Israel's Asymmetric Wars / Samy Cohen ; Translated from the French by Cynthia Schoch
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The Sciences Po Series in International Relations and Political Economy Series Editor, Christian Lequesne This series consists of works emanating from the foremost French researchers from Sciences Po, Paris. Sciences Po was founded in 1872 and is today one of the most pres- tigious universities for teaching and research in social sciences in France, recognized worldwide. This series focuses on the transformations of the international arena, in a world where the state, though its sovereignty is questioned, reinvents itself. The series explores the effects on international relations and the world economy of regionaliza- tion, globalization (not only of trade and finance but also of culture), and transnational flows at large. This evolution in world affairs sustains a variety of networks from the ideological to the criminal or terrorist. Besides the geopolitical transformations of the globalized planet, the new political economy of the world has a decided impact on its destiny as well, and this series hopes to uncover what that is. Published by Palgrave Macmillan: Politics in China: Moving Frontiers edited by Françoise Mengin and Jean-Louis Rocca Tropical Forests, International Jungle: The Underside of Global Ecopolitics by Marie-Claude Smouts, translated by Cynthia Schoch The Political Economy of Emerging Markets: Actors, Institutions and Financial Crises in Latin America by Javier Santiso Cyber China: Reshaping National Identities in the Age of Information edited by Françoise Mengin With Us or Against Us: Studies in Global Anti-Americanism edited by Denis Lacorne and Tony Judt Vietnam’s New Order: International Perspectives on the State and Reform in Vietnam edited by Stéphanie Balme and Mark Sidel Equality and Transparency: A Strategic Perspective on Affirmative Action in American Law by Daniel Sabbagh, translated by Cynthia Schoch and John Atherton Moralizing International Relations: Called to Account by Ariel Colonomos, translated by Chris Turner Norms over Force: The Enigma of European Power by Zaki Laidi, translated from the French by Cynthia Schoch Democracies at War against Terrorism: A Comparative Perspective edited by Samy Cohen, translated by John Atherton, Roger Leverdier, Leslie Piquemal, and Cynthia Schoch 9780230104440_01_prexii.indd i 8/13/2010 4:58:40 PM Justifying War? From Humanitarian Intervention to Counterterrorism edited by Gilles Andréani and Pierre Hassner, translated by John Hulsey, LesliePiquemal, Ros Schwartz, and Chris Turner An Identity for Europe: The Relevance of Multiculturalism in EU Construction edited by Riva Kastoryano, translated by Susan Emanuel The Politics of Regional Integration in Latin America: Theoretical and Comparative Explorations by Olivier Dabène Central and Eastern Europe: Europeanization and Social Change by François Bafoil, translated by Chris Turner Building Constitutionalism in China edited by Stéphanie Balme and Michael W. Dowdle In the Name of the Nation: Nationalism and Politics in Contemporary Russia by Marlène Laruelle Organized Crime and States: The Hidden Face of Politics edited by Jean-Louis Briquet and Gilles Favarel-Garrigues Israel’s Asymmetric Wars by Samy Cohen, translated by Cynthia Schoch 9780230104440_01_prexii.indd ii 8/13/2010 4:58:40 PM Israel’s Asymmetric Wars Samy Cohen Translated by Cynthia Schoch 9780230104440_01_prexii.indd iii 8/13/2010 4:58:40 PM ISRAEL’S ASYMMETRIC WARS Copyright © Editions du Seuil, 2010. All rights reserved. This book is a translation of Tsahal à l’épreuve du terrorisme, published in France by Editions du Seuil, March 2009. ISBN: 978–2–02–083823–8 First published in 2010 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN® in the United States—a division of St. Martin’s Press LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010. Where this book is distributed in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world, this is by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world. Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries. ISBN: 978–0–230–10444– 0 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Cohen, Samy. [Tsahal à l'épreuve du terrorisme. English] Israel's asymmetric wars / Samy Cohen ; translated from the French by Cynthia Schoch. p. cm.—(Sciences Po series in international relations and political economy) Includes bibliographical references and index ISBN 978–0–230–10444–0 (alk. paper) 1. Terrorism—Government policy—Israel—History. 2. Asymmetric warfare—Israel—History. 3. Israel. Tseva haganah le-Yisra'el. 4. Israel— Military policy. 5. National security—Israel—History. 6. Intifada, 1987–1993. 7. Al-Aqsa Intifada, 2000– I. Title. HV6433.I75C6413 2010 363.325095694—dc22 2010009100 A catalogue record of the book is available from the British Library. Design by Newgen Imaging Systems (P) Ltd., Chennai, India. First edition: September 2010 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the United States of America. 9780230104440_01_prexii.indd iv 8/13/2010 4:58:41 PM To my “Better Three-Quarters” without whom this book would never have been 9780230104440_01_prexii.indd v 8/13/2010 4:58:41 PM This page intentionally left blank CONTENTS Acknowledgments ix Introduction 1 Part I A Genealogy of “Disproportionate Response” One Asymmetric Warfare: A Challenge for Democracies 11 Two The Roots of a Doctrine 27 Three “Peace for Galilee” or the Making of a New Insurgency 43 Four How the IDF Popularized the First Intifada 57 Part II The Handling of the Second Intifada Five Botched Engagement in the Intifada 73 Six Tightening the Screws 93 Seven The Counterproductive Virtuosity of Targeted Killings 109 Eight The Resilience of Israeli Democracy 127 Nine Strategic Inconsistencies 139 Conclusion: The Only Enemy That Can Defeat the IDF . 151 Notes 167 Bibliography 181 Index 189 9780230104440_01_prexii.indd vii 8/13/2010 4:58:41 PM This page intentionally left blank ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my gratitude to all those who helped me write this book. It first goes to the office of the vice president for research of Sciences Po as well as to Christophe Jaffrelot, director of CERI from 2000 to 2008, who offered me inestimable support. My thanks also go to Christian Lequesne, current CERI director, for his invaluable help in securing financing for this translation. I also wish to thank all the political figures, experts, actors, and witnesses who agreed to meet with me: Yossi Alpher, consultant on political-military issues, former advisor to Prime Minister Ehud Barak and cofounder of the Israeli-Palestinian Web site for dialogue www. bitterlemons.org; Yossi Adiri, colonel, former defense attaché at the Israeli embassy in Paris; Aviv Amshalem, captain (reserve); Uzi Arad, former director of the Institute for Policy and Strategy, Interdisciplinar y Center (IDC), Herzliya and current president of the National Security Council; Dani Arditi, brigadier general (reserve), former president of the National Security Council; General Christian Baptiste, former defense attaché at the French embassy in Tel Aviv; Yehuda Ben Meir, senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), Tel Aviv University; General Bertrand Binnendijk, former defense attaché at the French embassy in Tel Aviv; Shlomo Brom, brigadier general (reserve), former director of the Strategic Planning Division in the Planning Branch of the General Staff, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), Tel Aviv University; Oded Cameron, captain (reserve); Ilan Cohen, former director-general of the Prime Minister’s Office under Ariel Sharon; Ran Cohen, former Meretz Knesset member; Uzi Dayan, general (reserve), former deputy chief of staff, former president of the National Security Council; Arik Dyamant, president and founder of Ha-Ometz-Le-Sarev (“The Courage to Refuse”); Yitzhak Eitan, general (reserve), former commander 9780230104440_01_prexii.indd ix 8/13/2010 4:58:41 PM xAcknowledgments of Central Command (2001–2004); Zahava Galon, former Meretz Knesset member; Boaz Ganor, director of the Institute for Counter- Terrorism, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC), Herzliya; Shlomo Gazit, general (reserve), first Coordinator of Government Operations in the Administered Territories after the Six Day War, head of military intel- ligence after the Yom Kippur War, former Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), Tel Aviv University; lieutenant colonel Michel Goya; Guy Grossman, lieutenant (reserve); Efraim Halevy, general (reserve), former director of the Mossad and former president of the National Security Council; Ariel (Elie) Levitte, former deputy director-general of the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission; Dan Meridor, Likud Knesset member, former Justice Minister (1988–1992), Finance Minister under Benyamin Netanyahu government in 1996 and president of the Jerusalem Foundation, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy since February 2009; Ilan Mizrahi, former deputy director of Mossad, for- mer president of the National Security Council; Jessica Montel, presi- dent of B’Tselem; Noam Neuman, lieutenant colonel, member of the international law division of the military prosecutor’s office; Noam Ohana, sergeant (reserve); Dani Rothschild, general (reserve), presi- dent of the Council for Peace and Security; Yehuda Shaul, president