The 'Logic of Implosion' refers to the political rationale of the Resistance Network, which aims at Israel's collapse from within.
The "Logic of Implosion" refers to the political rationale of the Resistance Network, adopted by actors,1 operating against Israel, and aiming to pressure Israel on a number of fronts, that will ultimately lead to its implosion.
The logic of implosion is not based on military tools, but rather on preventing Israel from successful political processes.
The Logic of Implosion's Three Tools
The Logic of Implosion is using the following tools: (1) Terror; (2) Basic De-Legitimization of Israel; (3) Promoting the One-State Solution.
In light of Israel's military strength, the Logic of Implosion does not advance a policy of conventional military confrontation with Israel.2 Instead, it is using terror in order to (a) prevent Israel from achieving a decisive military victory;3 (b) fail negotiations when they reach critical phases; and (c) erode Israel's unilateral options.4
Basic De-Legitimization of Israel
De-legitimizing the basic tenets upon which Israel was created entails political, legal, and diplomatic declarations and actions aimed at terminating the existence of the State of Israel by fundamentally rejecting the Jewish right to self-determination in the state of Israel.
In this context, the Logic of Implosion refers to several discourses, such as Holocaust denial,5 democratic principles,6 or the denunciation of Israel's internal political scandals.7
Promoting the 'One-State Solution'
The Logic of Implosion not only undermines Israel's main tools to secure its existence, it is also presenting an alternative in the case Israel will finally collapse.
The main alternative is the 'One-State Solution', which entails the establishment of one Palestinian / Arab / Muslim state instead of Israel. Thus, it seeks to prevent Israel from achieving a sustainable separation between itself and the Palestinians by undermining the 'two state solution' principle.
The One-State Threat includes the trend of dismantling the Palestinian Authority8 or various speeches and declarations by leaders of the Resistance Network calling for a referendum, to be held in the area ranging from the Mediterranean sea to the Jordan river.9
1 These actors are mainly identified with the Resistance Network organizations such as Hizbullah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Currently, Iran is the driving force and ideological source of the Resistance Network.
The Resistance Network has the following characteristics:
A systemic phenomenon - The Resistance Network is comprised of a variety of actors, states and non-governmental organizations, that fulfill different roles such as 'initiator', 'facilitator', and 'executors'. Every actor can fulfill different roles.
Challenging states and central governments - The Resistance Network undermines moderate governments in the region by challenging their monopoly over the use of force.
A global phenomenon - The Resistance Network spreads its nodes around the globe. Its cells are often loosely interconnected by a de-centralized structure that allows for a variety of logics to coexist, as well as for fast flow of information and rapid mobility.
2 Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah declared in his "spider web" speech, held in May 2000: "in order to liberate your land, you don't need tanks and planes. With the example of martyrs, you can impose your demands on the Zionist aggressors. It (Israel) has a nuclear weapon and the strongest air force in the region, but in truth, it is weaker than a spider web." (YnetNews, 7/31/06).
3 On the battlefield, Israel enjoys military supremacy. Therefore the Logic of Implosion applies limited warfare and guerilla fighting against Israel, against which Israel cannot achieve a decisive military victory. Hence, the Logic of Implosion erodes Israel's deterrence capability and military image.
Furthermore, Israel's policy on entering a political process depends on its position of strength. Hence, the Resistance Network's erosion of Israel's military deterrence hinders Israel from entering a political process.
4 The Second Lebanon War and the firing of Qassam rockets from Gaza compromised Israel's ability to end the control over the Palestinians unilaterally by eroding the accomplishments of the Disengagement and shelving the Convergence Plan. (See Ben Werter "Death of the Convergence Plan", Ha'aretz, 8/18/06, in Hebrew).
5 Ahmadinejad was asked whether he is questioning Israel's right to exist in an interview to Der Spiegel: "My views are quite clear. We are saying that if the Holocaust occurred, then Europe must draw the consequences and that it is not Palestine that should pay the price for it. If it did not occur, then the Jews have to go back to where they came from." (Der Spiegel, 5/30/06).
6 In his letter to the American people, Ahmadinejad wrote: "I recommend that in a demonstration of respect for the American people and for humanity, the right of Palestinians to live in their own homeland should be recognized so that millions of Palestinian refugees can return to their homes and the future of all of Palestine and its form of government be determined in a referendum" (CNN, 11/29/06).
7 "Nasrallah commented on the Israeli media's response to Halutz' resignation. "I say that Halutz' resignation is an earthquake. All the Israeli media says Halutz had to do it because he anticipated the conclusions of the Winograd committee and had to take responsibility." (Nahmias, R., Ynet, 1/19/07)
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki referred to the scandal of Israeli President Moshe Katsav, and said that such "ethical deviation" showed that Israel "internally, and regionally from the outside, is cracking and falling apart." (Islamic Republic News Agency, 10/20/06)
8 Palestinian PM Haniyeh said that the dissolution of the Palestinian Authority (PA) will be considered if the international boycott continues (Maan News Agency, 5/4/07). Similarly, Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti warned that the fall of the Unity Government would result in the total collapse of the PA (Maan News Agency, 5/2/07).
See: The PA - Between Institutionalization and Anarchy and Dissolution of the PA - An Emerging Trend.
9 "Insisting that he was not "anti-Jew, Mr Ahmadinejad answered a question about his call for Israel to be "wiped off the map" by floating a plan to determine the future of the Holy Land by a referendum of all its inhabitants." Bones, J., The Times, 9/22/06.