The Civil-Military Rift in Contemporary Israel

The era of Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has been characterized by unprecedented civil-military tensions. Netanyahu’s carefully cultivated self-image as Israel’s “Mr. Security” has long been rejected by the Israeli national security community, which has opposed both his leadership and his policies, particularly with respect to the Palestinians. In recent years, populist-nationalist politicians allied with Netanyahu have stepped up their attacks on the heads of the Israeli army, the Mossad intelligence agency, and the Shin Bet domestic security service in what has become part of a broader pattern of assaults on state institutions. This development has major implications for Israel’s future as a democracy, its relations with the Palestinians, and its relationship with the United States, Israel’s most important ally.

About the Speaker
Dr. Guy Ziv is an associate professor in the Department of Foreign Policy and Global Security at American University’s School of International Service (SIS). He also serves as the associate director of AU’s Meltzer Schwartzberg Center for Israel Studies. He teaches courses on U.S. foreign policy, international negotiations, U.S.-Israel relations, and Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking. Professor Ziv is the recipient of the SIS Outstanding Teaching Award in 2014, the William Cromwell Award for Outstanding Teaching in 2019, and the SIS Outstanding Scholarship Award in 2024.

His latest book is titled Netanyahu vs The Generals: The Battle for Israel’s Future, published by Cambridge University Press (2024). His first book, Why Hawks Become Doves: Shimon Peres and Foreign Policy Change in Israel, was published by SUNY Press in 2014.

Dr. Ziv has a background in policy, having worked on Capitol Hill and for not-for-profit organizations that promote Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking. His articles have been published in peer-reviewed academic journals, as well as leading newspapers and news sites, including CNN.com, Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, The New York Daily News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and USA Today. He also appears regularly as a commentator in major media outlets including BBC, Bloomberg TV, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, Sky News, and Voice of America.

Host
Reppy Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies 

Co-Sponser
Jewish Studies Program