Shield of the Republic How Does Israel Adapt After Failure?
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Sep 11, 2025 Yaakov Katz, former editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post and author specializing in Israeli security, delves into the systemic failures that led to Hamas's unexpected attack on October 7. He discusses how Israel's 2005 withdrawal from Gaza created intelligence blind spots and critiques overreliance on technology like the Iron Dome. Katz also addresses the political dilemmas surrounding military objectives, the emotional trauma in the IDF, and the need for a more coherent strategy moving forward. His insights illuminate the complex interplay of military, political, and societal factors shaping Israel's current landscape.
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Imagination, Not Data, Was The Gap
- Israel had abundant intelligence but lacked imagination to interpret warnings before October 7.
- A national mindset of containment blinded leaders from seeing an unconventional threat.
Physical Absence Created An Intel Blind Spot
- Israel's withdrawal from Gaza created an intelligence blind spot because of fewer human sources on the ground.
- Overreliance on technical collection and open sources left Shin Bet without embedded informants.
High-Tech Defenses Hid Vulnerabilities
- Israel invested heavily in Iron Dome and tunnel-detection tech that proved irrelevant to October 7's above-ground assault.
- High-tech defenses bred complacency about other attack methods.
