Commanders for Israel's Security

Commanders for Israel's Security, commonly abbreviated CIS, is an Israeli civil-society movement composed primarily of former senior figures from the Israel Defense Forces, Mossad, Shin Bet and Israel Police. It was established in October 2014 through a private initiative by reserve officers and other security veterans who sought to place a regional political-security strategy at the center of Israel's national debate. The movement's stated approach is non-partisan in organizational terms, but its policy objectives are explicitly political: it promotes the Arab Peace Initiative as a possible basis for negotiations, supports renewed efforts to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and advocates normalization and broader strategic cooperation between Israel and moderate Arab and Muslim-majority states. The group's identity rests on the security credentials of its participants rather than on electoral representation or commercial products. Its members have included former IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz; former Mossad directors Zvi Zamir, Shabtai Shavit, Danny Yatom and Meir Dagan; former Shin Bet director Ami Ayalon; former Israeli Air Force commanders Amos Lapidot and Avihu Ben-Nun; and former police commissioners Herzl Shafir, Yaakov Turner and Assaf Hefetz. The movement has presented the involvement of such figures as evidence that diplomatic engagement and regional arrangements can be understood as security measures rather than solely as ideological or partisan positions. CIS emerged in the context of continuing disagreement in Israel over the future of the Israeli–Palestinian peace process, the strategic consequences of the conflict, and the country's relationship with the United States. Its founding initiative called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to adopt the Arab Peace Initiative as a foundation for political negotiations and to advance the peace process. The movement's public advocacy has therefore combined support for a negotiated regional framework with arguments about Israel's long-term security, international legitimacy and diplomatic room for maneuver. In February 2015, the organization criticized Netanyahu's decision to address a joint session of the United States Congress without prior coordination with President Barack Obama or his administration. CIS members argued that the episode risked weakening Israel's relationship with its principal ally at a time when cooperation with the United States and the wider international community was important to confronting Iran's nuclear program. Amnon Reshef, identified in the contemporary account as the movement's director general, said that strengthening ties was more effective than attempting to conceal disagreements. The criticism was rejected by Netanyahu's Likud party, which characterized the group as left-wing. The movement has also supported a broader conception of peace involving an alliance or cooperative framework among Israel and Arab and Muslim-majority states. Its activities have included public statements, policy advocacy and communications intended to influence Israeli decision-makers and public opinion. CIS is not described as a political party, state institution or conventional security contractor. It is better understood as an expert-led advocacy movement whose public brand is built around the authority of retired commanders and senior security officials. Publicly available reference material does not establish a formal commercial ownership structure, a listed entity, or a detailed operating footprint beyond its Israeli base and its engagement with regional and international policy issues.

Commanders for Israel's Security was formed in October 2014 by a private and spontaneous initiative involving senior reserve officers and other former Israeli security officials. The founders and early participants sought to persuade the Israeli government to treat the Arab Peace Initiative as a potential framework for negotiations and to renew movement toward a regional political-security arrangement. The initiative emerged from a debate in which diplomatic engagement was often presented as separate from, or even opposed to, national security. CIS instead framed conflict resolution, regional normalization and international cooperation as means of reducing strategic risks to Israel. The movement brought together veterans of several branches of Israel's security establishment, including the IDF, Mossad, Shin Bet and Israel Police. Its publicly identified members included former IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz; former Mossad directors Zvi Zamir, Shabtai Shavit, Danny Yatom and Meir Dagan; former Shin Bet director Ami Ayalon; former Air Force commanders Amos Lapidot and Avihu Ben-Nun; and former police commissioners Herzl Shafir, Yaakov Turner and Assaf Hefetz. This cross-institutional composition became a central part of CIS's public identity. Rather than presenting itself as a party or an ideological movement, it relied on the experience and reputations of retired commanders to argue that a negotiated regional framework could serve practical security interests. By February 2015, the movement was reported to include more than 200 retired officers. It publicly criticized Netanyahu's planned address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress, which had been arranged without the involvement of President Barack Obama and his administration. CIS argued that the method and timing of the speech threatened Israel's relationship with its most important ally. Amnon Reshef, described in the contemporary material as the group's director general, emphasized that preventing a nuclear Iran required stronger ties among Israel, the United States and the international community. Former senior officers associated with the group similarly argued that Israeli strategy should focus on the Iranian government rather than create a confrontation with Washington. Likud rejected the criticism and described the organization as left-wing. CIS's broader program has continued to emphasize a regional approach. In addition to Israeli–Palestinian negotiations, prominent members have called for a wider peace and security arrangement involving Arab and Muslim-majority countries. The movement's work is therefore centered on policy advocacy, public messaging and the mobilization of retired security expertise. Available reference material does not provide a complete chronology of its internal leadership, membership changes, funding, legal structure or later campaigns. Its documented historical significance lies in its effort to give a security-establishment voice to diplomatic initiatives and regional normalization while remaining outside formal party politics.

• 2015

  Public criticism of Netanyahu's Congress address

  [1]Commanders for Israel's Securityen.wikipedia.org

  The movement criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned speech to the U.S. Congress, warning that the episode could harm Israel–U.S. relations.

• 2014

  Movement established

  [1]Commanders for Israel's Securityen.wikipedia.org

  Commanders for Israel's Security was founded in October through a private initiative involving former senior Israeli security officials and reserve officers.

A non-partisan, security-establishment-led advocacy movement presenting diplomacy, regional cooperation and conflict resolution as instruments of Israeli national security.

• Policy program · 2014

  Regional political-security initiative

  CIS's central policy proposition is that Israel should pursue a regional framework combining Israeli–Palestinian negotiations, security arrangements and normalization with moderate Arab states. The movement presents this approach as a practical security strategy intended to reduce long-term risks, strengthen Israel's diplomatic position and expand cooperation with neighboring countries.

• Policy advocacy · 2014

  Arab Peace Initiative advocacy

  The organization advocates considering the Arab Peace Initiative as a basis for political negotiations and broader regional engagement. Its contribution is primarily public and expert advocacy by former senior security officials rather than the delivery of a commercial service or physical product.

• 2014Arab Peace Initiative and regional security advocacy

  Israel · Middle East

  At its formation, CIS called on Israel's government to use the Arab Peace Initiative as a foundation for negotiations and to advance a regional political-security process.

  Outcome. The available reference material does not establish a definitive policy outcome.

  Source

• 2015

  Opposition to Netanyahu's uncoordinated Congress addressStrategy

  Background

  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress without prior engagement with President Barack Obama and his administration.

  Action taken

  CIS publicly criticized the decision and argued that preserving close ties with the United States was essential to Israel's security and to international cooperation concerning Iran.

  Aftermath

  Netanyahu's Likud party dismissed the criticism and characterized the organization as a left-wing group. No further institutional outcome is established in the available source.

  Source

1. 1Commanders for Israel's Securityen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Commanders for Israel's Security official websiteen.cis.org.il