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Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA)

Strategic Alliances for a Secure, Connected, and Prosperous Region
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Author: Shabtai Shavit

Shabtai Shavit held a variety of senior positions within the Mossad for over 32 years, including head of the agency between 1989 and 1996. Since 2001 he has been the Chairman of the Board of the International Policy Institute for Counter Terrorism at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, advisor to Israel's National Security Council, and advisor to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
The Challenge of Intelligence Assessment Regarding International Terrorist Organizations

The Challenge of Intelligence Assessment Regarding International Terrorist Organizations

November 5, 2007 | Shabtai Shavit
Should fighting terrorism be based on reaction or on pre-emption? Since there is an ongoing war, since the threat is permanent, since the intention of the enemy in this case is to annihilate you, the right doctrine is one of pre-emption and not of reaction. What is the point even morally to wait and only do something when the enemy comes to attack?