Ya'alon: 'Israel is a Military Superpower'

[Yzd Khalifa]

I agree there was pressure from Israeli Lobby but what about the Operation Opera?? They went all alone when they wanted to.........

Sir, I wasn't referring to the bombing of the nuclear reactor. I was referring to the a full scale war scenario.

 

[janon]

A military superpower is one that can project power far away from its own shores. Israel cannot do that, they have very little expeditionary capability. But they are a very strong power in their neighbourhood, and for most countries, that is enough.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

Power Projection plus more than 50 countries in the world many of them far away from israels border considers it an enemy state.

Would you please list what are these more than 50 countries?

 

[Mercenary]

Israel has the mightiest military in the region but it lacks the strategic depth given its small geography to reach breakout status.

 

[KingMamba]

I agree there was pressure from Israeli Lobby but what about the Operation Opera?? They went all alone when they wanted to.........

Iraq was embroiled in the war with Iran which Israel took advantage of.

 

[Informant]

I think Regional Powerhouse would be an apt term here.

Undoubtedly.

 

[arp2041]

Israel has the mightiest military in the region but it lacks the strategic depth given its small geography to reach breakout status.

Yes, & I had always one doubt (if anyone can clear it) - Why did Israel returned the Sinai peninsula to Egypt, which it occupied in 1967 war?

 

[T-123456]

Yes, & I had always one doubt (if anyone can clear it) - Why did Israel returned the Sinai peninsula to Egypt, which it occupied in 1967 war?

On June 19, 1967, the National Unity Government [of Israel] voted unanimously to return the Sinai to Egypt and the Golan Heights to Syria in return for peace agreements. The Golans would have to be demilitarized and special arrangement would be negotiated for the Straits of Tiran. The government also resolved to open negotiations with King Hussein of Jordan regarding the Eastern border.


On November 22, 1967, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 242, the "land for peace" formula, which called for Israeli withdrawal "from territories occupied" in 1967 and "the termination of all claims or states of belligerency". Resolution 242 recognized the right of "every state in the area to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force." Israel returned the Sinai to Egypt in 1978, after the Camp David ACCORDS.

 

[500]

To small territory to be a superpower.

He talked about air power. Israel has one of the strongest air powers in the world.

Israel cannot attack another country alone

Six-Day War - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maybe an attack superpower,but never in defence.

Yom Kippur War - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[kaykay]

Israel is surely a Regional power (among best in their region I say along with Turkey) but no where close to Military superpower. Only USA is true superpower and Russia and China can be in future(though soviet russia once was).

 

[scorpionx]

On June 19, 1967, the National Unity Government [of Israel] voted unanimously to return the Sinai to Egypt and the Golan Heights to Syria in return for peace agreements. The Golans would have to be demilitarized and special arrangement would be negotiated for the Straits of Tiran. The government also resolved to open negotiations with King Hussein of Jordan regarding the Eastern border.


On November 22, 1967, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 242, the "land for peace" formula, which called for Israeli withdrawal "from territories occupied" in 1967 and "the termination of all claims or states of belligerency". Resolution 242 recognized the right of "every state in the area to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force." Israel returned the Sinai to Egypt in 1978, after the Camp David ACCORDS.

But the question is why did they sign the treaty when they had won the war.

 

[arp2041]

But the question is why did they sign the treaty when they had won the war.

I think Recognition of the State of Israel by Egypt was much more Important for Israel than occupying large tracts of Desert.

It was always used as a bargaining chip.

 

[scorpionx]

I think Recognition of the State of Israel by Egypt was much more Important for Israel than occupying large tracts of Desert.

It was always used as a bargaining chip.

The reason lies in the massive man and machine loss by the Israelis. They realized that another decisive win like 1967 Blitzkreig is never going to repeat again.And excellent diplomatic maneuver by Sadat was one of the main reason Israel signed the treaty. Egypt became second highest recipient of US aid in the after years of the war. It was a military defeat but political win by the Egyptians.

 

[T-123456]

He talked about air power. Israel has one of the strongest air powers in the world.

Agreed.

Israel cannot attack another country alone

History.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

But the question is why did they sign the treaty when they had won the war.

'Cause they wanted to make peace with their next-door countries, not to go to another war, and above all expansionism wasn't a good option to them.