Over the last years, missile defense has resurfaced as a major feature
of the strategic debate in the United States and among its close allies.
In 2010, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit of Heads of State
saw intense discussions among transatlantic partners on the strategic
value of missile defense alongside the traditional deterrence means of
the Alliance. But if these transatlantic debates are for the most part
still speculative, for many years, one close American ally has already
faced the concrete and immediate challenge of defending its territory
against missiles and rockets-Israel. As demonstrated during the last
clashes between the Israeli Defense Forces and Palestinian factions
(2012 and 2014), missile defense is now a pillar of Israel's strategic
culture. Understanding this evolution demands an in-depth look at its
political, military, and technical ramifications. That is the very
purpose of this new monograph by Dr. Jean-Loup Samaan.