(Institute for National Security Studies-Tel Aviv University) Yoram Schweitzer - At the close of three years since the announcement of the Islamic State, it is clear that al-Baghdadi's gamble in declaring the establishment of an Islamic empire has failed, but his influence on the Salafi-jihad movement has grown. A sober understanding is required of the intention of the Salafi-jihad movement to temporarily suspend the caliphate idea, and replace it with the establishment of emirates in territories where the movement has a presence and there are existing problems with national government structures. Therefore, in addition to a focused military campaign against organizations, networks, and activists who are part of this ideological movement, action involving close international cooperation in political, economic, diplomatic, legal, and educational aspects should be taken, in order to prevent the threat of terrorism by this movement from reappearing and expanding. The writer is head of the research program on Terror and Low-Intensity Conflict at the INSS, following a distinguished career in the Israeli intelligence community.
2017-06-30 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive