Bill requiring every government to formulate national security strategy set to become law
Sponsors of bipartisan bill assert that lack of an explicit security doctrine damaged the country’s preparedness in the face of threats, paving way for October 7
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
A bill obligating every Israeli government to formulate a national security strategy was approved for its second and third readings by the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday, paving the way for its passage into law.
The bipartisan bill — sponsored by National Unity MK Gadi Eisenkot and committee chairman Yuli Edelstein (Likud) — would require the National Security Council to formulate a national security strategy in consultation with the foreign and defense ministries, intelligence agencies and other government bureaus.
Eisenkot is a former IDF chief of staff who previously served as a nonvoting observer in Netanyahu’s now-defunct war cabinet.
In the bill’s explanatory notes, Edelstein and Eisenkot assert that a lack of an explicit security doctrine in favor of unwritten rules has damaged the country’s preparations and readiness in the face of threats, paving the way for the events of October 7, 2023.
“Since its establishment, the State of Israel has faced challenges that threaten its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the security of its citizens and residents. Preparation and readiness for the political and security challenges and opportunities facing the State of Israel are required, as well as coordination between security bodies and government ministries, while formulating a broad and long-term vision” are required, as is “critical examination, from time to time, of the basic assumptions that guide decision-makers,” they wrote.
“Contrary to the prevailing trend throughout the world, the State of Israel has not yet established a national security strategy document that would enable such preparation and readiness, and the issue of its necessity has not been discussed.”
The proposed strategy document — which would have to be approved by the government within 150 days of its formulation and be updated regularly — would identify Israel’s national security challenges and establish its strategic goals, and provide a “critical assessment” of the country’s existing national security strategy.
In order to maximize oversight and transparency, the government would be required to present the strategy to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee as well as to publish non-sensitive selections of the classified document online.
The bill passed its first of three readings needed to become law 34-0 on March 31 when lawmakers voted during a packed plenum session ahead of the beginning of the Knesset’s April recess.
“The law obliges every government, upon its establishment, to determine and institutionalize the principles and rules of Israel’s national security. In this way, both the Knesset’s ability to supervise the government and the government’s responsibility and commitment to its citizens in security matters will be expanded,” National Unity tweeted last November, after the bill passed a preliminary reading in the Knesset plenum.
“After more than a year of strenuous fighting and under tremendous security challenges, the importance of this arrangement, for national security and resilience, is clearer than ever.”
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