ABSTRACT
This chapter examines Israel's counter-terrorist doctrine and practices on its home front. It deals with a theoretical survey of the universal essence of terror. The chapter discusses the changing nature of the terrorist threat against Israel and its evolving range of responses. It summarize the main lessons that can be drawn from the Israeli experience and discuss their possible application elsewhere. The chapter suggests that terrorism is best characterized as an ideologically rooted and maliciously motivated act of violence, directed at civilians in order to pressure the leadership to succumb to the political demands of the perpetrators. Consequently, terrorism of necessity has to be premeditated as a hostile act. It is based on political––ideological reasoning, utilizes fear to promote a political agenda and is intentionally directed at civilians. High trajectory weapons launched against Israeli civilian targets have constituted the other most effective form of terror.
