A Policy-Oriented Think Tank Addressing Foreign Policy and National Security Issues for a Safe Israel

גבי סיבוני

Colonel (res.) Prof. Gabi Siboni

CEO of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security. Expert on cyber security, military strategy, and technology.

Prof. Siboni was director of the military and strategic affairs program, and the cyber research program, of the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) from 2006-2020, where he founded academic journals on these matters. He serves as a senior consultant to the IDF and other Israeli security organizations and the security industry. He holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in engineering from Tel Aviv University and a Ph.D. in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from Ben-Gurion University.

IDF Soldiers in Gaza

Israel must go ahead with an operation in Rafah

An IDF operation in the Rafah arena and along the Philadelphi Corridor is of great importance for several reasons. First, they are Hamas’ last organized stronghold in the Gaza Strip, and the elimination of Hamas’ military capabilities will not be achieved without the destruction of the battalions stationed there. Second, Israel must remove Hamas’ governmental capabilities in this area. Third, in order to free hostages, it is essential to reach the areas where they are held. Moreover, we need to realize that Israeli communities in areas opposite Rafah will not return to their homes if operational Hamas battalions are on the other side of the border. Finally, the border between Gaza and Egypt – the Philadelphi Corridor – still operates as a conduit for the entry of weapons into the Strip through a network of tunnels.

U.S President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

America’s Bear Hug – No Free Meals

US support for Israel is strong, but containing the conflict in our region is a supreme American interest, and it remains to be seen whether Washington will also dictate restraint that will make it difficult for Israel to succeed in completing its mission in the Gaza Strip.

September 20, 2023, New York, NY, United States: U.S President Joe Biden, right, holds a bilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the United Nations Headquarters, September 20, 2023, in New York City, New York.

A defense treaty with the United States is more harmful than beneficial

While a formal defense treaty between Israel and the US has several advantages, it will always be subordinate to America’s strategic interests, reducing Israel’s freedom of action. The principle established from Israel’s inception that “Israel will defend itself by itself” must be retained.

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