Brig. Gen. (res.) Eran Ortal’s latest article critiques Israel’s long-standing military strategy of using border defenses to deter threats from groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Ortal argues that this approach, rooted in creating physical barriers and relying on air power for deterrence, has consistently failed, as evidenced by the October 7 attack. Instead of focusing on stronger borders, he advocates for a shift in military thinking—viewing the border not as a static line but as a dynamic front requiring a combination of defensive and offensive tactics. Brig. Gen. (res.) Eran Ortal suggests that Israel should move away from a purely defensive strategy and return to a more balanced approach that includes proactive, offensive actions to neutralize threats before they escalate.

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