Deterrence has played a large role in Israel’s management of its conflict with Hamas throughout three distinct periods (1987-2000, 2000-2007, 2007-present). To accomplish deterrence against an actor that has varied in form across distinct periods with different political contexts, it has utilized myriad forms of deterrence, some of which are not part of the everyday deterrence vocabulary elsewhere. After initial instability, each of the three distinct periods has so far featured extended periods of calm following Israeli tactical shifts and the establishment of new deterrence relationships. The shifts between periods themselves, however, have led relatively stable deterrence relationships previously established to collapse or become irrelevant. Explaining these shifts and illuminating the operation of deterrence during each of these periods is an integral part of the first aim of this thesis and is a primary focus of its body chapters. Israel’s myriad tactical successes have not thus far provided a stable, enduring situation of calm. After each significant shift in the political context within which Israel and Hamas operate, both sides have had to ‘re-learn’ deterrence. This calls into question the long-term effectiveness and stability of deterrence as a means for managing the conflict. Nevertheless, there does not currently seem to be a vision for moving beyond deterrence in some way. The conclusion contains a discussion of this and of Israel’s options for bolstering deterrence in the short- to medium term and perhaps moving beyond it in the longer term.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:700808 |
| Date | January 2016 |
| Creators | Kirchofer, Charles P. |
| Contributors | Rid, Thomas ; Bew, John Patrick Arthur |
| Publisher | King's College London (University of London) |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/israel-deterring-hamas(40ae4338-8b58-437b-a4e0-473bf676af2b).html |
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