Victory on Israeli Terms is Insufficient

Israel nowadays defines victory as having reached the specific, predetermined Israeli goals of a major military operation. This is problematic, insufficient and even strategically counterproductive since this permits the enemy to simultaneously claiming victory as well. It is true that Israel exists in a region with a highly peculiar political culture based on honor and shame. Israelis find it convenient to have a win-win situation with the enemy where both can claim victory. However, if Israel wants to put an end to this conflict it has to repeatedly shame and humiliate the enemy and deprive it of any hope of victory. Some might argue that this is not possible, but need not look further than the successful secessionism of South Sudan for evidence that it is indeed. Therefore Israel would be particularly well-advised to define operational victory both on its own terms and on the enemy’s terms.