National Security Conference Reveals Israel's Top 5 Fears

Israel's Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) convenes an annual strategic forum, bringing together former military chiefs, intelligence heads, active ministers, and senior experts to dissect the nation's most critical challenges. This influential think tank, established in the wake of the 1973 war, operates under Tel Aviv University and was founded on the principle of providing independent assessments outside military and intelligence institutions. Its creation stemmed from a post-war belief that a lack of external review contributed to intelligence failures.

The recent conference, held in late July 2026, featured 17 sessions dedicated to mapping security threats expected over the next five to ten years. The INSS itself was established to critically examine and challenge the assumptions underpinning government and military security assessments. Its founding was entrusted to Major General (Ret.) Aharon Yariv, a former head of military intelligence, tasked with creating a center for independent strategic analysis.

Participants at the forum, which takes place each summer, engage in discussions that shape the strategic discourse within Israel's security circles. The institute's origins lie in a significant post-war evaluation following the 1973 conflict, highlighting a perceived need for an independent body to scrutinize national security assumptions. This emphasis on independent analysis and critique remains central to the INSS's mission.