Military conflict usually begins with violations of international law and leads to disregard of all norms and conventions. Alas, the “laws” of war have their own logic, when some attack without considering the tragedy of masses of civilians and without choosing humane weapons, while others are forced to defend themselves by any means necessary to save their lives.

In today’s turbulent world, when the foundations of the former world order and global security have been shaken, the institutions of international law often lose strength and prove ineffective in the face of the threat of local and regional conflicts. Thus the latest Palestinian-Israeli war has become evidence of the inaction, if not destruction, of international norms in the face of war crimes by Israel and international terrorism by anti-Israeli forces.

However, any war relies on the economy, undermining the economy and raising hopes for economic growth in the future. In other words, the conflicting party cannot fight without sufficient financial and material resources for a long period of time (and it does not matter whether it relies on its own capabilities or on external aid). Every war leads to physical and material losses and destruction, millions and billions of monetary units are thrown into the “furnace of death” every day, wartime laws limit the possibilities of production and social development, as gold and foreign exchange reserves go into the “sand.” The victorious outcome of the war gives the victor hopes for economic development through new material and territorial acquisitions, reparations and improved geopolitical positions in the regional and global arena.

Israel is quite small geographically, surrounded by the Arab (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt) world. One of the geographical advantages of the Jewish state is its access to the sea basin (to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, to the Red Sea in the south-east) and its ability to develop an active foreign trade. Accordingly, access to the sea and important world trade communications contributes to Israel’s security, helps it to withstand military conflict and receive the necessary external (military and economic) aid.

Eilat, Ashdod and Haifa are Israel’s major seaports, which in fact provide an active link to the outside world through booming trade. Of course, important communications under war conditions are the main targets of enemy attacks and........

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