Shadows in Disguise: The Evolution of Mista’arvim Units in Israel’s Strategic Culture

Authors : Nazife Selcen Pınar Akgül

Pages : 110-122

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Publication Date : 2025-05-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This article explores how the creation and normalization of Mista’arvim units reflect Israel’s strategic culture and constructed perceptions of threat. Rooted in the belief that Israel exists in a permanently hostile regional environment, its strategic culture emphasizes preemptive and covert security practices. The study focuses on three interrelated dimensions of threat construction: the social production of threat, the normalization of clandestine operations, and the reproduction of threat narratives in popular culture. Employing interpretive analysis of official and media narratives as its primary methodology, the article investigates how Mista’arvim units—Israeli undercover forces operating by impersonating Palestinians—both embody and reinforce state narratives. The article assumes threat perception is not an objective reality but is shaped by political discourse and institutional practices. The findings suggest that these units do not merely respond to security concerns but actively participate in constructing the very threats they aim to eliminate. This analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of the interplay between strategic culture and threat perception in Israel.
Keywords : Israel, Stratejik Kültür, Tehtit Algısı, Mista'arvim

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