National Security Affairs Briefing THE STATE OF ISRAEL SGM Evert Soderholm UNCLASSIFIED 1

 Overview  National Purpose  Ideology  National Interest  National Power  Threat  U.S. Military Involvement UNCLASSIFIED 2

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 Basic Laws  Human Dignity and Liberty  Sovereign Jewish State  Equality  Major Adversary – Arab World  Minor Adversary – Palestinians  U.S. Interest – Israel is the United State’s biggest ally in the Middle East and wants to preserve Israels sovereignty. 6 UNCLASSIFIED

 Zionism  Major Adversary - Islam  Minor Adversary – Muslim citizens  U.S. Interest – The US has been supportive of the Jewish State. This has caused tensions with Muslim countries and sparked terrorist attacks. 7 UNCLASSIFIED

 Defense  Economic  World order  Ideological  Major Adversary  Minor Adversary  U.S. Interest 8 UNCLASSIFIED

 Geographic, Demographic, Political, Military, Economic and National will  Major Adversary  Minor Adversary  U.S. Interest 9 UNCLASSIFIED

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 6 Administrative Districts  Population million  76.4% Jewish  67% Israeli born  22% European/American born  6% African born  24% Non Jewish (mostly Arab) 11 UNCLASSIFIED

 Parliamentary Democracy  Legistative  Knesset – 120 member  Executive  President – Chief of State  Elected by Knesset  Ceremonial Role  Prime Minister – Head of Government  Nominated by President and voted in by Knesset  Judicial  Magistrate Courts  District Courts  Supreme Court 12 Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU President Shimon PERES UNCLASSIFIED

 3 Branches  Israeli Defense Force (IDF)  Israeli Naval Force (IN)  Israeli Air Force (IAF)  All Jewish citizens must enlist  Males – 36 months  Females – 21 months  Nuclear Power 13 UNCLASSIFIED

 Ranked 41 st in GDP per capita  4 th in Middle East 14 UNCLASSIFIED

 8 Wars  2 Palestinian uprisings  Terrorist threats 15 UNCLASSIFIED

 Geographic, Demographic, Political, Military, Economic and National will  Major Adversary – Iran, Palestine  Minor Adversary - Terrorism  U.S. Interest - The US has provided billions of dollars in military aid to Israel. Israel is also a nuclear power and is strategically located in the Middle East. 16 UNCLASSIFIED

 Palestinian Uprising  Lebanon War  Summer 2006 – Hezbollah  Gaza War  Dec 08-Jan 09 - Hamas  Major Adversary - Iran  Minor Adversary – Hamas, Hezbollah  U.S. Interest - The United State may find itself pulled into a war with Iran if Israel were to take preemptive military action. 17 UNCLASSIFIED

 Major purchaser of US military equipment  Joint development of military technology  Joint military training exercises  US and Israel share intelligence  Major Adversary – Arab nations, Iran  Minor Adversary - Palestinian  U.S. Interest – The US sees Israel as a strategic partner in the Middle East 18 UNCLASSIFIED

 National Purpose  Ideology  National Interest  National Power  Threat  U.S. Military Involvement UNCLASSIFIED 19

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