Israeli National Security Council
Encyclopedia
The Israeli National Security Council (NSC) ( HaMo'atzah leBitachon leOmi) is Israel's central body for coordination, integration, analysis and monitoring in the field of national security and is the staff forum on national security for the Israeli Prime Minister and Government. However, national security decisions typically made by national security council
s in other countries are handled by the Security Cabinet
. The Council draws its authority from the government
and operates according to guidelines from the Prime Minister.
The NSC was established in 1999 by the office of Prime Minister
Binyamin Netanyahu following Government Resolution 4889, in the framework of drawing lessons from the Yom Kippur War
.
Government Resolution 4889, dated March 7 1999, established the National Security Council. The Government resolution specified, among others, that:
Among the Council's functions are: strategic advisement to the Prime Minister, offering security recommendations to the government, joint direction and coordinations of the security
arms as well as inspection and supervision of decision-making related to the security bodies. Other functions include long-term planning of security approaches, and maintaining cooperative and coordinative relations with the national security elements of selected countries.
Issues which the Council engaged include the planning of the West Bank barrier
and supervision over its implementation, helping to forge the Gaza disengagement plan
, and the agreement with Egypt
over the Philadelphi Route
.
A new area of activity relates to energy issues, based on a comprehensive national security perspective, including:
The Council comprises three wings: Security Policy, Foreign Policy, and the Counter-Terrorism Bureau. It has two advisors: legal and economic.
Since the end of December 2006, the office of the head of the NSC and the staff of the Foreign Policy Division, the Security Division and the Legal Advisor have been located in the Prime Minister’s office in Jerusalem. The remaining staff of the NSC and the Counter-Terrorism Bureau headquarters are based at the NSC facility in Ramat Hasharon.
The Council's work is considered secret, and is done outside the public's eye. Its authority is vague and the Prime Minister is not obligated to accept its recommendations, unlike with those of the Attorney General
, for example.
, former head of the Institute for Policy and Strategy of the Interdisciplinary Center
Herzliya and Professor at its Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy. Arad was Director of Research of the Mossad
until 1997.
Historical heads were:
National Security Council
A National Security Council is usually an executive branch governmental body responsible for coordinating policy on national security issues and advising chief executives on matters related to national security...
s in other countries are handled by the Security Cabinet
Security Cabinet of Israel
The Political-Security Cabinet or The Ministers Committee on Security Affairs is a narrow forum of 'Inner Cabinet' within the Israeli Cabinet, headed by the Prime Minister of Israel, with the purpose of outlining a foreign and defense policy and implementing it...
. The Council draws its authority from the government
Cabinet of Israel
The Cabinet of Israel is a formal body composed of government officials called ministers, chosen and led by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister must appoint members based on the distribution of votes to political parties during legislative elections, and its composition must be approved by a...
and operates according to guidelines from the Prime Minister.
The NSC was established in 1999 by the office of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Israel
The Prime Minister of Israel is the head of the Israeli government and the most powerful political figure in Israel . The prime minister is the country's chief executive. The official residence of the prime minister, Beit Rosh Hamemshala is in Jerusalem...
Binyamin Netanyahu following Government Resolution 4889, in the framework of drawing lessons from the Yom Kippur War
Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...
.
Basis for operations
Article 7 of the Government Law of 2001 states that "the Government will have an staff, established by the Prime Minister, to provide professional consulting in the fields of national security; the Prime Minister is authorized to entrust the staff with additional consulting fields."Government Resolution 4889, dated March 7 1999, established the National Security Council. The Government resolution specified, among others, that:
- The objective of the NSC is to serve as a centralized advisory body to the Prime Minister and the Government regarding issues of national security.
- The NSC derives its authority from the Government and operates in accordance with directives issued by the Prime Minister.
Roles
The National Security Council is the Prime Minister's and the Government's staff forum in the field of national security. The roles of the NSC, as stipulated in the Government Resolution, are as follows:- To hold senior council forums for the Prime Minister and the Government regarding issues of national security.
- To coordinate integrative assessments of processes and trends in all aspects of national security.
- To direct integrative staff operations between offices and authorities dealing with national security in order to increase coordination and integration between them.
- To prepare for deliberations by the government, ministerial committee for national security and the Prime Minister.
- To advise the government on policies relating to national security.
- To plan, based on a long-term perspective, national security components, with the assistance of existing planning bodies in State offices and organizations dealing with national security.
- To follow up and provide updates regarding activities and implementation of resolutions related to national security.
- To maintain coordination and cooperation with parallel national security authorities in selected countries.
Among the Council's functions are: strategic advisement to the Prime Minister, offering security recommendations to the government, joint direction and coordinations of the security
Israeli Security Forces
Security forces in Israel include a variety of organizations, including law enforcement, military, paramilitary, governmental, and intelligence agencies.-Military:...
arms as well as inspection and supervision of decision-making related to the security bodies. Other functions include long-term planning of security approaches, and maintaining cooperative and coordinative relations with the national security elements of selected countries.
Major areas of activity
The NSC formulates alternatives for Israeli policy on the political process and relationships with:- Middle EastMiddle EastThe Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
countries, especially with the PalestinianPalestinian peopleThe Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
s, LebanonLebanonLebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, SyriaSyriaSyria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, JordanJordanJordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
and other countries. - Super powers: the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, European UnionEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. - Key countries: TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and India - Major international organizations such as the UN, NATO and OECOECOEC may refer to:* Offshore Energy Center, sponsor of the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum in Galveston, Texas, United States* Old Earth creationism, a term for several types of creationism...
.
Issues which the Council engaged include the planning of the West Bank barrier
Israeli West Bank barrier
The Israeli West Bank barrier is a separation barrier being constructed by the State of Israel along and within the West Bank. Upon completion, the barrier’s total length will be approximately...
and supervision over its implementation, helping to forge the Gaza disengagement plan
Israel's unilateral disengagement plan
Israel's unilateral disengagement plan , also known as the "Disengagement plan", "Gaza expulsion plan", and "Hitnatkut", was a proposal by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, adopted by the government on June 6, 2004 and enacted in August 2005, to evict all Israelis from the Gaza Strip and from...
, and the agreement with Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
over the Philadelphi Route
Philadelphi Route
The Philadelphi Route refers to a narrow strip of land, 14 km in length, situated along the border between Gaza Strip and Egypt. Under the provisions of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty of 1979, the buffer zone was controlled and patrolled by Israeli forces. After the 1995 Oslo Accords,...
.
A new area of activity relates to energy issues, based on a comprehensive national security perspective, including:
- Energy providers
- Strategic reserves
- Source combination
Structure
The National Security Council is part of the Prime Minister's Office and reports to him directly about issues related to national security.The Council comprises three wings: Security Policy, Foreign Policy, and the Counter-Terrorism Bureau. It has two advisors: legal and economic.
Since the end of December 2006, the office of the head of the NSC and the staff of the Foreign Policy Division, the Security Division and the Legal Advisor have been located in the Prime Minister’s office in Jerusalem. The remaining staff of the NSC and the Counter-Terrorism Bureau headquarters are based at the NSC facility in Ramat Hasharon.
The Council's work is considered secret, and is done outside the public's eye. Its authority is vague and the Prime Minister is not obligated to accept its recommendations, unlike with those of the Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
, for example.
Head
The Head of the NSA is a trust-based position, and in the case where the Prime Minister lacks confidence in the Council Head, this will result in the latter's resignation. The first three Council heads did not serve their full terms, which attests to the problematic nature of the position. The first National Security Advisor and Head of NSC was General (reserves) David Ivri. The current Head is Dr. Uzi AradUzi Arad
Uzi Arad is an Israeli Strategist and a well-known figure in foreign policy, security and strategic circles in Israel and abroad. He is a Professor at The Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy at The Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya. In July 2011 Arad re-joined the faculty of the...
, former head of the Institute for Policy and Strategy of the Interdisciplinary Center
Interdisciplinary Center
The Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya is a private Israeli college located in Herzliya, Israel.The languages of instruction in the Interdisciplinary Center are Hebrew and English.-History:...
Herzliya and Professor at its Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy. Arad was Director of Research of the Mossad
Mossad
The Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
until 1997.
Historical heads were:
- David Ivri, 1999-2002
- Ephraim Halevi, 2002-2003
- Uzi DayanUzi DayanUzi Dayan is an Aluf in the Israel Defense Forces and an Israeli politician. He is the nephew of General Moshe Dayan.-Early life and career:...
, 2003-2005 - Giora EilandGiora EilandGiora Eiland is Major General Israel Defense Forces. Eiland is former Israel's National Security Advisor. He is a senior research associate at the Institute for National Security Studies and holds an M.B.A. and B.A...
, 2005-2006 - Ilan Mizrahi, 2006-2007
- Dani Arditi, 2007-2009
- Uzi AradUzi AradUzi Arad is an Israeli Strategist and a well-known figure in foreign policy, security and strategic circles in Israel and abroad. He is a Professor at The Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy at The Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya. In July 2011 Arad re-joined the faculty of the...
, 2009 - 2011 - Yaakov Amidror, 2011 - present
Foreign Policy Wing
The National Security Council’s Foreign Policy Division is in charge of planning, integration and coordination of policy on major issues of national security. The Division's roles:- Formulation of political situation assessments
- Formulation of recommendations for Israeli policies
- Conducting strategic dialogs with National Security Councils of leading countries