Abandoning the Arena of Consciousness

Prof. Yedidia Stern argues that Israel is being defeated in the battle for international consciousness, and proposes adding a consciousness component to the national security concept, alongside establishing a dedicated state body to manage this struggle.

Prof. Yedidia Stern, president of JPPI, analyzes in an opinion piece the Israeli national security concept and argues that it focuses only on the physical struggle while neglecting the arena of consciousness. He notes that Israel is being defeated on the international stage, and that the demonization of the state is present in Europe and the US. Stern calls for establishing a fourth body, alongside the IDF, Shin Bet, and Mossad, that would be responsible for managing the battle for consciousness, and for conducting Israeli policy from a perspective that sees this struggle as critical to national security.