WarSclerotic

Defense as defense – Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper.

We now have a multilayered national defense; a main component is the IDF’s offensive and deterrent capabilities. We must now improve our rocket-defense systems, better protect vital infrastructure and strengthen our civil defense.

By Meir Elran Nov.23, 2012 | 3:34 AM

Operation Pillar of Defense will be remembered as a historic turning point in Israel’s defense concept. For the first time, after years of deep debates, Israel has proved that defensive capabilities play a decisive role in confronting its enemies. This is the case in the asymmetrical surroundings we have been living in for a generation.

That’s not a negligible statement. The Israel Defense Forces, as the key factor in shaping the security concept, still claims – for the most part – that victory and deterrence depend on its offensive capabilities. That was the reason for the army’s opposition since the 1980s to all plans for developing active defensive systems. It’s also what lay behind the insufficient investment in the Home Front Command and its marginalization. Calls for a revision of this outdated concept, which relies on the glorification of the IDF’s offensive ethos and combat units, constantly met reservations.

The change necessary for creating a balance between deterrence and victory on the one hand and defense on the other by developing combined military and civilian capabilities was late in coming. Awareness of defense’s role, which emerged after the Second Lebanon War and its effects on the civilian front, came gradually in the internal IDF debate.

We are not referring only to the dramatic successes of the Iron Dome rocket-defense system. It’s a good thing its impressive accomplishments, which saved lives and changed the strategic picture, have led the defense minister to request a special budget for more batteries – though still not enough for future needs. It’s an open question whether we will have the sense to realize that our achievements in the defensive campaign, alongside the offensive one, depend on building a combined national defense concept and implementing it over the long term.

The current campaign proved that this is possible. We now have a multilayered national defense; a main component is the IDF’s offensive and deterrent capabilities. In addition, we should keep building another three strong layers.

The first layer is active defense based on the Iron Dome, the Magic Wand and the Arrow rocket-defense systems. There is much to be done in this area.

The second layer is passive defense, which has been neglected relative to our needs. It includes the expansion of shelters and better protection of vital infrastructure.

The third layer is the strengthening of civil defense capabilities. The picture we saw over the week of fighting is encouraging. The people responsible for rescue, led by the Home Front Command, are doing very good work. The information to the public has been effective, there is evidence of combined military-civilian leadership, and overall cooperation reflects a proper amount of investment.

The successes of recent days point to an important change. We still face many obstacles, but it’s clear Israel is on the right track to ensure national fortitude based on its ability to absorb and contain serious attacks. Society must react responsibly, in accordance with the attacks’ intensity, and quickly continue functioning.

If we properly maintain the national defense system while preserving our offensive capabilities, we will achieve an important step in facing future challenges.

The writer, a retired brigadier general, heads the program for the study of the home front at Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies.

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