Challenging the established view that the civilian sector in Israel has been predominant over its security sector since the state's independence in 1948, this volume critically and systematically reexamines the relationship between these sectors and provides a deeper, more nuanced view of their interactions. Individual chapters cast light on the formal and informal arrangements, connections, and dynamic relations that closely tie Israel's security sector to the country's culture, civil society, political system, economy, educational system, gender relations, and the media. Among the issues and events discussed are Israel's separation barrier, the impact of Israel's military confrontations with the Palestinians and other Middle Eastern states -- especially Lebanon -- and the impact of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Israeli case offers insights about the role of the military and security in democratic nations in contemporary times.
Author(s): Gabriel Sheffer, Oren Barak
Year: 2010
Language: English
Pages: 396
Contents......Page 6
Acknowledgments......Page 8
Introduction......Page 12
1 The Study of Civil–Military Relations in Israel: A New Perspective......Page 25
2 Military Knowledge and Weak Civilian Control in the Reality of Low Intensity Conflict—The Israeli Case......Page 53
3 Civil Society, the Military, and National Security: The Case of Israel’s Security Zone in South Lebanon......Page 78
4 Intractable Conflict and the Media......Page 106
5 Tensions between Military Service and Jewish Orthodoxy inIsrael: Implications Imagined and Real......Page 131
6 From “Obligatory Militarism” to “Contractual Militarism”—Competing Models of Citizenship......Page 156
7 Shadow Lands: The Use of Land Resources for Security Needs in Israel......Page 179
8 “The Battle over Our Homes”: Reconstructing/Deconstructing Sovereign Practices around Israel’s Separation Barrier on the West Bank ·......Page 202
9 The Debate over the Defense Budget in Israel......Page 224
10 Civilian Control over the Army in Israel and France......Page 249
11 The Making of Israel’s Political–Security Culture......Page 270
12 The Discourses of “Psychology” and the “Normalization” of War in Contemporary Israel......Page 291
13 Visual Representations of IDF Women Soldiers and “Civil-Militarism” in Israel......Page 315
14 Contradictory Representation of the IDF in Cultural Texts of the 1980s......Page 340
15 Military and Society since 9/11: Retrospect and Prospect......Page 357
Appendix A. Israeli Ministers of Defense since 1948......Page 370
Appendix B. Chiefs of Staff of the Israel iDefense Forces since 1948......Page 372
Appendix C. Important Dates......Page 374
Contributors......Page 380
Index......Page 382
