Comitte : ASEAN Regional Forum

Topic Area : Maritime Security

Country : ISRAEL
Chair : Sari Mutiara Aisyah S.ip, MA
Delegates : M. Zul Fahmi & Regita Angraini

Topic Area

“Continuation of the maritime security blockade off the Gaza Strip coast. This is a
supreme security interest for us. Israel has reached an agreement of strategic importance
for the State of Israel, for security, for regional stability and for the Israeli economy. As
Prime Minister of Israel, it is our responsibility to be concerned with its strategic interests,
to take a broad and long-term view, based on an understanding of the international arena
as well as of our security and economic needs, at present and in the future.”
[June, 27th 2016, Benjamin Netanyahu]

Maritime security is one of the longest standing distinctive areas of international law
dealing with international security issues due to the historic importance of the law on piracy,
With the development of the international law of the sea, coastal state maritime security has
gained in prominence as an array of maritime zones have been proclaimed and new sovereign
rights and jurisdiction asserted over maritime areas. Our 20 years of experience in the
maritime security industry enables us to recognize the fundamental differences between
several scenarios that may occur. All our trained and experienced operatives have served in
IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) and are former Royal Marines personnel. Our highly trained and
experienced personnel onshore and offshore ensure we are well suited and prepared for any
upcoming challenges. Israel is highly advanced in the field of technological innovation, but
paradoxically, in the maritime field, insufficient innovation is taking place. The time has
come to change this. With the right government leadership and initiatives, we can enlarge the
innovation map to encompass maritime technology. We ought to do so.

With a grand maritime strategy, a military naval strategy could flourish and evolve. Maritime
security is a factor that influences all other national sea matters. The navy’s job is to be the
gatekeeper of the sea and to deliver information on threats in the surrounding environment,
and here, job of Israel’s navy would be vital. In this respect, Israel’s naval security needs are
many and unique. With the correct methodology, Israel can begin creating its own maritime
cluster, one that will eventually be able to engage with the European Union’s maritime
cluster. A failure to do this might result in an Israeli inability to integrate itself into the
international maritime arena. Government ministries have already begun preparing projects
and policies for the sea. All that is lacking now is a decision to synchronize all of their
activities, for the good of Israel’s economy and security.
Due to the this problem, the state of Israel taking a responsbility:

1. The first thing is protection for IDF commanders and soldiers from criminal and civil
claims, both those being prosecuted now and those that might be prosecuted in the
future. As of now there are very many such claims and their scope is increasing; they
could reach many millions of dollars and prevent the free movement of our soldiers,
their freedom of activity – all of this is cancelled. The agreement will ensure that our
soldiers and commanders will not be exposed to claims by Turkey. Moreover, the
agreement also stipulates that the Turkish parliament will pass a law cancelling all of
these processes in Turkey.

2. The second thing that gives is maintaining the maritime security blockade of the Gaza
Strip. This is our supreme security interest; that was not prepared to compromise on it.
This interest is vital to prevent the strengthening of Hamas and it remains as it has
been. Of course, we are allowing ships to dock at Ashdod port and unload civilian and
humanitarian cargoes there for the Gaza Strip. We have never prevented this, of
course, and we are making it possible now.

3. The third thing that along with maintaining the security arrangement, is to allow for
dealing with humanitarian issues in the Gaza Strip, subject to Israel's security
procedures and considerations.We would like to explain that beyond the humanitarian
consideration, this is also an outstanding interest of Israel's, especially in two areas –
water and electricity. Water: When there is not enough water in Gaza, and Gaza is in
the process of gradually drying up, the aquifers become polluted and when the
aquifers become polluted, this is not limited to the Gaza side of the aquifer but also
passes over to the aquifer on our side. Therefore, it is in Israel's clear interest to deal
with the water problem in the Gaza Strip. Electricity: When there is not enough
electricity, various problems arise, including those having to do with sanitation, and
when there are outbreaks, the outbreaks do not stop at the fences. This is both a
humanitarian interest and an outstanding Israeli interest. Therefore, we are allowing
these infrastructures to be dealt with. Just like other countries, from Norway to Arab
states, so too will Turkey be able to help on this matter. Of course, we will hold
discussions with Turkey on these issues.