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2023 | Book

An Archeology of Knowledge on Securitization and Israel in the Middle East Read chapter Read first chapter

Israel: National Security and Securitization

The Role of the United States in Defining What Counts

Authors: Ori Wertman, Christian Kaunert

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Book Series : Advanced Sciences and Technologies for Security Applications

Part of: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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About this book

This book is the first comprehensive, book-length analysis of Israel and securitization processes. It develops an original analytical framework to ameliorate the theoretical understanding of the audience component during the securitization process, drawing upon insights from both securitization theory, political psychology, and IR theory. This gives us significant new insights into why some audiences are essential to be persuaded for securitization to occur, while others are not. This book also examines the role of the United States in defining what matters in Israeli National Security. In essence, since the United States is Israel's most significant ally, it is essential for the Israeli leadership to gain the American government's support (or its lack of resistance) for almost any securitization acts. The book analyses a highly original set of interviews with prominent figures in Israel who were at the top level of the Israeli decision-making process, including members of the political and military echelons.

"Through unparalleled access to Israel's political and security echelons, Israel: National Security and Securitization provides a unique overview of Israel’s decision-maker's political perception over the years".
Ehud Olmert- Prime Minister of Israel 2006-2009

"Israel: National Security and Securitization provides a powerful analysis of how the State of Israel confronted security threats, and what was the American involvement in the Israeli decision-making process".
Amos Yadlin, IDF Military Intelligence Directorate Chief 2006-2010

"This book makes us understand securitization in a novel and enlightening way, thus making a substantial contribution to our understanding of national security in general and Israeli security in particular".
Gabriel Ben-Dor, University of Haifa

"Wertman and Kaunert's book makes an important and unique contribution to the existing and developing literature on securitization".
Kobi Michael, Institute for National Security Studies

Table of Contents

Frontmatter
Chapter 1. An Archeology of Knowledge on Securitization and Israel in the Middle East
Abstract
This chapter provides an archeology of knowledge on Securitization Theory and Israel. It begins in discussing the unique contribution of Securitization Theory to the field of IR and Security Studies. Afterwards, this chapter presents Securitization Theory’s key elements and approaches, describing the relationship between the securitizing actor and the audience that eventually causes securitization. Finally, after developing several conceptualizations of the audience component, this chapter discusses the disadvantages and shortcomings within these conceptual frameworks, illuminating the reasons why a new conceptualization of the audience must be developed. In order to remedy these shortcomings, this book argues that a comprehensive audience conceptualization must propose a mechanism that identifies who the relevant audiences are that need to be persuaded for conducting securitization and why those audiences are pertinent for the securitization process. In other words, it needs to stress why some audiences are essential to be persuaded for securitization to occur, while others are not.
Ori Wertman, Christian Kaunert
Chapter 2. Securitization and the Audience Component: Reconceptualising and Operationalising the Concept
Abstract
This chapter provides the baseline for our analysis. With the aim of enhancing the theoretical understanding regarding the audience during the securitization process, this chapter introduced a new conceptual framework. In practice, this new conceptualization framework has three main advantages. First, it has the ability to assist scholars in identifying who the relevant audiences are that need to be persuaded for executing a securitization act. Second, this new conceptual framework compels us to explore both the legal aspect of the audience, which is mainly related to the relevant state’s laws, and the political aspect of the audience during securitization processes, which is primarily based on the political perception of the securitizing actor and/or audience. Third, this new conceptual framework provides a unique integration between elements from political psychology and International Relations.
Ori Wertman, Christian Kaunert
Chapter 3. The Six Day War: The Securitization of the Egyptian Army
Abstract
This chapter analyses our first case study for the book. Israel’s road to the Six Day War in 1967 is a case study that well illustrates the audience’s model during the securitization process offered in this book. In addition, this chapter shed light on the fact that there are two kinds of support provided by the audience component during Securitization. While the first type is defined as Objective Support, which is a clear and explicit support that cannot be ambiguous, the second kind is defined as Subjective Support, which can be interpreted differently by the securitizing actor and the audience. Therefore, since during the securitization process, it is the securitizing actor who receives the audience’ support that is needed for a successful securitization act, a support which is not merely objective but also subjective, it is not only sufficient to find out whether the audience granted its support for securitization or not. In conclusion, the audience’s support can be distinguished into two forms: first, it can be labeled as an Objective Support, when the audience’s securitization endorsement is explicit and clear, e.g., the Israeli government’s decision from June 4 to launch a war against Egypt; second, the Israeli-American dialog prior to the Six-Day War unequivocally confirms the fact that the term “support” can additionally be characterized as a Subjective Support, as it can be interpreted differently by both the securitizing actor and the audience.
Ori Wertman, Christian Kaunert
Chapter 4. The Oslo Accords 1993–1995: The Securitization of the Bi-National State
Abstract
This chapter, the Oslo Accords, is another case study that illustrates an Israeli securitization act. It illustrates the audience’s model during the securitization process suggested in this book. The main purpose of Rabin’s securitization policy was to struggle against the bi-national state solution, which was perceived by him as a threat to the existence of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. In order to eliminate this possibility, Rabin suggested creating a separation between Israel and the Palestinians from the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Thus, the Oslo Accords were Rabin’s suggested extraordinary measures to create a Palestinian autonomy that eventually had the potential to become a Palestinian state. In order to implement his policy, Israeli Prime Minister Rabin, who performed the role of the Securitizing Actor, had to obtain the approval of two types of audiences. First, he viewed the American support as an indispensable condition for any agreement between Israel and the Arabs. Hence, US President Bill Clinton performed the role of the Political Audience. Second, given the Israeli government and Knesset are the body with the legal authority in Israel to authorize, Rabin needed to obtain their support. Thus, the Israeli government and Knesset performed the role of the Legal Audience.
Ori Wertman, Christian Kaunert
Chapter 5. Operation “Defensive Shield”: The Securitization of Arafat and the Palestinian Authority
Abstract
This chapter analyses our first case study for the book. Israel’s road to the Six Day War in 1967 is a case study that well illustrates the audience’s model during the securitization process offered in this book. In addition, this chapter shed light on the fact that there are two kinds of support provided by the audience component during Securitization. While the first type is defined as Objective Support, which is a clear and explicit support that cannot be ambiguous, the second kind is defined as Subjective Support, which can be interpreted differently by the securitizing actor and the audience. Therefore, since during the securitization process, it is the securitizing actor who receives the audience’ support that is needed for a successful securitization act, a support which is not merely objective but also subjective, it is not only sufficient to find out whether the audience granted its support for securitization or not. In conclusion, the audience’s support can be distinguished into two forms: first, it can be labeled as an Objective Support, when the audience’s securitization endorsement is explicit and clear, e.g., the Israeli government’s decision from June 4 to launch a war against Egypt; second, the Israeli-American dialog prior to the Six-Day War unequivocally confirms the fact that the term “support” can additionally be characterized as a Subjective Support, as it can be interpreted differently by both the securitizing actor and the audience.
Ori Wertman, Christian Kaunert
Chapter 6. Operation “Outside the Box”: The Securitization of the Syrian Nuclear Reactor
Abstract
This chapter analyses Operation “Outside the Box”, in which Israel destroyed the nuclear reactor in Syria, as a classical case of Securitization. In the view of the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the nuclear reactor in Syria posed an existential threat to Israel. Hence, Olmert opted to securitize the reactor, thus conducting a military strike as the suggested extraordinary measure. Yet in order to implement his policy, Olmert, who performed the role of the Securitizing Actor, had to obtain the approval of two types of audiences. First, Israel had to obtain the support (or lack of resistance) of the American administration, notably US President George W. Bush as the Political Audience. Second, given the Security Cabinet is the body with the legal authority in Israel to authorize the military echelon to go to war or carry out a military operation such as attacking the reactor in Syria, Olmert had to obtain its approval. Thus, in terms of Securitization Theory, the Security Cabinet performs the role of the Legal Audience.
Ori Wertman, Christian Kaunert
Backmatter
Metadata
Title
Israel: National Security and Securitization
Authors
Ori Wertman
Christian Kaunert
Copyright Year
2023
Electronic ISBN
978-3-031-25300-3
Print ISBN
978-3-031-25299-0
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25300-3