Military Intelligence Warns Netanyahu of Israel’s Waning Deterrence Power

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Justice Minister Yariv Levin (L) attend a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, 02 April 2023. (EPA)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Justice Minister Yariv Levin (L) attend a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, 02 April 2023. (EPA)
TT
20

Military Intelligence Warns Netanyahu of Israel’s Waning Deterrence Power

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Justice Minister Yariv Levin (L) attend a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, 02 April 2023. (EPA)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Justice Minister Yariv Levin (L) attend a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, 02 April 2023. (EPA)

Israel's strategic position has experienced a “serious decline” in recent months, according to a warning from the research department at the Military Intelligence Directorate in the Israeli Defense Forces (Aman).

The decline is attributed to a significant rift within the Jewish community resulting from the government's plan to overthrow the governance system and overhaul the judiciary.

These policies are impacting the military and Israeli-US relations, but have also seen intensified Israeli airstrikes on Syria.

Israel’s enemies have taken note of its weakened state, particularly in relation to the “distance between Tel Aviv and Washington,” said Aman’s report.

The report highlighted Iran as the primary beneficiary, given that Israel is unable to confront its nuclear program or engage it in battle without US support.

However, other actors may also be taking advantage of the situation.

Aman’s research department prepared an official memorandum warning of the serious decline in Israel’s deterrence power.

The memorandum was submitted to the Israeli army and political-security leadership, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, reported Israel Hayom on Tuesday.

The Aman report stated that “the deterioration of Israel's strategic situation is reflected in all elements of the axis hostile to Israel, led by Iran.”

“Evidence of this appears in the successive meetings between Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad to coordinate positions,” claimed the report.

“Iranian officials are conducting similar contacts, and it is likely that Iran has increased its pressure on various parties in the axis to carry out armed operations in Israel,” it added.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that “consecutive Israeli attacks on Syria in recent days are an attempt to restore Israel’s deterrence power and reinforce the balance of fear against Iran and Hezbollah.”



Hundreds Protest in The Hague against NATO, Days before the Dutch City Hosts Alliance Summit

A man holds a placard during a demonstration ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
A man holds a placard during a demonstration ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
TT
20

Hundreds Protest in The Hague against NATO, Days before the Dutch City Hosts Alliance Summit

A man holds a placard during a demonstration ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
A man holds a placard during a demonstration ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Hundreds of people protested Sunday against NATO and military spending and against a possible conflict with Iran, two days before a summit of the alliance in The Hague that is seeking to increase allies' defense budgets.

“Let's invest in peace and sustainable energy,” Belgian politician Jos d'Haese told the crowd at a park not far from the summit venue.

Although billed as a demonstration against NATO and the war in Gaza, protesters were joined by Iranians who held up banners saying “No Iran War,” the day after the United States launched attacks against three of Iran's nuclear sites, The AP news reported.

“We are opposed to war. People want to live a peaceful life,” said 74-year-old Hossein Hamadani, an Iranian who lives in the Netherlands. Look at the environment. “Things are not good. So why do we spend money on war?” he added.

The Netherlands is hosting the annual meeting of the 32-nation alliance starting Tuesday, with leaders scheduled to meet Wednesday.

The heads of government want to hammer out an agreement on a hike in defense spending demanded by US President Donald Trump. The deal appeared largely done last week, until Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that committing Madrid to spending 5% of its gross domestic product on defense "would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive.”

US allies have ramped up defense spending since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, but almost a third of them still don’t meet NATO’s current target of at least 2% of their gross domestic product.

The summit is being protected by the biggest ever Dutch security operation, code named “Orange Shield," involving thousands of police and military personnel, drones, no-fly zones and cybersecurity experts.