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Israel
Dormant War
Israelis traditionally viewed the Arab-Israeli conflict as a
struggle for survival, convinced that even one military defeat
would mean the end of their country. National defense became the
first priority, with proportionately more human and material resources
devoted to defense than in any other nation in the world. Israelis
regarded major conflicts, such as occurred in 1967 and 1973, as
"rounds" or battles in a continuous war. Even when it was not
engaged in outright combat with its Arab enemies, Israel remained
in what General Yitzhak Rabin, who became minister of defense
in 1984, called a "dormant war" that, "like a volcano," could
erupt with little warning into a major conflagration.
Data as of December 1988
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