function is to serve as a coordinating, integrative, deliberative, and
supervisory body on matters of national security and to operate as an
arm of the Prime Minister’s Office. The chairman of the NSC also
serves as the national security adviser to the prime minister and an-
swers directly to the prime minister.
The NSC derives its authority from the government and operates
in accordance with the instructions of the prime minister. It central-
izes data from all government ministries and offices dealing with na-
tional security and makes assessments of expected trends in order to
brief Knesset committees on these issues, in accordance with the in-
structions of the prime minister. The NSC is likewise charged to
make recommendations to the government on national security pol-
icy; to conduct long-range planning of national security components,
with the assistance of existing planning bodies in those government
ministries and offices dealing with national security; to monitor and
update national security activities; to supervise the implementation of
national security decisions; and to maintain cooperative relations
with parallel national security officials in selected countries, in coor-
dination with the Foreign Ministry and its missions abroad, and in ac-
cordance with acceptable practice.
Despite its stated purpose, it appears that the NSC was created by
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in order to politically sting De-
fense Minister Yitzhak Mordechay, who opposed its establishment. It
seems that Netanyahu only wanted a body with a flashy American name,
nothing more. As soon as the body was created, Netanyahu immediately
instructed the NSC to address nonconventional weapons and ballistic
missile threats to Israel as its top priority. The first chairman of the NSC,
Major General (reserves) David Ivri, was appointed and served in this
position until he was appointed as Israel’s ambassador to the United
States in January 2002. His successor was Major General (reserves) Uzi
Dayan, who held the office until August 2002. He was replaced by for-
mer Mossaddirector Efraim Halevy, who occupied the post until his
resignation on 1 September 2003. His successor, Major General (re-
serves) Giora Eiland, assumed the office in January 2004 and submitted
his request to resign to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in August 2005.
Eiland, like all his predecessors, failed to penetrate the wall sur-
rounding the prime minister. However, Eiland and the prime minister
maintained correct working relations, despite professional disagree-
ments. Eiland tendered his resignation, but agreed to continue in hisNATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL• 19906-102 (03) H-P.qxd 3/24/06 7:25 AM Page 199