Louis René Beres
ARTICLES BY: Louis René Beres
Why a State of ‘Palestine’ Would Not Remain Demilitarized
France, Spain, Ireland, and Norway have recently announced plans to recognize “Palestine” as a fully-sovereign state. Though these plans may be well-intentioned, they nonetheless disregard...
After the Recent War with Iran, Should Israel’s Bomb Stay ‘In the Basement’?
In war, short-term operational success does not necessarily support long-term survival outcomes. Despite achieving its immediate goals during the “Twelve-Day War,” Israel will still have to...
Here Is Exactly Why Israel’s War Against Hamas Is Legal — and Required — By International Law
Israel has always had to navigate “new waves.” Today, however, separate but force-multiplying “seas” of jihadi terrorism and Iranian nuclearization define an existential threat. To...
Israel and Its Jihadist Adversaries Have Different Concepts of Time; Here’s Why That Matters
Whether the objective is war-winning, war-avoidance, or counter-terrorism, Israel should always assess its survival options “in time.” In essence, the Jewish State’s policy makers need to...
Why a ‘Demilitarized’ Palestinian State Will Not Work and Conflicts with International Law
On May 6, 2025, National Unity leader Benny Gantz reaffirmed the obvious: the establishment of a Palestinian state would seriously undermine Israel’s security. Gantz concluded...
Is the Prospect of Nuclear War Really a Risk of the Past?
In an impressively-prepared television documentary, The Fog of War, one-time US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara warned about the limits of rationality in world politics --...
Israel and the Middle East: Could There Be a Regional Nuclear War?
Current synergies between Palestinian statehood and regional nuclear war remain generally ignored. Once formally established, a Palestinian state could significantly impact the Israel-Iran balance of...
Why Palestinian Terrorism Is Never Legal or Justified: A Fact-Based Retort
In a world of international anarchy, law-based counter-terrorism is never just about strategy, tactics, or doctrine. Whatever an insurgency’s specific features, this critical arena of...
What the Law Actually Says About Targeting Jihadist Terrorists
During the coming year, the United States, in occasional concert with Israel, must confront expanding terrorist threats. Topping pertinent concerns in Washington and Jerusalem will...
Learning From the Wise Men of Chelm: Israel and a Palestinian State
A boy had been given money to buy things at the grocery store. On the way, he lost the money. Someone saw him looking for...
Israel Must Make Its Nuclear Intentions Clear in Order to Stay Safe in an Escalating Middle East
Recent events in Syria underscore the changing geo-strategic landscape in the Middle East. For Israel, although the fall of Assad will likely weaken Iran, it...
Vladimir Putin Has Threatened to Use Nuclear Weapons; What Would This Mean for Israel?
Soon, Israel will need to make critical decisions on launching preemptive strikes against Iran. Such non-nuclear defensive actions -- expressions of anticipatory self-defense” under international...
The Targeted Killing of Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar Was Completely Legal
In assessing Israel’s targeted killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, two separate but overlapping standards should be applied: legal and operational. Though these kinds of...
What Would a Palestinian State Mean for Regional Security, and a War with Iran?
Though significant, connections between Palestinian Arab statehood and nuclear war remain generally ignored. For Israel, the seemingly discrete perils of war with Iran and Palestinian...
