Juggling Logics on the Egyptian–Israeli Borderland: Soldiers between Securitization and Arbitrary Humanitarianism

Abstract

The following article investigates two interconnected border logicssecuritization and humanitarianism-as they unfold as part of soldiers' border experiences. We wish to show the alternating implementation of these two logics and to elaborate on how are they bound together. Our ethnographic fieldwork was conducted between 2012 and 2014 along a section of the Israeli-Egyptian border, consisting of observations, as well as off-site interviews with soldiers who were stationed along this border, and analysis of media reports and court affidavits. Dedicating special attention to the interactions between soldiers and irregular migrants, we argue that the ambiguities experienced by the soldiers at the ground level result in what we call "arbitrary humanitarianism.

Organizational processes and gender integration in operational military units: An Israel Defense Forces case study

“…This is in comparison to other units positioned at the border area for a short period of time. A study on military units situated at border areas requires studying the unique operational logic that is prevalent at the border, and which may be contradictory and hazy (Ben-Ze'ev & Gazit, 2016). In our study we found that this type of confusion was not prevalent in the units that we examined.…”

“…The combination of risks in a single border area results in an operational logic that is not always easy to contain by military units deployed on the border (Ben-Ze'ev & Gazit, 2016). At Israel's northern border with Lebanon there is the risk of close military combat with the Hezbollah and even with Syrian forces at the Golan Heights.…”

“…These areas are characterized by a constant threat of terror operations. The combination of risks in a single border area results in an operational logic that is not always easy to contain by military units deployed on the border (Ben-Ze'ev & Gazit, 2016). One of the central challenges encountered by combat units positioned for long durations near borders is the ability to ascribe meaning to their task (Peled, 2006).…”

“…tutionalized' operational units, meaning units which are no longer in their 'experimental' state(Ben-Ari et al, 2010), but that now include regulated organizational processes. A study on military units situated at border areas requires studying the unique operational logic that is prevalent at the border, and which may be contradictory and hazy(Ben-Ze'ev & Gazit, 2016). This is in comparison to other units positioned at the border area for a short period of time.…”

“…An expression of this was the fact that commanders referred to the unit as experienced and that soldiers did not exhibit misgivings or misunderstandings regarding their border mission. Soldiers serving in this type of unit expressed the gaps reported in the literature between tasks having different military logic(Ben-Ze'ev & Gazit, 2016). A study on military units situated at border areas requires studying the unique operational logic that is prevalent at the border, and which may be contradictory and hazy(Ben-Ze'ev & Gazit, 2016).…”