The Origin of Israel's Foundational Dogma
Get the latest on Israel's Operation "Rising Lion" against Iran's nuclear program. This isn't the first time Israel has taken such a stance - it's all part of its unique military strategy known as the Begin Doctrine.
Israel's recent military campaign, Operation "Rising Lion", has been targeting Iran's nuclear facilities and military bases since June 13, 2025. Israeli Defense Minister Katz has labeled it a "preemptive strike", due to Iran's advanced nuclear program.
This aggressive approach isn't new. The Begin Doctrine, named after former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, dates back to the 1980s.
A Brief History
Operation Opera (1981)
On June 7, 1981, eight Israeli F-16s targeted two nuclear reactors near Baghdad, Iraq. codenamed Osirak. Fears circulated that the reactor was part of Iraq's nuclear weapons program. The Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, reportedly placed a target marker with the help of a technician to guide the fighter jets. The attack destroyed the nearly completed facility, effectively halting Iraq's nuclear program.
Menachem Begin justified this preemptive strike as an "act of anticipatory self-defense". Israel would "not allow an enemy to develop weapons of mass destruction against the Israeli people," he declared, giving birth to the Begin Doctrine. Although the attack was internationally condemned, Israel considered it a resounding success.
Operation Orchard (2007)
Israeli special forces targeted a suspicious building deep in the Syrian desert on September 6, 2007. Using laser markers, they successfully guided fighter jets to their target, reducing it to rubble. The ruins were later confirmed to be the al-Kibar nuclear reactor, built by Syria with North Korean help. The Begin Doctrine was once again in play.
Israel officially acknowledged the operation in 2018. The then Chief of General Staff, Gadi Eisenkot, explained, "The message of the 2007 attack is that Israel will not accept the development of a capability that threatens the existence of the State of Israel. That was the message in 1981, that was the message in 2007, and that is the message to our enemies for the future."
Adversaries Adapt
Iran, learning from these past attacks, has dispersed its nuclear program across multiple sites, some hidden in mountains. The Begin Doctrine is now facing its toughest test.
Former Israeli intelligence chief, Amos Yadlin, has warned that Iran has significantly heightened the challenges for potential strikes. The Iranian nuclear project is more diffused and harder to neutralize, making Israel's strategy more complex. The Begin Doctrine remains relevant, however, as Israel's security and strategic deterrence hinges on its ability to counter nuclear threats from regional adversaries.
- Israel
- Nuclear Proliferation
- Aerial Strikes
- Iran Nuclear Program
- Menuchem Begin Doctrine
Insights
The Begin Doctrine serves as an unofficial Israeli military strategy aimed at thwarting hostile neighboring countries from acquiring nuclear weapons. The policy of proactive self-defense prioritizes direct military action over diplomatic engagement to counter urgent threats. Israel's strategic imperative to maintain military superiority and deterrence lies at the core of this doctrine. Its applications, such as Operations Opera (1981) and Orchard (2007), have shown Israel's willingness to act unilaterally and preemptively to halt nuclear development in enemy states. In recent years, Israel's strategy against Iran's nuclear program has evolved to encompass sabotage, cyberattacks, covert operations, and psychological warfare, reflecting the operational challenges and high geopolitical stakes involved.
- The Begin Doctrine, a military strategy of Israel, has been historically utilized in instances of proactive self-defense against the development of weapons of mass destruction, as demonstrated by Operation Opera in 1981, aimed at Iraq's Osirak reactor, and Operation Orchard in 2007, targeting Syria's al-Kibar reactor.
- With Iran adapting its nuclear program to evade potential strikes, the Begin Doctrine is now figuring out ways to counteract this dispersal, signifying a formidable challenge to Israel's security and strategic deterrence in the ongoing standoff against Iran's nuclear program.
