Dr. Ehud Eilam, an expert in Israel’s national security with 25 years experience, has published a short report on “Israel’s Main Military Challenges” under the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies. In this report, he outlines the main challenges IDF is currently facing.
The biggest military challenge Israel is facing, according to this report, is Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, a goal toward which Tehran continues to make progress. If Iran gets too close to a nuclear weapons, Israel might bomb Iranian nuclear sites.
In the next round in the Gaza Strip and/or Lebanon, the IDF will strive to defeat its foes, the non-state actors (NSAs), quickly and decisively. Although, Israel might “hesitate to conduct a large ground offensive deep inside Lebanese territory as it could result in heavy casualties and a longer entanglement”, and could rely more on country’s air forces.
Another challenge mentioned in the report is the situation in the West Bank. If there is a third intifada in the West Bank, the IDF will have to suppress it as fast as possible
Dr. Ehud Eilam summarizes that despite the IDF capacities, Israel should not underestimate its enemies, however, unlike in 1948-82, Israel’s survival would not be at stake during a war, even in a worst-case scenario.
