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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ('s armed forces, comprising the Israeli Army , the Israeli Air Force and the Israeli 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 Jew ish 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 disbanded, and their members integrated into the IDF. HISTORY See main article: History Of The Israel Defense Forces for a detailed history of the IDF OVERVIEW Service and manpower Regular Service National military service is compulsory for Jewish and Druze men, and Jewish women, over the age of 18, although exemptions may be made on religious, physical or psychological grounds (see Profile 21 ). Men in the '' Haredi '' community are exempt while enrolled in '' Yeshivot '', a practice that is a source of tension (Rosenthal 2003:51). 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. Women in combat positions are also required to serve as reserve for several years after their dismissal from regular service. Reserve Service Following regular service, men may be called for reserve service of up to one month annually, until the age of 43-45 (reservists may volunteer after this age), and may be called for active duty immediately in times of crisis. In most cases, the reserve duty is carried out in the same unit for years, in many cases the same unit as the active service and by the same people. Many soldiers who have served together in active service continue to meet in reserve duty for years after their discharge, causing reserve duty to become a strong Male Bonding experience in Israeli society. A well-known Israeli joke refers to civilians as soldiers on 11-month furloughs. Although still available to be called up in times of crisis, most Israeli men, and virtually all women, do not actually perform reserve service in any given year. Units do not always call up all of their reservists every year, and a variety of exemptions are available if called for regular reserve service. Virtually no exemptions exist for reservists called up in a time of crisis, but experience has shown that in such cases (most recently, Operation Defensive Shield in 2002 ) exemptions are rarely requested or exercised; units generally achieve recruitment rates above those considered fully-manned. Recently, legislation has been proposed for reform in the reserve service, lowering the maximal service age to 40, designating it as a purely emergency force, as well as many other changes to the current structure (although the Defence Minister can suspend any portion of it at any time for security reasons). The age threshold for many reservists whose positions are not listed, though, will be fixed at 49. The legislation is set out to take effect by 13 March , 2008 . The Hapashim Forum (פורום החפ"שים), a movement for reform in the reserve service, however, criticized the new legislation in being "at worse, a bad joke, and at best, another push for total collapse of the reserve force." Minorities in the IDF Druze Arabs and Circassians , like Israeli Jews, serve mandatory service in the IDF. In recent years, some Druze officers have reached positions in the IDF as high as Major General and many have received orders of distinction. Service is not mandatory for all other Israeli minorities (notably Israeli Arab s but also Black Hebrews and others). However, a large number of Bedouin , as well as some Christian Arabs and even a few Muslim Arabs, 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. No direct social benefits are tied to completion of military service, but doing so is sometimes required for attaining security clearance and serving in some types of government positions (in most cases, security-related), as well as some indirect benefits. Israeli Arabs claim that this puts them at a disadvantage vs. non-Arab Israeli citizens. According to the 2004 U.S. State Department Country Reports On Human Rights Practices for ''Israel and the occupied territories'', "Israeli Arabs were not required to perform mandatory military service and, in practice, only a small percentage of Israeli Arabs served in the military. Those who did not serve in the army had less access than other citizens to social and economic benefits for which military service was a Prerequisite or an Advantage , such as housing, new-household Subsidies , and employment, especially government or security-related industrial employment. Regarding the latter, for security reasons, Israeli Arabs generally were restricted from working in companies with defense contracts or in security-related fields." In recent years, there have been several initiatives to enable Israeli Arabs to volunteer for civilian National Service instead of to the IDF, completion of which would grant the same privileges as those granted to IDF veterans. However, this plan has gained strong resistance from Arab members of the parliament, and as a result, have not been implemented yet. Since 1993, Homosexuals have been allowed to openly serve in the military, including special units. Women in the IDF Israel has female Conscription , but about a third of female conscripts (more than double the figure for men) are exempted, mainly for religious reasons. Following their active service, women, like men, are in theory required to serve up to one month annually in reserve duty. However, in practice only some women in combat roles get called for active reserve duty, and only for a few years following their active service, with many exit points (e.g., pregnancy). Apart from the 7 February 2006 don't have a source for this but somebody should be able to confirm it --> 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 received her wings in 2001. In a controversial move, the IDF abolished its "Women's 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 soldiers 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 . As a result of this, America shares the vast majority of its security and military technology with Israel. MILITARY STRUCTURE The following is a very partial list that does not refer to any reserve forces. High command (General Staff) The IDF falls under the command of a single general staff. and indirectly to the Prime Minister Of Israel and its government. Chiefs of Staff are formally appointed by the government, based on the Defense Minister's recommendation, for three years, but the government can vote to extend their service to four (and in rare occasions even five) years. The current chief of staff is (Lieutenant) General (Rav-Aluf) Dan Halutz , who replaced Moshe Ya'alon , on June 1st, 2005.
Ground forces Active units:
Air force The Israeli Air Force (IAF) ( האוויר ) consists of:
Navy The Israel Navy ( הים ) consists of:
Military intelligence Directorate Of Military Intelligence (אגף מודיעין) Support
Regional commands
Related organisations See also: Israel Security Forces .
ISRAELI MILITARY TECHNOLOGY 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 has several large internal R&D departments. IDF also purchases many technologies produced by the Israeli security industries including IAI , IMI , Elbit , El-Op , Rafael , Soltam and dozens of smaller firms. Many of these developments have been battle-tested in Israel's numerous military engagements, making the relationship mutually beneficial, the IDF getting tailor-made solutions and the industries a very high repute. Main Israeli developments main battle tank.]] Israel's military technology is most famous for its guns, Armored Fighting Vehicles ( Tank s, tank-converted APC s, armoured Bulldozer s etc) and rocketry (missiles and rockets). Israel also designs and in some cases manufactures aircraft ( Kfir , Lavi ) and naval systems (patrol and missile ships, Dolphin Class Submarine ). Much of the IDF's electronic systems (intelligence, communication, command and control, navigation etc.) are Israeli-developed, including many systems installed on foreign platforms (esp. aircraft, tanks and submarines). So are many of its Precision-guided Munition s. Currently Israel is the only country in the world with an anti-ballistic missile defense system (" Hetz ", or Arrow) and working with the USA on development of a tactical high energy Laser system against medium range rockets (called Nautilus THEL ). Israel has the independent capability of launching Reconnaissance Satellites into orbit (a capability which only Russia , the United States , the United Kingdom , France , the People's Republic Of China , Japan , and India hold). Both the satellites ( Ofeq ) and the launchers ( Shavit ) were developed by the Israeli security industries. Israel is also said to have developed an indigenous nuclear capability, although no official details or acknowledgements have ever been publicized. Specific weapon systems
Nuclear capability ''See also: Israel And Weapons Of Mass Destruction '' It is generally believed that Israel has Nuclear Weapon s. 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 Levi 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 Missile s (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 , Iran and Libya . It has also been speculated that the Israeli Navy's three Dolphin Class Submarine s may be capable of carrying nuclear-armed specially-modified Popeye Turbo Cruise Missile s. 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, details of Israel's nuclear program were revealed in 1986 to the British press by Mordechai Vanunu , a former nuclear technician. Following these revelations, Mordechai Vanunu was abducted by the Mossad and convicted of treason in his country. Released in 2004 under specific conditions, he lives today under surveillance in Israel. RANKS AND INSIGNIA See Also: Israel Defense Forces ranks See Also: Israel Defense Forces insignia The Israel Defense Forces has four enlisted ranks, 5 non-commissioned officer ranks, 2 academic officer and 9 officer ranks. Unlike most world armies, these ranks are common for all corps in the IDF, including the air force and navy. Enlisted personnel sew their ranks to their sleeves, while officers and NCOs wear them on their shoulders. CODE OF CONDUCT In 1992, the IDF drafted a ''Code of Conduct'' that is a combination of international law, Israeli law, Jew ish heritage and the IDF's own traditional ethical code - ''Ruach Tzahal'' רוח צה"ל (" The Spirit of the IDF "). Values of the Code of Conduct The IDF Code of Conduct emphasis the following values:
Code of Conduct against terrorists Recently, a team of professors, commanders and former judges, led by Tel Aviv University the holder of the Ethics chair, 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. 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. COUNTERTERRORISM 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 killing See Also: Targeted killing The IDF employs a controversial strategy of "focused foiling" (in ). House demolitions |
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