Netanyahu Unveils New Security Doctrine, Contrasting Past Policies

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented his new national security doctrine nine days before elections, a move that stems from a directive he issued months prior to the National Security Council. The document, developed with input from retired Brigadier General Erez Wiener and Professor Gabi Siboni, aims to address failures in defining threats and priorities, as highlighted by the State Comptroller's report following the October 7th attacks. The new doctrine emphasizes a shift towards prioritizing prevention and offense over containment and defense, including preemptive strikes against emerging threats. This marks a departure from Netanyahu's previous security outlook, as evidenced by a 2018 document that suggested ending conflicts without a decisive victory when the cost was not too high, a concept akin to "containment." That earlier strategy, which also favored addressing immediate crises over long-term solutions, was never formally adopted or presented to the cabinet but reportedly influenced policy, including a directive on October 1, 2023, to continue with arrangements with Hamas.

The article contrasts the new doctrine with Netanyahu's 2018 "National Security Concept 2030," which allowed for ending campaigns without a decisive outcome if the price was not too high. A handwritten note from Netanyahu in 2023 reportedly removed any mention of the possibility of conquering settlements near the border from a previous draft. The new doctrine, however, acknowledges that the devastating events of October 7th necessitate a re-evaluation, stating that the "War of Return" requires refreshing basic principles of traditional national security, prioritizing proactive measures over a policy of containment that proved insufficient. The article implies that the previous policy of "containment" led to the "greatest massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust."