Israel Defense Forces

The Israel Defense Forces are part of the Israeli Security Forces.

Israel Defense Forces
Military manpower
Military age	18 years of age
Availability	males age 15-49: 1,499,186 (2000 est.) females age 15-49: 1,462,063 (2000 est.)
Fit for military service	males age 15-49: 1,226,903 (2000 est.) females age 15-49: 1,192,319 (2000 est.)
Reaching military age annually	males: 50,348 (2000 est.) females: 47,996 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures
Dollar figure	$8.7 billion (FY99)
Percent of GDP	9.4% (FY99)

Template:Israelis The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael ("[Army] Force [for] the Defense of Israel"), often abbreviated צה"ל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israel's armed forces, comprising the Israel army, Israel air force and Israel 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 operational branch, the Palmach) and former elements of the Jewish Brigade that fought under the British flag during World War II. See also Jewish legion.

After the establishment of the IDF, the two Jewish underground organizations the Etzel and Lehi joined with the IDF in a loose confederation, but were allowed to operate independently in some sectors until the end of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war; after which these two organizations were eventually disbanded.

History

See main article: History of the Israel Defense Forces for a detailed history of the IDF.

Overview

High command

The IDF falls under the command of a single general staff. The Chief of the General Staff (in Hebrew: רמטכ"ל, pronounced: Ramatkal) has the rank of (Lieutenant) General (in Hebrew: רב אלוף, pronounced: "Rav Aluf") and is the high commander of the IDF. He answers to the Defense minister and the Prime minister.

The current chief of staff is (Lieutenant) General (Rav-Aluf) Dan Halutz, who replaced Moshe Ya'alon, on June 1st, 2005.

(Also see a note about ranks further down this article.)

Service and manpower

National military service is compulsory for Jewish men and women over the age of 18, although exemptions may be made on religious, physical, or psychological grounds (see Profile 21). Israel is the only country which currently has female conscription. The fact that an increasing number of people in the Haredi 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 required 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), who received the Order of Distinction. 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 undergo a lengthy period of training, and it is in the interests of the IDF 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 sometimes required for attaining 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.

Women in the IDF

Women were historically barred from battle in the IDF, serving in a variety of technical and administrative support roles, except during the 1948 war of independence, when manpower shortages saw many of them taking active part in battles on the ground. But after a landmark 1994 High Court appeal by Alice Miller, a Jewish immigrant from South Africa, the Air Force was instructed to open its pilots course to women (several served as transport pilots during the war of independence in 1948 and "Operation Kadesh" in 1956, but the Air force later closed its ranks to women fliers). Miller failed the entrance exams, but since her initiative, many additional combat roles were opened. As of 2005, Women are allowed to serve in 83% of all positions in the military, including Shipboard Navy Service (except submarines), and Artillery. Combat roles are voluntary for women.

As of 2002, 33% of lower rank Officers are women, 21% of Captains and Majors, but only 3% of the most senior ranks.

450 Women currently serve in combat units of Israel's security forces, primarily in the Border Police. The first female fighter pilot successfully received her wings in 2001. In a controversial move, the IDF abolished its "Womens Corps" command in 2004, with a view that it has become an anachronism and a stumbling block towards integration of women in the army as regular soliders with no special status. However, after pressures from Feminist lobbies, The Chief of Staff was persuaded to keep an "advisor for Women's affairs".

Expenditures 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 a Joint Political Military Group, which convenes 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. Israel has the official distinction of being a US Major Non-NATO Ally. As a result of this, America shares the vast majority of its security and military technology with Israel.

Military branches

The following is a very partial list that does not refer to any reserve forces.

Israel Defence Forces (IDF)

Israel's ground forces

• Infantry ( חיל רגלים ):
  • Givati Brigade ( גבעתי )
  • Golani Brigade ( גולני )
  • Nahal Brigade ( נח"ל )
  • Paratroopers Brigade ( צנחנים )
  • Several dozens Special Forces and Counter-terrorism elite units (Sayeret)
  • About 5 additional mixed unit battalions (Haruv, Shimshon, Nahshon, Lavi, Duhifat).
• Armor ( שריון ):
  • Barak Armored Brigade (aka. 188th Brigade)
  • Ga'ash Brigade (Hativa Sheva in Hebrew, aka. 7th Brigade)
  • Ikvot Habarzel Brigade (aka. 401st Brigade)
• Artillery ( תותחנים ):
  • consisting of three brigades.
• Combat Engineering ( הנדסה קרבית ):
  • Israeli Engineering Corps
    • consisting of a regular brigade and additional smaller units.
  • Engineering company פלחה"ן in each infantry brigade.

Israel's air force

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) ( [חיל האוויר] ) consists of:

• Warplanes
• Helicopter gunships
• Cargo planes
• Nun Mem (Neged Metosim) - Anti-aircraft brigades

Israel's navy

The Israel Navy ( [חיל הים] ) consists of:

• Patrol boats
• Missile ships flotilla
• Submarines flotilla
• Naval Intelligence
• Radar units
• Shayetet 13 - naval commando
• Undersea missions unit
• Harbour security unit

Military intelligence

Directorate of Military Intelligence (אגף מודיעין)

Support

• C4I Directorate
  • C4I (formerly Signal) Corps
• Technological and Logistics Directorate
  • Logistics (Quartermaster) Corps
  • Ordnance Corps
  • Medical Corps
• Manpower Directorate
  • Adjutant Corps
  • Military Police (MP)
  • Military Rabbinate
• Military Courts \ Military Attorney
• Military Schools \ Military Academy

IDF commands

• The Northern Command פיקוד הצפון
• The Midcountry Command פיקוד המרכז
• The Southern Command פיקוד הדרום
• Home Front Command פיקוד העורף

  The Home Front Command, Pikud Ha'Oref was created to replace HAGAH after the 1991 Gulf War. It main role is to provide defence to civilians during wartime and mass-disasters.

  • • Search and Rescue
    • Distribution of NBC protection kits to civilians.

Related armed forces

• Youth and Nahal Center
• Nahal
• Border Police (MAGAV) (a combat unit of the police, deployed mostly along the borders and in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; includes also a few special forces).
• Shin Bet (SHABAK - Sherut Bitahon Klali)

  Israeli internal security service. Work tightly with the IDF to counter Palestinian terrorism.

See also: Israel Security Forces.

Israeli military technology

Israeli modified F-16 flying over Masada.

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. Besides 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 vehicles (tanks, tank-converted APCs, armoured bulldozers etc) and rocketry (missiles and rockets).

Currently Israel is the only country in the world with an 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, Europe (UK, France independently as well), China, Japan, 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 up-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 (original design, prototype flown but project cancelled due to cost)
  • Arava STOL medium transport aircraft
  • 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 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.

It has also been speculated that the Israeli Navy's three 1,925 ton Type 800 Dolphin class submarines may be capable of carrying nuclear-armed specially-modified Popeye Turbo cruise missiles. These missiles are purported to have a 1,500 km range and are supposedly fired out of what are suspected to be unusually-sized additional torpedo tubes that were allegedly installed on the Dolphin submarine and are otherwise larger than what is required to accommodate any currently known western torpedo design in existence. A test of such a missile is alleged to have taken place off the coast of Sri Lanka in May 2000. Nevertheless, some military analysts have labeled such rumors to be highly unlikely and impossible given the logistics of the submarines. Furthermore, there is no factual basis for the origins of the alleged test firing.

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

Notes:

• 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.
• In the IDF, the same ranks are used throughout the army, including air force and navy. This contrasts with many other armed forced that have a separate rank system for different branches.

See:

• IDF ranks in English (http://www1.idf.il/DOVER/site/mainpage.asp?sl=EN&id=22&docid=22993&Pos=4&bScope=False)
• IDF ranks in Hebrew (http://www1.idf.il/DOVER/site/mainpage.asp?sl=HE&id=22&docid=22993&Pos=2&bScope=False)

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 (http://www1.idf.il/DOVER/site/mainpage.asp?sl=EN&id=32)").

Values of the Code of Conduct

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".

Code of Conduct against terrorists

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.

Critics, including B'Tselem and Amnesty International accuse Israel of frequently violating their own purity of arms and code of ethics, and protecting soldiers who do. (See also, Deir Yassin massacre, Qibya massacre, Kafr Qasim massacre. Many anti-occupation activist groups and individuals often refer to the IDF as the "Israeli Occupation Force" (IOF). This alternative title expresses their belief that the primary role of the IDF is maintaining the "Occupation" of the Palestinian territories, rather than "Defense" of Israeli citizens. Some even refuse to use the official title at all, claiming it is a propaganda term.

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 nearby civilians.

Targeted killings

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

Those policies are largely supported by Israeli society, but there are exceptions: In 2003, 27 IAF Air Force pilots composed a letter of protest to the Air Force commander, announcing their refusal to continue and perform attacks on targets within Palestinian population centers, and claiming that the occupation of the Palestinians "morally corrupts the fabric of Israeli society". This letter, the first of its kind emanating from the Air Force, evoked a storm of political protest in Israel, with most circles condemning it as dereliction of duty. IDF ethics forbid soldiers from making public political affiliations, and subsequently the IDF chief of staff announced that all the signatories would be suspended from flight duty, after which some of the pilots recanted and removed their signature.

See also: urban warfare, counter terror, CQB.

The General Staff

• Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz — Chief of the General Staff
  • Maj. Gen. Moshe Kaplinsky — Deputy Chief of the General Staff
  • Maj. Gen. Yiftah Ron-Tal — GOC Army Headquarters
  • Maj. Gen. Udi Adam — Head of Technological and Logistics Directorate
  • Maj. Gen. Aharon Ze'evi-Farkash — Director of Military Intelligence
  • Maj. Gen. Elazar Stern — Head of Personnel Directorate
  • Maj. Gen. Yisrael Ziv — Head of Operations Directorate
  • Maj. Gen. Itzhak Harel — Head of Plans and Policy Directorate
  • Maj. Gen. Elyezer Shkedy — Commander of the Israeli Air Force
  • Maj. Gen. David Ben Ba'ashat — Commander of the Israeli Navy
  • Maj. Gen. Yair Naveh — GOC Central Command
  • Maj. Gen. Benny Gantz — GOC Northern Command
  • Maj. Gen. Dan Harel — GOC Southern Command
  • Maj. Gen. Yitzhak Garshon — GOC Home Front Command
  • Maj. Gen. Eyal Ben Reuven — Commander of the Military Colleges and Senior Field Commander
  • Maj. Gen. Yosef Mishlav — Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories
  • Maj. Gen. Yishai Bar — President of the Military Court of Appeals
  • Maj. Gen. Udi Shani — Head of C4I and Senior Field Commander
  • Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amos Yaron — Director General of the Ministry of Defense
  • Maj. Gen. Yoav Gallant — Military Secretary of the Prime Minister
  • Brig. Gen. Miri Regev — IDF Spokesperson
  • Brig. Gen. Moshe Lipel — Financial Advisor to the Chief of Staff
  • Maj. Gen. (Res.) Shmuel Keren — Director of Development of Weapons Systems Infrastructure
  • Maj. Gen. (Res.) Yossi Beinhorn — Defense Establishment Comptroller
  • Maj. Gen. Avichi Mendelblit — Military Advocate General

As of 10 June 2005, the above list is no longer up to date, though all the positions remain officially in effect for the next several months.

See also

Related IDF articles

• Israel Defense Forces History
• List of well-known Israeli soldiers, commanders and war heroes
• Mottos of IDF units
• List of brigades in the Israeli Defense Forces.
• Israeli Security Forces.

General related articles

• Military technology and equipment
• Arab-Israeli conflict
• Nuclear proliferation
• Refusal to serve in the Israeli military
• Profile 21 (פרופיל 21)

External links

• IDF's Official Website (http://www.idf.il)
• The IDF Spirit - the ethical code of the IDF (http://www1.idf.il/DOVER/site/mainpage.asp?sl=EN&id=32)
• IDF Code of Conduct (http://www.jcpa.org/brief/brief3-8.htm)
• 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 nuclear capability (http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/israel/nuke/)
• BBC: Israel undercover (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/correspondent/1820862.stm)
• Israeli Weapons (http://www.israeli-weapons.com)
• Isayeret.com (http://www.isayeret.com/): The Israeli Special Forces Database
• Statistics about IDF ratio of thwarting suicide bombing attacks (http://www.idf.il/daily_statistics/english/5.doc) (link to DOC file)
• Defense-Update Online Magazine (http://www.defense-update.com)
• Haaretz report: "From 40 attacks per quarter to 5 attacks per quarter" :English (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/413396.html) - Hebrew (http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/pages/ShArtPE.jhtml?itemNo=413586&contrassID=2&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0) - Graph 1: Thwarted attacks (yellow) vs successful attacks (red) (http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/images/printed/P080404/zza.jpg) - Graph 2: Suicide bombing within the "green line" per quarter (http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/images/printed/P080404/a.0.0804.10.2.9.jpg) .
• War Online (http://www.waronline.org/) - military analysis and military history of the Middle East, especially IDF (Russian, English)ar:جيش إسرائيل

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