A taxonomy of Israel’s use of military force

This article analyzes the spectrum of Israel’s use of military force. Employing a comparative theoretical framework, it offers a taxonomy of that experience based on three criteria: the character of envisaged political goals, the type of military strategy preferred, and the scope of forces engaged. The combination of those criteria produces eight individual modes of force, each of which is examined (with supplementary illustrations being provided from non‐Israeli instances). It is suggested that the terminology here used presents a more accurate depiction than has hitherto been available of the spectrum of the use of military force in world politics.