ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the role of the defence establishment as a major consumer of land in Israel. In particular, it focuses on the ongoing competition for land between civilian and military authorities, a competition which has become more intense in recent years as civilian and private sector agencies are eager to acquire land for developmental purposes. The chapter discusses the mechanisms through which land zoning and planning permits are issued and the way in which the military and defence establishments are able to influence the decision-making process through the use of the securitization discourse, a discourse which is generally accorded prominence over all other civilian discourses. It then explains the impact of military land use on the environment and the ecology of the country, an impact which has both destructive and preservative elements. The chapter assesses the decision-making processes and planning mechanisms that exist in Israel, through which land zoning decisions are made.
