Civil-military relations in Israel -- The geostrategic transformation of the 1990s -- The political arm of the military -- The modus operandi of the military -- The "democratic putsch" of 1999 -- The IDF confronts a new Intifada -- Sharon's double-headed government -- Political-military relations in low-intensity conflict -- The tragedy of CGS Ya'alon -- The chief of staff as a political actor -- Is it a just war? -- Conscientious objection -- Who won the Intifada? -- Israel's security culture -- Camp David and the Intifada-what went wrong? -- Conclusion: the IDF-sword or olive branch?.