Israel and the Politics of Intelligence Failure on 7 October

Jones, Clive; Geist Pinfold, Robert

Abstract

This article examines Israel’s intelligence failures and successes in its ongoing conflict with Hamas. It distinguishes between occasional (intelligence assessments) and causal factors (structural and political inputs). Critically, it illustrates that Israel’s intelligence agencies deferred to the prevailing, but incorrect, assumptions and short-sighted policy priorities set by the Prime Minister’s Office. Clive Jones and Robert Geist Pinfold also explore the over-reliance on technical intelligence, the lack of structural reform and the militarised nature of Israel’s intelligence cycle.

Citation

Jones, C., & Geist Pinfold, R. (2025). Israel and the Politics of Intelligence Failure on 7 October. The RUSI Journal, 170(3), 40-50. https://doi.org/10.1080/03071847.2025.2487510

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 28, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Apr 24, 2025
• Publication Date: Apr 24, 2025
• Deposit Date: Jun 12, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 12, 2025
• Journal: The RUSI Journal
• Print ISSN: 0307-1847
• Electronic ISSN: 1744-0378
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 170
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 40-50
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03071847.2025.2487510
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4096247