The Triple Conceptual Failure: Sinwar, Nasrallah, and Khamenei—and the Underestimation of Israel’s Resilience

Gadi Hitman

Contemporary Review of the Middle East, 2026, vol. 13, issue 3, 316-332

Abstract: This article offers an analysis of the ideology shared by the three leaders of the “Axis of Resistance†as a background to the October 7 attack. Theoretically, when conceptions or worldviews shape our perceptions of reality, divergent perceptions increase the likelihood of war between adversaries pursuing different goals and interests. The article analyzes the public statements by leaders of Israel’s enemies and discusses the existence of an explicit and rigid belief for them to overestimate their own capacity and underestimate Israel’s. This concept stemmed from an ideology committed to the destruction of Israel as a sovereign entity, alongside a strategic assessment grounded in the strengthening and expansion of its military forces and preparations for large-scale operations within its trilateral partnership, as well as considering Israel’s internal divisions over the judicial reform. This contributed to them keeping cohesion around the goal of terminating Israel but failing to evaluate the Israeli perception toward the October 7 attack and its resilience against the enemy.

Keywords: Israel; Palestine; Gaza Strip; Hamas; Iran; Hezbollah (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:crmide:v:13:y:2026:i:3:p:316-332

DOI: 10.1177/23477989261460240

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