Publication

This commentary surveys the main components of the social changes taking place in the Arab world. The authors briefly describe these changes, including the weakening of state actors and old elites, the empowerment of civil society, the rapid diffusion of ideas, and a shift of focus towards domestic policy. They then analyze the implications of these changes for Israel’s strategic security and argue that Israel needs to strengthen its defense mechanisms, establish buffer zones, and thwart direct security threats, while at the same time formulating new policies to increase its cooperation with the region.