Hamas and October 7: Strategy, History, Ideology, Politics (5 videos)
Can a radically hateful ideology ever be neutralized by rationality and logic?
Jews in the Diaspora were and remain a minority. When small numbers immigrated to Palestine to re-establish their national home, they remained a minority. For nearly eight decades as a majority in their own state, Israeli Jews have nonetheless remained a small minority within the Arab and Muslim Middle East. Survival in all three situations has required self-defense, whether through diplomacy or force of arms.
Thousands of years of precarious living forced an evolution in the Jewish fiber, and self-defense was gradually infused with a doctrine of pre-emption. “Do unto others before they do unto you” was catalyzed by Arab riots in Palestine against Jewish settlements, then blasted into Jewish souls by the slaughter of 6 million Jews in Europe from 1939 to 1945.
Five elements formed Israel’s military doctrine: “Never Again” would Jews be without the means to defend themselves; having a small territory and small population required fighting for the state’s defense on the enemy’s territory if at all possible; a citizen army could be called to service quickly in times of crisis; a superb intelligence network would gather information about enemies; and pre-emption, striking the enemy first, would minimize time and resources required to fight.
The Key Curated Essentials on the Haganah and IDF
Timeline: Hamas-Israel Relations With Events, Statements and Clashes, 1988-Present
Hamas’s genocide against Israelis, unleashes the long blistering hatred that Hamas possesses for Israel and Jews. Entries include severe Arab criticism of Hamas, its detriment to Palestinian nationalism, statements by its leaders, and the war’s unfolding.
The Quest for Arab-Israeli Peace
“The Quest for Arab-Israeli Peace: Israel’s Disengagement from the Gaza Strip: Precedents, Motivations and Outcomes” Zionism Fulfilled.- Israel’s preemptive physical disengagement from the Gaza Strip in August 2005 was the result of a national consensus;…
Israel’s 9/11 — Military Strategy and Tactics: How the IDF Is Fighting Hamas (41:08)
The Israel-Hamas war started nearly four months ago on Oct. 7 when Hamas terrorists and others from the Gaza Strip killed 1,200 Israelis and others, including 31 Americans, and kidnapped more than 200. Some 130…
Origins of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Pre-State to 1973
Explore the pivotal events, influential leaders, and crucial decisions from the Ottoman era to the Yom Kippur War that transformed the Land of Israel into the hard-earned home of the first Jewish state in 2,000 years but also the site of continual intercommunal violence.
Arab-Israeli Conflict: Quest for Normalization, 1973-Present
Unfold six Arab states’ embrace of Israel since 1973 out of national interests and U.S. mediation, sidelining the Palestinian movement, and explore Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack and its implications for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Israeli diplomacy.
Yigal Allon, Lessons From the War of Independence, 1952
With crisp analysis, Haganah Commander Yigal Allon, later a Prime Minister of Israel attributes Israel’s successes to multiple factors including the absence of a centralized Arab command, limited Arab military training, underestimating the potential fighting capabilities of local Arabs, and Israel’s success in integrating its citizens into the war effort.
The Arab-Israel War of 1948 — A Short History
Otherwise known as Israel’s War of Independence, or, “the nakbah” or disaster to the Arab world because a Jewish state was established, the war was fought between the newly established Jewish state of Israel opposed by Palestinian irregulars, and armies from five Arab states. Official beginning of the war is usually given as May 14, 1948, the date Israel declared itself an independent Jewish state, but the war’s first of four phases began in November 1947. Lasting for two years, the war ended with armistice agreements signed in 1949 between Israel and four Arab states.
Israel’s Road to the June 1967 War
Enormous tension and risks taken by Egyptian and Israeli leaderships are recounted in a brief chronology of events that led to the June 1967 war, a benchmark turning point in Middle Eastern, Israeli, and Jewish history.
The June 1967 War: How It Changed Jewish, Israeli and Middle Eastern History
The June 1967 Middle East War transformed Israeli, Jewish, and Middle Eastern History. In the span of six weeks, in May and June 1967, Israel, its neighbors and the international community were engulfed with varying emotions including admonition, arrogance, audacity, astonishment, bravado, boasting, daring, euphoria, fears of annihilation, hesitation, humiliation, indecision, miscalculation, pride, procrastination, relief, resignation, self-doubt, self-importance, and tension.
Capturing these moments as well as the prelude and aftermath of the War dominate the contents of The June 1967 War: How It Changed Jewish, Israeli and Middle Eastern History in both the Leader’s Guide and Participant Booklet.
- Suitable for those with varying knowledge levels. Valuable for those traveling to Israel, for easy use in summer camps, and in adult education, college, and high school settings.
- The Leader’s Guide − 111 pages; Participant Booklet− 117 pages
- Adaptable for use in three 75-minute sessions, five 45-minute sessions, or more
More Curated Essentials for the Haganah and IDF
Six Days, Fifty Years: The June 1967 War and its Aftermath, 14 Superb Essays
January 4, 2019
The Six Day War, which broke out on the morning of June 5, 1967, was a formative event that changed the face of the State of Israel and, to a large extent, the entire Middle East. Prior to the war, Israel had been under existential threat and in six days, the Israel Defense Forces succeeded in removing the threat by achieving a decisive military victory and positioning Israel as a significant force in the region.
The June 1967 War: Actions with Unfinished Consequences
February 13, 2017
Coming up, fifty years after the June 1967 War. How many times have I taught the causes and effects, or written about the War? Hundreds of times in forty years.
IDF Chief of Staff Yitzhak Rabin: The Right of Israel to Defend Itself, 1967
June 28, 1967
Receiving an Honorary Doctorate from the Hebrew University following the conclusion of the June 1967 War, Rabin delivers a speech on behalf of Israel’s entire Defence Forces. He highlights the harsh realities of war, yet concentrates on commending the extraordinary efforts of Israel’s armed forces.
Israel’s National Security and Civil Liberties
August 13, 2014
E-book
This guide focuses on the development of Israel’s defense institutions and the evolution of the Supreme Court. The guide includes unique primary source texts, biographical sketches, and interactive activities and case studies.
- Suitable for learners 9th grade and up
- 46-page learners guide
- Develop an understanding of the relationship between national security & civil liberties
- Learn how Israel has managed to balance the needs of a nation with the rights of the individual
- Perfect for individuals, groups or classes
The 1973 October War — A Short History
October 1973
Egyptian President Sadat colluded with Syrian President Assad to attack Israel on October 6, 1973. Sadat's objective was not to seek Israel's destruction but to gain a limited success by crossing the canal. He also sought to engage American diplomacy to generate talks with Israel that would see Israeli withdrawal from Egyptian land Israel secured in the June 1967 War. Sadat took a large gamble by attacking Israel yet he unfolded a negotiating process with Israel that lasted through 1979. He achieved his overarching long-term priority of having Egyptian Sinai returned to Egyptian sovereignty.
“Agranat Commission” – Yom-Kippur War
April 1, 1974
The Israeli government assigns responsibility to military leaders for failures leading to and
execution of the War; though not assigned direct blame, Prime Minister Meir and Defense Minister Dayan resign in April 1974.
Antisemitism and the Hamas-Israel War (4 videos)
November 5, 2024
In multiple worldwide realms, the magnitude of hate for Israel and Jews soared after October 7, 2023.
Iran and the Hamas-Israel War (5 videos)
November 5, 2024
Compiled by Aidan New Iran lies behind much of what Israel has battled since Hamas launched its brutal terrorist attack Oct. 7, 2023. By theology and ideology, Iran is committed to Israel’s destruction. By policy...
Bibliography — 1948 War
October 29, 2024
CIE has compiled the following list of books and articles, including some available on our website, to guide understanding of the unfolding of the Israeli War of Independence and its consequences. Books Allon, Yigal. The Making...
The Arabs and the Approaching War With Israel, 1945-1948
1945-1958
In “The Arabs and the Approaching War with Israel, 1945-1948,” Yaacov Shimoni reviews in detail the period from the early 1940s to May 1948, examining decisions made by Arab leaders toward Palestine and Zionism. He concludes that disunity among Arab states, jealousies, and disorganization plagued Arab preparations for the expected coming war with the Zionists.
Musa Alami, “The Lesson of Palestine,” 1949
June 7, 2024
Musa Alami, “The Lesson of Palestine,” Middle East Journal, Volume 3, No. 4, October 1949, pp. 373-405 Reprinted with permission of The Middle East Institute, October 2021 In this 1949 article published in Middle East...
Hezbollah and the Hamas-Israel War (4 videos)
September 2024
Hezbollah has used its stronghold in southern Lebanon to launch continual attacks on northern Israel since October 8, 2023. Hezbollah says it is motivated by its support for Hamas, a fellow member of Iran’s Axis of Resistance surrounding Israel. While Hezbollah is Shia and Hamas is Sunni, both are devoted to Israel’s destruction, and both receive funding from and coordinate with Iran.
Israel’s 9/11 — Changes in the U.S.-Israel Relationship Since the June 1967 War (42:00)
June 5, 2024
In the days before the June 1967 war, President Lyndon Johnson warned Israel against war, saying, “If you go it alone, you will be alone.” President Joe Biden issued a similar warning in March against...
Israel’s 9/11 — Iran’s Threat and Regional Responses (42:12)
May 1, 2024
Hamas’ terrorist assault Oct. 7, killing 1,200 and kidnapping more than 240, was the worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust, but the night of April 13-14 could have been worse when Iran attacked Israel...
