By: Dr. Saleh Al-Naami .
(Exclusively for al-Zaytouna Centre).
Can the Israeli navy truly meet the requirements of Israel’s maritime strategy amid escalating threats and the growing security and economic burdens associated with sea lanes, gas fields and international trade routes?
A new academic paper published by Al-Zaytouna Centre for Studies and Consultations, “The Israeli Navy: An Expanding Operational Role Amid Limited Strategic Effectiveness,” by Dr. Saleh Al-Naami, examines the Israeli Navy’s increasingly central role in Israel’s war effort, particularly following Operation al-Aqsa Flood, and analyzes the transformation of its place within Israel’s national security strategy. Once a peripheral military branch tasked primarily with limited supporting functions, the Navy has emerged as a principal component of Israel’s military campaign.
The study examines the factors driving the Navy’s growing operational prominence, identifies the principles underpinning Israel’s maritime strategy, and analyzes the Israeli Navy’s approaches to force development and force employment. It also assesses the strategic effectiveness of Israel’s investment in naval capabilities in addressing the threats and challenges facing the country in the maritime domain.
The study argues that the limited size of Israel’s fleet, coupled with its reliance on the “small smart force” model, has constrained its ability to establish comprehensive maritime control, particularly in comparison with regional naval powers such as Türkiye and Egypt. It further contends that technological superiority cannot adequately compensate for the logistical capacity and force size required to achieve sustained maritime dominance.
Finally, the study recommends that Arab and Muslim countries, as well as non-state actors that regard themselves as adversaries of Israel or expect to become future targets of Israeli actions, capitalize on Israel’s vulnerabilities in the maritime domain to challenge its maritime strategy. Such an approach could increase Israel’s security and economic burdens, narrow its strategic room for maneuver, and ultimately compel it to adopt a less confrontational policy posture.
| Click here to download: >> Academic Paper: The Israeli Navy: An Expanding Operational Role Amid Limited Strategic Effectiveness … Dr. Saleh Al-Naami (Arabic)  (33 pages, 2.3 MB) |
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