Cause and prevention of war: a concept and historical approa…

Hello everyone, Attached below is the final assignment for the course. It addresses the reasons behind the surprise attack of October 7, which led to the Iron Swords war. You are required to refer to all the assigned readings and write an essay that engages with the central arguments of the authors regarding the causes of the war. The intention is not for you to submit a document divided into four separate summaries of each article. Rather, you should synthesize them, or at least create a connecting thread between the different texts. Any use of insights from the lectures themselves (for example, references to levels of analysis, perceptual biases, or the last two sessions on strategic surprise) will be welcomed. You may rely, to a limited extent, on additional sources, including media reportsboth those already published and any new revelations that may emerge before the submission deadline. However, the core of your paper should be based on the assigned materials. Please be cautious of sources or arguments generated by artificial intelligence, as such programs sometimes fabricate information. The assignment must be at least 2,500 words (3,000 words if submitted in English or Arabic). Use 1.5 line spacing in your preferred font. The paper must be submitted as a Word document (not PDF). Submission is via Moodle within one month of the last class session, i.e., by February 23. Please use proper citations, especially when using direct quotations or anything placed in quotation marks that is not your own idea or statement. You may, of course, add a personal perspective at the end of the paper. Be sure to write in a structured and clear manner, using precise formulations and avoiding overly general paraphrasing. You may use translation software, but make sure to carefully review the translations, as they can sometimes produce awkward or inaccurate phrasing. Assigned Readings: Daniel Sobelman, Axis of Resistance: Asymmetric Deterrence and Rules of the Game in Contemporary Middle East Conflicts (State University of New York Press, 2025), Chapter 4. Daniel Byman and Mackenzie Holtz, Why Hamas Attacked When It Did, Center for Strategic and International Studies, December 6, 2023. Ariel (Eli) Levite, How Was Israel Caught Off-Guard? War on the Rocks, February 22, 2024. Daniel Sobelman, The Strategic Origins of Hamass October 7th Attack, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, January 2026.