According to Israel’s Walla News, Shin Bet chief David Zini is establishing a specialized school to study Islam, Palestinian culture, and the ideology of Hamas following the intelligence failures of October 7, 2023.
The institution will bring together academics, intelligence experts, and current and former security officials. It will operate alongside Shin Bet’s existing Arabic-language training center, which also trains Israeli military personnel.
This is not simply an academic project. It is an investment in intelligence and strategic warfare. Israel has recognized that technological superiority means little without understanding the beliefs, culture, and motivations of its adversaries.
A question to Arab and Muslim leaders:
Why aren’t we investing just as seriously in specialized institutions dedicated to studying Israeli military doctrine, political ideology, intelligence agencies, societal divisions, and strategic vulnerabilities?
Why are we allowing Israel to study us systematically while failing to develop equally powerful institutions capable of understanding, anticipating, and confronting its policies?
Knowledge is power. Understanding your adversary is not a luxury — it is a strategic necessity.