Since October 7, 2023, Israel has not only been waging a war. It has changed its strategic framework. Many observers have not yet fully understood the implications. People often continue to analyse Israel with the old vocabulary: deterrence, proportional response, American pressure, diplomatic restraint, and return to calm. These words partly belong to the pre-October 7 era.

Before October 7, Israel’s doctrine was simple: enemies could be contained. Hamas could be deterred. Hezbollah kept in a balance of fear. Iran slowed through strikes, covert actions, sanctions, or negotiations. Israel operated on a risk-management model: strike, respond, restore deterrence, and return to a fragile calm.

October 7 destroyed this belief.

On that day, Israel discovered deterrence could be an illusion. Barriers could fall. Intelligence could miss the essentials. The enemy could prepare for years for an attack considered impossible, irrational, or too costly.

This realization marks the start of a new doctrinal phase.

Since that date, Israel’s objective is no longer just to punish the enemy after an attack. It is to prevent the enemy from attacking again. The difference is immense. To punish is to respond. To prevent is to transform the strategic reality. This means destroying capabilities, dismantling infrastructures, striking command structures, and preventing reconstruction. It means refusing a return to the status quo. In other words, Israel no longer wants to simply restore deterrence. Israel wants to shift the balance of power.

This is visible in........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)