ABSTRACT
The war in the Gulf represents a milestone in Israeli history. It was a period of many emotional experiences, of much tension and stress, and these, undoubtedly, left their impression on the collective subconscious of the Israeli people. We shall examine this important event on three different levels: descriptive, analytical and predictive. The first level is a factual description of the events that occurred during the crisis (Operation Desert Shield) and the war (Operation Desert Storm). The second level is an analysis of the immediate effects on, and the significance of these events for, the attitudes, opinions, perceptions, self-confidence and internal cohesion of the people of Israel. The third level is essentially an attempt to predict the long-term consequences for Israel's political orientation.
