Author: Levy, Yagil

Source: Israel Studies Forum, Volume 24, Number 1, Summer 2009 , pp. 3-24(22)

Abstract:

This article addresses the question of why Israel initiated the Second Lebanon War so quickly, despite the civilian agenda to which the government had been committed, other mitigating factors, and the fact that the kidnapping of two soldiers did not warrant such a massive operation. Arguably, the war reflected the syndrome of a gap of legitimacies, that is, the gap that has emerged since the 1980s between high levels of political legitimacy for using force and low levels of social legitimacy for making the attendant sacrifices. Both values led to belligerency. Strong support for the use of force pushed Israel into taking offensive action that a civilian government could not contain, while the low level of social legitimation for sacrifice led to speedy decision-making and the desire for a swift conclusion by using massive force. Such a response would obviate any restraints on military action that might result from discussions about how to avoid sacrifices.

Keywords: CASUALTY AVERSION; DECISION-MAKING; WAR LEGITIMACY; WAR SACRIFICE

DOI: 10.3167/isf.2009.240101

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