Israel Defense Forces

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael, often abbreviated צה"ל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal) is the name of Israel's armed forces (army, air force and navy). It was formed following the founding of Israel in 1948 to "defend the existence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state of Israel" and "to protect the inhabitants of Israel and to combat all forms of terrorism which threaten the daily life." The predecessors to the IDF were the Haganah (in particular, its operative detachment, the Palmach) and the British armed forces, in particular the Jewish Brigade that fought during World War II. See also Jewish legion.

After the establishment of the IDF, the two Jewish guerillas the Irgun and Stern gang came under control of the IDF. But they were allowed to operate independently in Jerusalem until the end of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war after which they eventually dispersed.

For detailed IDF history, see: Israel Defense Forces History.

Overview

High command

The IDF falls under the command of a single general staff. The current head of staff is (Lieutenant) General (Rav-Aluf) Moshe (Boogie) Ya'alon, answerable to the Minister of Defense.

The Chief of the General Staff (in Hebrew: רמטכ"ל, pronounced: Ramatkal) is the high commander of the IDF and answers to the Defense minister and the Prime minister. All Ramatkals are in the rank of (Lieutenant) General (in Hebrew: רב אלוף , pronounced: "Rav Aluf").

Note about ranks: if the ranks of the IDF are to be translated one-to-one to Western ranks then a "Rav Aluf" is equivalent to Lieutenant General (since Major General is "Aluf"). But since Rav Aluf in Israel is the high commander of the army (including air force and navy), the translation of it as "General" is more appropriate.

Service and manpower

Service is mandatory for Jewish men and women over the age of 18, although exemptions may be made on religious grounds. Israel is the only country which currently has female conscription. The fact that an increasing number of people in the ultraorthodox community are exempt, has been a source of tension in Israeli society. Druze also serve in the IDF. In recent years, some Druze officers have reached positions in the IDF as high as Major General. Israeli Arabs, with few exceptions, are not obliged to serve, though they may volunteer.

Six Israeli Arabs have received orders of distinction as a part of their military service; of them the most famous is a Bedouin officer, Lieutenant Colonel Abd El-Amin Hajer (also known as Amos Yarkoni), that has received the Order of Example. Recently, a Bedouin officer was promoted to the rank of Colonel.

Men serve three years in the IDF, as do the women in combat positions, while women in non-combat positions serve two. The IDF requires women who volunteer for combat positions to serve for three years because combat soldiers must go through a lengthy period of training, and the IDF wants to get as much use of that training as possible. In addition, men serve up to one month annually of reserve service, up to the age of 43-45. No direct social benefits are tied to completion of military service, but doing it is required for attaining a security clearance and serving in some types of government positions (in most cases, security-related); Israeli Arabs claim, however, that this puts them at a disadvantage.

Expendetures and alliances

During 1950-66, Israel spent an average of 9% of its GDP on defense. Defense expenditures increased dramatically after both the 1967 and 1973 wars. In 1996, the military budget reached 10.6% of GDP and represented about 21.5% of the total 1996 budget.

In 1983, the United States and Israel established the Joint Political Military Group, which meets twice a year. Both the U.S. and Israel participate in joint military planning and combined exercises, and have collaborated on military research and weapons development.

Military branches

• IDF
  • Ground
    • Infantry ( חיל רגלים )
      • Givati Brigade ( גבעתי )
      • Golani Brigade ( גולני )
      • Nahal Brigade ( נח"ל )
      • Paratroopers Brigade ( צנחנים )
      • SF and CT elite units (Sayeret)
    • Armour ( שריון )
      • Barak Armored Brigade (aka. 45th Armored Brigade)
      • Sheva' Brigade (Hativa Sheva in Hebrew, aka. 7th Armored Brigade)
    • Artillery ( תותחנים )
    • Combat Engineering ( הנדסה קרבית )
  • Air force: Israeli Air Force (IAF) (חיל האוויר Heyl ha'Avir)
    • Warplanes
    • Helicopter gunships
    • Cargo planes
    • Nun Mem (Neged Metosim) - Air defense (anti-aircraft guns' operators)
  • Navy ( חיל הים )
    • Scout boats
    • Missile ships
    • Submarines
    • Shayetet 13 - naval commando
  • Military Intelligence ( מודיעין )
  • Support
    • Logistic
    • Ordnance & Maintenance
    • Medical Corps
    • Military Police (MP)
    • Military Courts \ Military Attorney
    • Military Chief Rabbi
    • Military Schools \ Military Academy
  • Home Front Command (Pikud Ha'Oref - created to replace HAGAH after the 1991 Gulf War)
    • Search and Rescue
  • Civilian service
    • Youth and Nahal Center
    • Nahal
• Frontier Guard - MAGAV (Mishmar Ha-Gvul - This is in fact a police unit. However, serving in the FG is the same as serving in the IDF, in terms of completing the mandatory term of service).
• Shin Bet (SHABAK - Sherut Bitahon Klali) - Israeli internal security service

See also: Israel Security Forces.

Israeli Military Technology

The IDF is considered to be one of the most high-tech armies in the world, possessing top-of-the-line weapons and computer systems. Beside of purchasing American-made weapon systems (such as the M4A1 assault rifle, F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon jets and Apache helicopter), the IDF holds a large department of weapon development, Rafael (The Authority For Weapons Development), which develops new weapons and technology to the IDF. Most of the technologies are produced by the Israeli security industries including the IMI, Elbit, El-Op and the IAI.

Israel's military technology is most famous for its guns, armored vehicle (tanks, tank-converted APCs, armoured bulldozers etc) and rocketery (missiles and rockets).

Currently Israel is the only country in the world with anti ballistic missile defense system "Hetz" and working with the USA on development of a tactical high energy laser system against medium range rockets (called Nautilus THEL). Also, Israel has the independent capability of launching satellites into orbit (a capability which is only held by Russia, the USA, China, Japan, France, India, and Israel).

Main Israeli Developments:

• Small Arms
  • Tavor TAR-21 bullpup assault rifle
    • "Refaim" advance rifle grenade
  • Galil assault rifle
  • Uzi submachine gun
    • Micro Uzi
    • Para Micro Uzi
    • Mini Uzi
    • Uzi pistol
  • IMI Negev light machine gun
  • Jericho 941 handgun
  • Magnum Research "Desert Eagle" large-caliber handgun
  • T.C.I. M89-SR semi-auto bullpup sniper rifle (based on a M-36 Sardius rifle)
  • SR-99 semi-auto sniper rifle
  • RCWS - remote control weapon station
  • OWS - overhead weapon station (also known as "Mag Refael")
• Armoured Fighting Vehicles
  • Merkava - Main battle tank
    • Mk 1
    • Mk 2
    • Mk 3
    • Mk 3 Baz (improved armour and fire control system)
    • Mk 3 LIC (modified for low intensity warfare, i.e. urban warfare).
    • Mk 4
    • Nammer ARV - Merkava armoured recovery vehicle
  • Magah (upgraded M60 Patton) - Main battle tank
  • Puma - Combat engineering armoured vehicle
  • Achzarit - APC (armored personal carrier)
  • Multi purpose tank-chassis based IFVs\CEVs
    • NagmaShot
    • Nagmachon
    • Nakpadon
  • Caterpillar D9 Bulldozer - an armoured military version
  • Machbet - self propelled anti aircraft gun
• All-terrain vehicles and other wheeled vehicles
  • Abir
  • Sufa
  • Desert Raider
• Rockets and Missiles
  • Gil\Spike - ATGM (anti-tank guided missile)
  • Shifon - ATGM
  • Jericho missile - ballistic missile
  • Shavit - can launch satellites into orbit
  • Rafael Python 4 and Rafael Python 5 - advance air-to-air missiles
  • Popeye - advance guided air-to-ground missile
  • Hetz (Arrow missile) - part of a ballistic missile defense system, able to shot down ballistic missiles
• Electronics and High-Tech
  • Oren Yarok (Green Pine) - radar system
  • Phalcon - intelligence gathering systems installed on large airplane
  • Satellites such as Ofek 5
  • Katbam - unmanned naval vehicle
  • Litning Pod - enhance fighter jets offensive capabilities
  • F-15I and F-16I fighter jets electronic systems
  • Barak Zoher - advance tank firing system, installed on Merkava tanks
• Aviation
  • Nesher fighter jet (upgraded Mirage V)
  • Kfir fighter jet (upgraded and improved Mirage V)
  • Nammer fighter jet
  • Lavi fighter jet (development wasn't complete)
  • Mazlat (UAV) - unmanned small aerial vehicle

Nuclear capability

See also: Israel and weapons of mass destruction

It is generally believed that Israel is a nuclear power. The weapons were thought to have been developed at the Dimona nuclear reactor since the 1960s. The first two nuclear bombs were probably operational before the Six-Day War and that Prime Minister Eshkol ordered them armed in Israel's first nuclear alert during that war. It is also believed that, fearing defeat in the October 1973 Yom Kippur War, the Israelis assembled thirteen twenty-kiloton nuclear bombs.

The current size and composition of Israel's nuclear stockpile is uncertain, and is the subject of various estimates and reports. FAS estimates that Israel probably has 100-200 nuclear warheads, which can be delivered by airplanes (A4 Skyhawk or converted F-4 Phantom II), or ballistic missiles (Lance, Jericho, or Jericho II missiles). The Jericho II is reported to have a range between 1,500 and 4,000 km, meaning that it can target sites as far away as central Russia.

The Israeli government has neither acknowledged nor denied that it possesses nuclear weapons, an official policy referred to as "ambiguity". However, a formerly imprisoned ex-Dimona employee, Mordechai Vanunu, confirmed much of the earlier speculation.

Israeli Defence Forces Ranks

Ranks of the Israeli Defence Forces.

Note about ranks: if the ranks of the IDF are to be translated one-to-one to Western ranks then a "Rav Aluf" is equivalent to Lieutenant General (since Major General is "Aluf"). But since Rav Aluf in Israel is the high commander of the army (including air force and navy), the translation of it as "General" is more appropriate.

• IDF ranks in English
• IDF ranks in Hebrew

The Code of Conduct

In 1992, the IDF has written down a Code of Conduct that is a combination of international law, Israeli law, Jewish heritage and the IDF's own traditional ethical code - Ruach Tzahal רוח צה"ל ("The Spirit of the IDF ").

The IDF Code of Conduct emphasis the following values:

• Tenacity of Purpose in Performing Missions and Drive to Victory חתירה לניצחון והשלמת המשימה
• Responsibility אחריות
• Credibility אמינות
• Personal Example דוגמה אישית
• Human Life ערך חיי אדם
• Professionalism מקצועיות
• Discipline משמעת
• Comradeship רעות
• Sense of Mission שליחות
• Purity of Arms טוהר הנשק - "The IDF servicemen and women will use their weapons and force only for the purpose of their mission, only to the necessary extent and will maintain their humanity even during combat. IDF soldiers will not use their weapons and force to harm human beings who are not combatants or prisoners of war, and will do all in their power to avoid causing harm to their lives, bodies, dignity and property".

Recently, a team of professors, commanders and former judges, led by Tel Aviv University head of Ethics cathedra, Professor Assa Kasher, developed a code of conduct which emphasizes the right behavior in low intensity warfare against terrorists, where soldiers must operate within a civilian population. Reserve units and regular units alike are taught the following eleven rules of conduct, which are an addition to the more general IDF Spirit:

1. Military action can only be taken against military targets.
2. The use of force must be proportional.
3. Soldiers may only use weaponry they were issued by the IDF.
4. Anyone who surrenders cannot be attacked.
5. Only those who are properly trained can interrogate prisoners.
6. Soldiers must accord dignity and respect to the Palestinian population and those arrested.
7. Soldiers must give appropriate medical care, when conditions allow, to oneself and one's enemy.
8. Pillaging is absolutely and totally illegal.
9. Soldiers must show proper respect for religious and cultural sites and artifacts.
10. Soldiers must protect international aid workers, including their property and vehicles.
11. Soldiers must report all violations of this code.

Recent policies and tactics

Owing to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the tactics of the IDF have been adapted for low intensity warfare primarily against Palestinian militants operating from within densely-populated civilian areas. Sometimes such clashes have resulted in deaths of civilians during clashes.

The IDF also employs a controversial strategy of assassinations (called targeted killings) of Palestinian militant leaders.

See also: urban warfare, counter terror, CQB.

See also

• Israel Defense Forces History
• Arab-Israeli conflict, Nuclear proliferation
• Military technology and equipment
• List of brigades in the Israeli Defense Forces.
• Refusal to serve in the Israeli military

External links

• IDF's Official Website
• The IDF Spirit - the ethical code of the IDF
• IDF Code of Conduct
• The Sword and the Olive, Martin Van Creveld, ISBN 1-891620-05-3. A thorough and critical history of the IDF from the early defence leagues, and up to the late 1990s.
• FAS's page about Israel's alleged nuclear capability
• BBC: Israel undercover
• Israeli Weapons
• Statistics about IDF ratio of thwarting suicide bombing attacks (link to DOC file)
• Defense-Update Online Magazine
• Haaretz report: "From 40 attacks per quarter to 5 attacks per quarter" :English - Hebrew - Graph 1: Thwarted attacks (yellow) vs successful attacks (red) - Graph 2: Suicide bombing within the "green line" per quarter .
• War Online - military analysis and military history of the Middle East, especially IDF (russian,english)