State dossier
Israel
ISR · ISRAEL · on the world map
What does it want?
Position: unclear or shifting (AMBIG). Has said things that point in more than one direction.
Unclear or shifting (AMBIG), since 2023-11-01, points both ways (AMBIGUOUS)
Israel says the existing laws of war are a sufficient legal framework for these weapons. It also says the Geneva expert group should keep working toward consensus outcomes, and it opposes a parallel process. In 2025 it voted No and said the resolution wrongly suggested the group's work would lead to a legal framework. These records fit both "no new rules" and "keep it in Geneva". Both are shown.
Direction 1 - Israel states that IHL is a sufficient legal framework for LAWS.
international humanitarian law fully applies to lethal autonomous weapons systems and, in our view, is a sufficient legal framework for any future use of LAWS
General Assembly First Committee, 78th session, 28th meeting, official verbatim record (A/C.1/78/PV.28), 2023-11-01 source
Direction 1 - the 2024 submission repeats that existing law is a sufficient legal framework.
fully applies to LAWS and, in Israel's view, provides a sufficient legal framework for any future use of LAWS in the context of armed conflicts
Israel's remarks: Secretary-General Implementation Report (L.56: Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems), 2024-05-24 source
Direction 1 - in 2025 Israel objects to text suggesting the GGE will lead to a legal framework.
in our view, insinuates that the GGE's work will lead to discussions on a legal framework, clearly not the mandate of the current group
General Assembly First Committee, 80th session, 26th meeting, automatic speech recognition transcript, 2025-11-06 source
Israel explains its No vote on L.41 (resolution 80/57).
For these reasons, Israel chose to vote no on resolution L41.
General Assembly First Committee, 80th session, 26th meeting, automatic speech recognition transcript, 2025-11-06 source
Direction 2 - Israel names the CCW as the most suitable forum.
the CCW remains the most suitable forum for addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies in the area of LAWS
Israel's remarks: Secretary-General Implementation Report (L.56: Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems), 2024-05-24 source
Direction 2 - Israel describes the GGE mandate as elements of an instrument, nature not prejudged.
The GGE has a robust mandate to further consider and formulate, by consensus, a set of elements of an instrument, without prejudging its nature
Israel's remarks: Secretary-General Implementation Report (L.56: Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems), 2024-05-24 source
Direction 2 - Israel warns that initiatives outside the CCW risk duplication and fragmentation.
External initiatives that lack such characteristics risk not only duplication but fragmentation of approaches.
Israel's remarks: Secretary-General Implementation Report (L.56: Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems), 2024-05-24 source
Direction 2 - Israel opposes a parallel forum to the CCW.
Israel calls for the important work done in the CCW not to be undermined by the creation of a parallel forum for that subject matter.
General Assembly First Committee, 78th session, 28th meeting, official verbatim record (A/C.1/78/PV.28), 2023-11-01 source
Direction 2 - Israel opposes the resolution's prejudgment language.
Israel opposes the prejudgment language in this year's draft resolution.
General Assembly First Committee, 80th session, 26th meeting, automatic speech recognition transcript, 2025-11-06 source
How did it vote?
Abstain, Abstain, No across the three resolutions.
Hover a legend chip to light those votes · each resolution links to its record
What has it signed?
Being on a list is a fact. Not being on one is not opposition.
Hover a column heading to light its signings · click a seal to open the document
When has it spoken?
Every time it went on the record, dated.
Hover a mark for what it was · a legend chip lights that type
What rules has it written at home?
Its own military policy.
Military policy not yet reviewed by this site, as of 2026-11-04.
The record
The documents on file.
Each mark opens its source