Israel's strategic environment in the 1990s

The 1990s were of particular importance in Israel's history as they were characterized by drastic changes in the international system and by significant regional developments, which were beneficial for Israeli national security. Israel has remained a good ally of the US in an American dominated world. This helped Israel becoming a respected international actor and allowed much progress in the peace process, i.e. Israel's acceptance in the region. While the chances for a large-scale conventional war were lower than in the past, Israel still faced existential threats, stemming particularly from the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in the Middle East. In addition, it continued to face low-intensity conflict challenges.