Why does Mossad target opponents for liquidation? Shereshevskiy's review

Numerous Mossad operations aimed at eliminating Israel's political and military opponents are widely known. They have long been the subject of literary works and films. Listing them alone would be a difficult task, there are so many of them.

But what is the strategy of Israeli intelligence when it conducts targeted liquidations? Moreover, we are talking not only about the leaders of political movements hostile to Israel or military leaders but also about ideologists, politicians, middle-level operatives, etc. Why are the Israelis doing this? After all, there is a traditional counterargument - others will take the place of some.

First, if successful, such operations strengthen the authority of the government and intelligence inside the country. They show the population that the leadership cares about them, and intelligence receives additional funding. Ordinary people will have something to discuss over a glass of tea - they will be able to make sure that "ours are cool".

Secondly, Israeli operations are designed for a long-term effect, they are an element of a grand strategy. These actions have been carried out for years, even decades, and are like weights on the scales. In this way, Israel informs its opponents: "Look, this is part of the price you will pay for the confrontation with us. These risks are included in the cost of fighting. They mean that many of you, for example, ideologists or operatives of Palestinian organisations, Lebanese Hezbollah or the Iranian regime, will be deprived of restful sleep. Perhaps some, such as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, will have to spend most of their lives in underground shelters. Of course, we won't be able to come to everyone, but we will come to some of you. Moreover, this applies not only to the top management. It's even easier for us to deal with those who are smaller - they are less protected. Are you absolutely sure that you want this? Do you like to wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat or check the car every time - what if a bomb is attached to it?".

It is worth remembering that not all members of the elite, mid-level operatives or ideologists of a hostile state (political movement) are fanatics who dream of getting into the gardens of paradise. Many of them are ordinary people. They just make a career and dream of a comfortable life for themselves, not death.

Such actions by Israel somewhat resemble the logic of modern military affairs - multi-sphere operations, when a compound conducts combat operations, simultaneously using drones, aviation, special forces, artillery, etc., and all these types are important and are used where and when it is convenient. Actually, some Israeli liquidations are multi-sphere operations in their technical execution. For example, there was an action during which the head of Iran's nuclear program, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was destroyed - his car was shot from a machine gun controlled remotely via satellite after intelligence delivered accurate information about the physicist's location to the operation headquarters.

The logic here is similar. The confrontation is developing simultaneously in many areas - in the field of economics, technology, political relations, diplomacy, etc. Mossad is part of history, conducting liquidation attacks, influencing opponents’ strategic choices and preferences, and increasing the price of confrontation for them. All other things being equal, having considered all the benefits and risks, they may not want a confrontation with him.

Fatah (Arabic: Fatḥ), formerly the Palestinian National Liberation Movement, eventually agreed to a cease-fire with Israel. Hezbollah, a pro-Iranian Lebanese group, rarely attacks Israeli territory. Because they understand perfectly well what can happen to them. Yes, this was preceded by decades of intense armed struggle. Yes, it can flare up with renewed vigour, since the roots of the confrontation have not been eliminated. Perhaps this is what will happen now after the exchange of strikes between Israel and Hezbollah.

But that's exactly how it works. War and peace replace each other. There will be no eternal peace in modern conditions. However, periods of relative calm or peaceful negotiations between hostile states or political movements can last for years or decades if the parties have convincing arguments to explain to opponents that it is better for them to negotiate than to fight. The practice of Mossad is one of such arguements.