Dr Glen Segell
(FRGS, is Researcher at The Institute for National Security Studies Tel Aviv and Lecturer at Bar-Ilan University)
Copyright: www.rieas.gr
This year, 2013 marks 40 years since the 1973 Yom Kippur War between Israel and her neighboring states. It was the last major Arab-Israel inter-state war in the Middle East that was symmetrical between the conflicting states. Since then there have been numerous asymmetrical military operations by Israel into Lebanon, and even more military operations involving the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Interspersed have been two Palestinian Intifada (uprisings) and substantial counter-insurgency, anti-terrorist and anti-weapons of mass destruction strikes. These have included the 1976 rescue of hostages at Entebbe Airport, and the 1981 destruction of the Iraqi nuclear reactor under construction. Despite this large accolade of military successes and political stalemates, it is the 1973 Yom Kippur War that dominates history as Israel's military nightmare in intelligence failures as well as standing out as the start of her political dream of a peace-treaty with a Muslim country, Egypt. ..... Read more