Crisis Response and Institutional Learning in the Israeli Military: Negotiating Transparency and Security in the Aftermath of the Tze’elim Training Accidents

This study analyzes how military organizations navigate tensions between public accountability and internal learning processes through a detailed examination of two training accidents at the IDF. Using a mixed-methods analysis of media coverage spanning two decades, this research explores how organizational learning processes, transparency, and public trust interact during crises. The findings reveal inherent tensions between transparency and information security requirements, demonstrating how over-reliance on security arguments can backfire, leading to the loss of information control and erosion of public trust. The findings show that media discourse focusing on systemic failures rather than individual accountability leads to more significant organizational changes. The study introduces the concept of “second-order reliability”–the need for organizations not only to be reliable but also to be perceived as such by stakeholders. These findings offer guidance for organizations managing learning processes during crises, with implications for understanding contemporary challenges in military crisis management.