einzelner Länder Naher & Mittlerer Osten

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction  Part I: Frameworks  Chapter 1: The 2023 Israeli National Security Strategy Chapter 2: The 2023 Israeli Strategic Culture: Continuity and Change Chapter 3: The 2023 Israeli Intelligence Culture: Continuity and Change  Part II: Eyes Wide Shut  Chapter 4: October 7th, 2023, 06:29 AM Chapter 5: Strategic Surprise: Cultural Factors  Part III: Turning the Tides  Chapter 6: The Regional War in the Middle East, 2023-2024 Chapter 7: Resilience: Cultural Factors  Part IV: Rise of the Phoenix  Chapter 8: The 2025 Israeli National Security Strategy Chapter 9: The 2025 Israeli Strategic and Intelligence Cultures: Continuity and Change Conclusion Appendix: List of Interviewees

Über Autor(innen)

Itai Shapira holds a PhD from the University of Leicester, UK, and is a Brigadier General in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Reserves. Shapira has served for more than 25 years in the Israel Defense Intelligence (IDI). He is the author of Israeli National Intelligence Culture (2024).