Netanyahu vs The Generals: The Battle for Israel's Future

by Guy Ziv

Overview

Benjamin Netanyahu has carefully cultivated a self-image as Israel's 'Mr. Security' during his decades of political activity. His reputation as a security-minded leader has resonated with large swathes of the Israeli public, enabling him to become Israel's longest-serving prime minister. Yet the Israeli security community has long questioned Netanyahu's approach to national security. The Netanyahu era has seen unprecedented civil-military tensions, while retired generals and former heads of the Mossad and Shin Bet intelligence agencies, some of whom were appointed by Netanyahu, have publicly rejected both his leadership and his policies. Drawing on interviews with dozens of senior veterans of the Israeli security establishment, this book addresses this intriguing paradox. It sets out to explain the mutual distrust and intense disagreements between Netanyahu and the security community, as well as the underlying reasons behind the Israeli public's inattention to the collective judgment of hundreds of ex-generals and former spymasters.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781009425704
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	01/18/2024
Pages:	266
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.55(d)

About the Author

Guy Ziv is Associate Professor in the Department of Foreign Policy and Global Security, School of International Service at American University, where he has been the recipient of two “Outstanding Teaching” awards. A regular commentator on major media outlets, Dr Ziv's articles have been published in both scholarly journals and leading newspapers. His first book, Why Hawks Become Doves: Shimon Peres and Foreign Policy Change in Israel, was published in 2014.

Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. The Israeli security establishment on the two-state solution; 2. 'Mr. Security'; 3. Policy disagreements; 4. The diminished clout of the generals; 5. Populists vs the security establishment; 6. Conclusion; Afterword.

Editorial Reviews

‘Guy Ziv’s book offers excellent analysis of the on-going tension between Netanyahu and the heads of Israel’s security services (especially the Israel Defense Forces, the Mossad, and the Shin Bet). This civil-military rivalry is documented in minute details and its larger political implications are analyzed in their broader meanings. In addition to the enormous published material covered by Ziv, he has interviewed close to 50 top individuals with direct and intimate knowledge of the topic, a feature that adds authenticity to the book. This is the most authoritative analysis of the surprisingly controversial relations between Israel’s wily prime minister and Israel’s security establishment and the consequences of the conflict between them for the still unresolved Palestinian problem. I recommend this volume wholeheartedly for all those interested in the future of Israel and those concerned with Israeli-Palestinian relations and the stability of the Middle East.’ Ilan Peleg, Former President, Association for Israel Studies

‘A major reason why Netanyahu is the longest serving PM in Israel is his ability to recognize potential leaders that might challenge him personally and disarm them. Yet the entire Israeli military elite confronts Bibi also because of an additional reason: Contrary to their professional approach to the Palestinians and the occupied territories, which is flexible and pragmatic, Bibi’s attitude is essentially ideological. This book provides an excellent background to the military’s longtime opposition to Bibi and to his attempt to overhaul of the judicial system in the summer of 2023.’ Yoram Peri, Professor Emeritus and Former Kay Chair and Director of Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies, University of Maryland

‘Guy Ziv has assembled an impressive array of published material and significant interviews to produce an important study of the relationship between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s military leaders. Ziv answers a critical issue that has confounded policymakers and the public: In a society in which the Israeli military has been held in such high esteem, why have voters tended to believe Netanyahu over the generals on such important issues as the future of the peace process and Israel’s relations with Iran?’ Daniel Kurtzer, Former US Ambassador to Israel and Egypt and Professor at Princeton University

‘This book is absolutely essential for understanding how Israel finds itself today in one of the most precarious security realities it has ever experienced. Ziv traces how, for years, Israel’s entire security establishment - including military leaders and Israel’s internal, and external intelligence community - has relentlessly warned against the dire consequences of the policies advanced by the country’s longest serving Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Through an in-depth examination of the evolution of civil-military relations under Netanyahu, he explains the underpinning of a central paradox in Israeli politics, namely, why while many Israelis see Netanyahu as ‘Mr. Security,’ Israel’s security establishment ‘has long viewed him as a security liability’.’ Lihi Ben Shitrit, Henry and Marilyn Taub Associate Professor of Israel Studies, New York University

‘Ziv tells a fascinating story of a nation which prioritized security as a central need since its early days, which has repeatedly yearned for leaders with rich security backgrounds, and which has recently found itself under a prime minister accused of jeopardizing that very same security for advancing personal political and judicial agendas … a vital read for anyone interested in learning about Israel's political and security history, but also for those seeking a solid basis of understanding to follow domestic transitions that the war in Gaza may bring.’ Nimrod Goren, Senior Fellow for Israel Affairs at the Middle East Institute, and President and Founder of Mitvim - The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies

‘A brilliant account on how a single person driven by personal interests harmed Israel’s core values, national security, collective solidarity, and long-term interests. Ziv systemically analyses how Netanyahu’s hollow populist nationalism unravelled the country’s identity as the secure, democratic nation-state of the Jewish People.’ Gilead Sher, Former chief of staff of Israeli Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ehud Barak, senior peace negotiator, and author of Reflections on Conflict Resolution in the Middle East and Beyond

From the Publisher