Shadow Lands: The Use of Land Resources for Security Needs in Israel

The Israeli security system has possession of and influences in different forms more than half (!) of the territory of the State, excluding the West Bank. It also dictates the uses of air space and most sea space. Territorially speaking, the security system acts as an "independent system" operating alongside, and at times even separately from, the civilian sector. However, it is odd that little attention is paid to its conduct and, in particular, to its reciprocal relations with the civilian system. Consequently there are very few issues pertaining to the use of land resources for security needs and its implications that have come up for academic-research discussion or professional clarification or public debate. This article presents the reasons for this and offers a new agenda for the subject.