The Hebrew daily Maariv has published the first Israeli admission that Tel Aviv is taking dramatic steps to prepare for new rounds of confrontation with Iran. The paper reports that Israel’s Ministry of Defence is establishing a new body described as a “Higher Armament Council” — a move designed to greatly accelerate Israel’s readiness for potential campaigns against both Iran and Yemen.
According to Maariv, and citing the Ministry of Defence, the announcement follows a dramatic public declaration by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning that Israel may face political isolation and restrictions on the trade of arms. The defence ministry reportedly said it is forming the “Higher Armament Council” to speed preparations “for the third and fourth cycles (Iran and Yemen).”
The ministry statement added: “We must now think about the ‘next surprises’ and the next mobilisations. Each such surprise has broad ramifications, including on the reduction of economic risk premiums.” It also claimed that “Operation ‘Rising Lion’ ended in a decisive Israeli victory, but there will be further rounds against Iran.”
Israel Sees a Decade of Security Challenges
Brig. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram, director-general of the defence ministry, was quoted as warning that Israel stands on the threshold of a decade of both global and local security challenges. He stressed the interdependence of security and the economy in Israel, saying basic security is a central pillar of national strength alongside economy, society and advanced technology.
Referring to future preparations, Baram explained that the ministry is taking a three-horizon approach:
- Short term — immediate equipping;
- Medium term — improving readiness for the coming decade;
- Long term — developing decisive weapons for future systems.
He said the planned Higher Armament Council will bring all relevant parties to a single table — the defence establishment, Treasury, National Security Council, defence industries, exemption committee, and others — enabling far faster mobilisation for the so-called third and fourth cycles.
The Cost of Surprise and the Need to Reform Procurement
The Israeli official emphasised the economic dimensions of security planning: “We must invest in thinking about the ‘next surprises’ and upcoming call-ups. This is a security economy. Each such surprise has wide implications. An attack on Yemen costs on average about 50 shekels, but it has a wide effect on our deterrence and global standing. Interception using the Hetz-3 missile costs between 15 and 30 shekels, but the damage from a single failed interception can approach 300 shekels (as occurred in the Pat-Yam ballistic missile incident).”
Baram argued that procurement and production must undergo radical change. He warned that activities carried out by the Iranian system in one month can take months or years in Israel. “Our purchasing processes take many years and require emergency planning,” he said.
He added that lessons of war, the rollback of globalisation, and delegitimisation pressures require expanding Israel’s production base, achieving independence in critical components, and entering long-term, advanced contracts. He repeated the ministry’s assertion that while “Operation ‘Am Klafi’” (as cited) ended with a clear Israeli victory, there will be further rounds against Iran. “The Iranians have not vanished. They feel humiliated and are therefore investing heavily in security and rapid force-building,” the official said.
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