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.
For detailed IDF history, see: Israel Defense Forces History.
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) Moshe Ya'alon, scheduled to be replaced by Dan Halutz 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.
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.
IDF (Israel Defence Forces)
Ground Forces
- Infantry ( חיל רגלים )
- Armour ( 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.
Air Force (IAF) [חיל האוויר]
Navy [חיל הים]
- Patrol boats
- Missile ships flotilla
- Submarines flotilla
- Naval Intelligence
- Radar units
-
Shayetet 13 - naval commando
- Undersea missions unit
- Harbour security unit
Support
-
C4I Directorate
- C4I (formerly Signal) Corps
- Technological and Logistics Directorate
- Logistics (Quartermaster) Corps
- Ordnance Corps
- Medical Corps
- Manpower Directorate
- Military Courts \ Military Attorney
- Military Schools \ Military Academy
IDF Commands
- The Northern Command פיקוד הצפון
- The Midcountry Command פיקוד המרכז
- The Southern Command פיקוד הצפון
- 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.
Related armed forces
- 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. The unit comprises of about 50 regular companies spread mostly across Israel's borders with the West Bank. There are a few additional platoons that serve as special forces for the Froniter Guard.
-
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).
An Israeli Merkava main battle tank.
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
-
All-terrain vehicles and other wheeled vehicles
- 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 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 allgedly 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.
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
Enlisted דרגות חוגרים
| Rank in Hebrew |
Abbreviations |
Pronounced as... |
US equivalent |
| טוראי |
none |
Turai |
Private |
| רב טוראי |
רב"ט |
Rav Turai |
Corporal |
| סמל |
none |
Samal |
Sergeant |
| סמל ראשון |
סמ"ר |
Samal Rishon |
Staff Sergeant |
NCOs דרגות נגדים
| Rank in Hebrew |
Abbreviations |
Pronounced as... |
US equivalent |
| רב סמל |
רס"ל |
Rav Samal |
Sergeant First Class |
| רב סמל ראשון |
רס"ר |
Rav Samal Rishon - Rasar |
First Sergeant |
| רב סמל מתקדם |
רס"מ |
Rav Samal Mitkadem |
Sergeant Major |
| רב סמל בכיר |
רס"ב |
Rav Samal Bachir |
Warrant Officer |
| רב נגד |
רנ"ג |
Rav Nagad |
Chief Warrant Officer |
Junior officers דרגות קצונה זוטרה
| Rank in Hebrew |
Abbreviations |
Pronounced as... |
US equivalent |
| קצין מקצוע אקדמאי |
קמ"א |
Katzin Miktzoa Academy |
Academic Officer |
| קצין אקדמאי בכיר |
קא"ב |
Katzin Academy Bachir |
Senior Academic Officer |
| סגן-משנה |
סג"מ |
Segen Mishne |
Second Lieutenant |
| סגן |
none |
Segen |
Lieutenant |
| סרן |
none |
Seren |
Captain |
Senior officers דרגות קצונה בכירה
| Rank in Hebrew |
Abbreviations |
Pronounced as... |
US equivalent |
| רב סרן |
רס"ן |
Rav Seren |
Major |
| סגן אלוף |
סא"ל |
Sgan Aluf |
Lieutenant Colonel |
| אלוף משנה |
אל"מ |
Aluf Mishne |
Colonel |
| תת-אלוף |
תא"ל |
Tat Aluf |
Brigadier General |
| אלוף |
none |
Aluf |
Major General |
| רב-אלוף |
רא"ל |
Rav Aluf |
Lieutenant General or General
|
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.
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:
- Military action can only be taken against military targets.
- The use of force must be proportional.
- Soldiers may only use weaponry they were issued by the IDF.
- Anyone who surrenders cannot be attacked.
- Only those who are properly trained can interrogate prisoners.
- Soldiers must accord dignity and respect to the Palestinian population and those arrested.
- Soldiers must give appropriate medical care, when conditions allow, to oneself and one's enemy.
- Pillaging is absolutely and totally illegal.
- Soldiers must show proper respect for religious and cultural sites and artifacts.
- Soldiers must protect international aid workers, including their property and vehicles.
- 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 nearby civilians.
IDF Caterpillar D9 Armored Bulldozer. The D9s have been operated vastly through the al-Aqsa intifada, keeping Israeli casualties low but causing extensive damage to structures and shrubbery.
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
External links
Last updated: 09-12-2005 02:39:13
