The relationship between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country’s security establishment reached a historic low during his sixth term (2022–present). Netanyahu, facing intensifying political and legal challenges, has increasingly perceived top security officials as inimical to his interests. This has resulted in the politicisation of his security appointments, the dismissal of warnings regarding the government’s judicial overhaul, attempts to deflect blame for Hamas’s 7 October 2023 assault and sharp disagreements over Gaza war strategy.

A new article in Survival by SIS professor Guy Ziv explores how civil–military tensions in Israel have escalated into a systematic campaign on the part of Netanyahu’s government to subordinate professional military judgement to political loyalty, endangering Israel’s institutions and democratic foundations.

Read the full article here, which is free without a paywall for the first 50 readers.