Eng Newsletter - June 2011

8/6/2019 Eng Newsletter - June 2011

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• Overthepastfewyears,drasticchangeshavebeenmadein

thereserveforcessystemincludinghighersalary,different

trainingandmore. An interview with the Chief Reserve Forces

Officer, Brigadier General Shuki Ben Anat. READMORE

Operations Room

Pictures of the Month

One on One

Challenges of the Moment

IDF Events

• A review of attempts to run the Naval Blockade on the

Gaza Stripwithmilitary hardware - The IDF, and its Navy in

particular, constantly invest efforts in intercepting these attempts,

in coordination with other nations and armies. We are listing

here a reminder of past interceptions thanks to preparedness,high awareness, precise intelligence and up-to-scratch combat

readiness of the Navy, the IDF and other security establishments.

READMORE

• TheyearlydrilloftheHomeCommand–“TurningPoint5”-All of Israel’s emergency services join forces to simulate extremeconditions throughout the country. Two state-wide sirens wereheard during the one day. READMORE

• AstabbingattackissubduedatanoutpostnearQalqilya-Theprimary investigation reveals that a Palestinian, who ran towardsIDF soldiers wielding a knife, was shot after having penetrated the

area of the outpost, having refused to comply with the soldiers’ callto stop. He was severely wounded and was hospitalized. READMORE

• HomeCommandForcesassistattheNetanyaexplosionsite.READMORE

• Twosoldiershurt duringunrest intheRamallah area - Thesoldiers were hurt as a result of a massive onslaught of stone androck throwing by demonstrators during an illegal demonstrationclose to Dir Kudis. READMORE

• “Naksa”Summary:TheIDFpushedbackattemptstoviolateIsrael’sNorthernBorder-Following these unusual events, theChief of Staff paid a visit to the Ga’ash regional command in NorthernCommand, and instructed the forces to pursue preparedness forfurther mass attempts at trespassing the Frontier.READMORE

• HowtosendgoodstotheGazaStrip-The IDF regularly transfers

approximately 6,000 tons of goods into the Gaza Strip a day. Also,

a guide to sending goods. READMORE

• CoGATtransfers16,599tonsofgoodstoGazaStrip- The IDF

continues to facilitate the daily transfer of thousands of supplies to

the Gaza Strip including gas, building materials and more. READ

MORE

• MajorGeneralBarbivaiappointedHeadoftheHumanResources

Directorate-Major General Orna Barbivai was raised to her new

rank and she is the rst woman to hold this position. READMORE

• MajorGeneralEisenbergisappointedHeadofHomeCommand

- During the ceremony the Chief of Staff noted: “during these

explosive and sensitive times, the role of Home Command is made

all the more complex.” READMORE

• AllthatyouwanttoknowaboutthenewestgroupofIAFpilots.

READMORE

• The new IDF career soldiers prole has been approved –

“The ProfessionalWay” - The changes will assure excellence

in command, alongside excellence in service conditions, thus

guaranteeing the best commanders for the IDF of the 21st Century.

READMORE

• Over 10,000 participate in the Ground Force running race

- Taking place for the 4th time, this race is considered to be the

second in size throughout Israel, and one of the largest military

races worldwide. READMORE

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June 2011

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StabbingattackthwartedinQalqilyaarea

A Palestinian attempted to stab an IDF soldier

on Sunday afternoon (June 19) at a checkpoint

near Qalqilya in the West Bank.

The Palestinian shouted "God is great" as he

tried to stab the soldier. The soldier opened

fire on the attacker. The attacker was hit by the

gunfire and has been transported to a hospitalto receive medical care.

The incident is being investigated.

A report recently released by the Israel Security

Agency noted an increase in the number of

terrorist attacks in the West Bank last month. In May, there were 44 attacks in the West Bank

compared to 19 in April and there were 25 attacks in Jerusalem in May compared to 16 the previous

month.

June 2011



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IDFforceswereamongrsttorespondtoNetanyagasblast

"There was excellent cooperation with fire

fighters and other rescue services," Colonel

Yoram Lev-Ran said, speaking about the

response to a gas explosion at a building in

Netanya in which four people were killed and

dozens injured.

Col. Lev-Ran, the head of the Home FrontCommand's search and rescue school, led

the Home Front Command forces that arrived

at the scene of the deadly explosion. The

forces worked to rescue trapped survivors.

They operated in conjunction with police, fire

services and Magen David Adom personnel.

"This event was similar to incidents that we practice for," Col. Lev-Ran noted. He said that Home

Front Command personnel were the first to arrive at the scene to pull out trapped survivors.

The explosion occurred around 1:00 a.m. on Friday morning two weeks ago, in the area ofIndependence Square in central Netanya. The blast damaged several buildings in the area.

June 2011



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IDFsoldierinjuredinillegalriot

An IDF soldier was injured and broke his

leg when rocks were hurled at him during a

violent and illegal riot that took place near

Dir Kadis, north of Ramallah.

The rioters then progressed toward IDF

soldiers, who felt their lives were in danger

and thus fired in the air and called on therioters to stop where they were. When their

calls weren't heeded the forces opened

fire in order to stop another injury from

happening.

An additional soldier was lightly

injured when rocks were hurled at him. All

injured parties were taken to the hospital

for further treatment.

June 2011



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IDFpreventsbreachofSyriaborder

A molotov cocktail thrown by Syrian

demonstrators towards IDF forces on Sunday

(June 5) caused a brushfire in Syrian territory,

which led the explosion of four mines on the

Syrian side of the Quneitra crossing in the

Golan Heights.

IDF forces used riot dispersal means againstdemonstrators from Syria who tried undermine

Israeli sovereignty and breach the international

border in the Golan Heights region. After

demonstrators ignored warnings not to

approach the border, IDF soldiers were forced

to open fire towards the legs of a number of

demonstrators.

Demonstrators attempted to breach the border fence that had been strengthened in recently

following the events of "Nakba Day".The IDF will remain on high alert and respond with crowd dispersal means to prevent breaches

of Israel's borders.

In the afternoon, the IDF allowed Red Cross personnel to enter the demilitarized zone on the

Israel-Syria border to evacuate a number of wounded Syrians. A ceasefire was declared, but it

was then violated by a number of demonstrators who continued to attempt to breach the border

fence.

Also, dozens of Palestinians clashed with IDF forces near the Kalandia crossing north of Jerusalem.

Palestinians attempted to cross the checkpoint while throwing rocks at security forces.

IDF Spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yoav (Poly) Mordechai, said: "The IDF's response is very focused. I'm

happy that Lebanese army prevented demonstrators from approaching the border fence. We're

seeing that despite everything there is a body in control of the situat ion. On the Syrian border in

the Golan Heights, I regret to say we're seeing that the Syrian government and army are not in

control of the situation. In fact, in the Majdal Shams area hundreds of protestors arrived at the

fence in front of the security fence, rebuilt by the IDF this week. The situation is under control

and the IDF is acting with determination to thwar t any attempt to breach the border, while keeping

lessons from recent events in mind."

Brig. Gen. Mordechai added that IDF forces called toward the demonstrators in Arabic telling

them not to break through the border. "After that warning, the IDF responded to those who didn't

heed the warning calls by opening fire into the air and later carried out precise fire directed by

commanders in the front, in accordance with instructions given by the Chief of Staff. The first

step is to fire towards the lower hal f of the body. Senior commanders of the Northern Command,

including the division commander and battalion commanders, have the event under control."

June 2011



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The Chief Reserve Forces Officer says that, "The two things that changed drastically after the

Second Lebanon War were the issue of training and the issue of equipment."

According to him, "You could say that the most obvious change in training is the change in their

relevance. That is, each unit trains specifically for its purpose and in addition to the training, in

terms of number of days, are shorter. They are more intensive, more relevant to tasks, more night

training, longer training in terms of the missions at hand, and much more physical strain. The

reserve force trains for a day or two in a training exercise in a massive exercise and the ultimate

result is better. They act exactly as they would during war, living in under the same conditions with

all their ammunition on their back and with their supplies just like during war and thus the effort is

bigger and training more effective."

In terms of equipment, too, a clear improvement has been made and Brig. Gen. Ben Anat says

that, the "Army understood that the equipment must be newer and more up-to-date. So a five-year

plan was made, we are in the fifth year, saying that a reserve forces today will be equipped like

a regular duty soldier. We are in the process of upgrading the personal and unit weaponry and

equipment. The IDF understood it and today the upgrades are much more at the top of the list."

Brig. Gen. Ben Anat says that the big lack in logistical equipment on bases during the Second

Lebanon War came from an excess of manpower. "Most people who didn't have equipment were

those beyond capacity," he says, "In the Second Lebanon War, a long list of people were drafted

beyond capacity and the unit can't hold 120% amount of equipment, ultimately it is money that is

missing from somewhere else. In Operation Case Lead units drafted reserves and agreed on a

certain amount of excess, above which they sent people home. Among other things, it is to avoid a

situation in which people are sitting around with nothing to do, as happened in the Second Lebanon

War."

Beyond all the changes in the buildup of the army and its organization, the Law of Reserves was

put into effect including the rights and duties of those serving in reserves. When it was put into

effect it ruled certain payment plans in addition to lowering the age one may stop serving in the

reserves from 54 to 40. it also mentioned number of days the army may demand of a reserve.

"The law raised the motivation for whoever was already motivated," says Brig. Gen. Ben Anat of his

opinion. "The law is not what creates the motivation from the beginning, but it certainly helps. On

the other hand, this law is still missing some moves which will cause, ultimately, higher motivation

levels over time. For example, more reward and more support in other life cycles in the country,

which aren't necessarily to do with money. The Law of Reserves started to create change."

The main problem according to the Chief Reserve Forces Officer is not necessarily the financial

reward of the reserve soldiers but the social reward which they do not receive.

According to him, the Law of Reserves succeeded in bringing younger reserves, as many as 50%

of the system is around the thirties and younger. "The idea was received of the 'battalion feedsa brigade', that is when a specific battalion in regular service knows how many reserve brigades

it has, that's how a situation is created in which people go from regular service to reserve in an

organic way. It's what makes the drop smaller and makes the force younger," he says.

Younger reserves means higher operational preparedness and the fact that they come from the

organic framework causes unity and cohesiveness to the new battalion. "You have to trust the

combat soldier with you, you are following him," explains Brig. Gen. Ben Anat.

It is very clear that the reserve forces system has improved tenfold, but improvements have not

been completed. "There will never be an 'easier fight for reserves' – Hezbollah won't make it easier

for them because they know it trains less and deals with kids. The combat soldiers understand thesefigures and it doesn't matter if it’s a reserve battalion or a regular service one, the preparedness

must be on the same level," he concludes.

June 2011



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ContinueReading

A review of attempts to run the Naval Blockade on the Gaza Strip with military hardware

We are listing here a reminder of past interceptions thanks to preparedness, high awareness,

precise intelligence and up-to-scratch combat readiness of the Navy, the IDF and other security

establishments.

“Victoria”,March2011

March 15th 2011 saw the raid of the Israel Navy’s

“Navy Seals” alongside the Coastguard, on the vessel

“Victoria”. Large stocks of military arsenal were found

on board, including the strategic C-704 missile as well

as numerous Rocket Propelled Grenades of 60mm and

120mm.

The ship was rapidly overcome without any resistance

shown by the crew, following which it was led into

Ashdod Port for further inspection and offloading. The

Vessel was on its way from the Turkish port of Mersin to

Alexandria Port in Egypt. Prior to docking at Mersin, the vessel had visited the ports of Latakia in

Syria and Beirut in Lebanon.

3 containers packed with military arsenal were discovered, among them 2 Chinese made C-704

missiles, presently used by the Iranians, alongside instruction manuals in Farsi. These missiles

are ground to sea, capable of reaching Ashdod Port. Hamas does not deploy these as yet, and the

mere fact of them obtaining these missiles would dangerously alter the balance of military power.

These missiles are also known as “Nasser” with an effective range of 35KM. The missile carries a

warhead of 130KG explosives and is guided by radar.

June 2011



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ContinueReading

“Francop”,November2009

The Iranian vessel “Francop” carrying the flag of Antigua was en route from Iran to Syria, loaded

with 40 containers packed with arms, weighing a total of about 300 Tons. The Arsenal included

sniper rifles, ammunition, grenades, Katyusha type rockets (122mm), all intended for the Hezbollah

organization. It is assumed that had this shipload reached its destination, it would have sufficed for

one month’s warfare against Israel.

“Monchegorsk”,January2009(Cypriotvessel)

A shipment of military hardware was seized in Cyprus after it was discovered on board the vessel

“Monchegorsk” which was being leased to an Iranian shipping company. The shipment included

Tank ammunition, Artillery ammunition as well as rockets and materials for the manufacture of

rockets.

“HansaIndia”–October2009

A vessel sailing from Iran carrying a German flag is bound for offloading 8 containers in an Egyptian

port, with their ultimate destination for Gaza. Following an alert provided by the German Authorities,

the ship was forbidden from offloading in Egypt and proceeded to Malta, where it was inspected

and found to be carrying bullets, as well as a variety of means for the manufacture of weapons,probably originating in Syria.

“KarinA”January2002

This was a Palestinian vessel seized by the Israel Navy in the Red Sea. The ship left an Iranian

port, refueled in Yemen and carried a Tongan flag. The vessel was loaded with sealed barrels that

proved to contain a vast arsenal of Katyusha rockets, mortars, Lau missiles, various types of rifles

and guns, Sagger rockets, Rocket propelled grenades and mines.

“Santorini”May2001

The vessel “Santorini” left Lebanese port bound for Gaza loaded with a military arsenal intended

for smuggling into the Strip. The ship manned by 4 crew members, was captured close to Haifa port

and brought to Israel. Its load included mortars, RPG’s, Kalashnikov rifles and a variety of other

means of war. The crew had been instructed to throw the shipment overboard in sealed barrels

with the purpose that they would float towards the Gaza coast. The crew told interrogators that this

was their fourth smuggling attempt.

June 2011



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OverlandArmsSmugglingEvents

Since the introduction of the Maritime and Naval blockade on Gaza, much of the smuggling effort

into the Gaza strip has moved to underground tunnels dug under the Philadelphi corridor that

separates the Gaza Strip from Egypt. The contraband that passes through these tunnels includes

human beings, drugs, rockets, weapons, and other military hardware. During the past years this

effort has increased several times over, helping improve the range and effectiveness of weapons

launched against Israel from within the Gaza Strip. The tunnels provide a living for a large number

of Egyptians, and the latter have little interest in shutting down this business.

Following on Operation Cast Lead (Dec08/Jan09), smuggling has intensified once Hamas andIslamic Jihad have set it as their target to obtain quality weapons that will inflict greater damage

and improve their standing versus Israel in a future conflict.

In their rearming efforts, Hamas and Islamic Jihad have enthusiastic support from Iran, who in its

campaign to increase its influence on the Palestinian movements as well as Palestinian Terror

Organizations, expresses this support by supplying hardware generously.

Since 2010, this means of smuggling has enabled the introduction of hundreds of internationally

recognized and known rockets, about 1,000 mortar shells, tens of thousands of anti tank missiles,

tons of explosives as well as the means to manufacture such.

The smuggling industry brings about a meeting of interests between Iran who supplies, in its aim

to expand its influence among Palestinians, and Hamas who in their staunch resistance to Israel,

seeks an advantage by arming itself with quality arsenal.

June 2011



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HowtosendgoodstotheGazaStrip

IDF Blog recently detailed the daily delivery of goods

such as food and sustenance to the Gaza Strip. The post

explains that nearly 6,000 tons of food, fuel and other

materials are transferred to the Gaza Strip dai ly. This as

opposed to sea-bound convoys which in the past have

included violent provocations with Israeli and Egyptian

forces and rarely delivered the masses of food the army

facilitates delivery of regularly.

Israel coordinates the transfer of between 250-280

truckloads of supplies via the Kerem Shalom crossing

daily. Ultimately, it is Palestinian officials who are

responsible for ordering all goods and materials transferred, having yet to take full advantage of

the crossing's truckload capacity.

The lawful naval blockade instilled on the Gaza Strip following repeated attacks at the citizens

of Israel allowed the Israel Navy to stop the transfer of rockets and ammunitions to Hamas, the

Islamic Jihad and other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip.

IDF Blog continued, citing an example of a group of activists who did, in fact, help Palestinians in

Gaza. The June, 2011, European convoy "Miles of Smiles 3" arrived at the Rafah land crossing, its

30 tons of medical supplies including 12 ambulances, baby food and wheelchairs were transferred

to the Gaza Strip by coordinated efforts by the Egyptian Red Crescent. Those on board the ship

did not attempt to provoke violence but came with the sole purpose of delivering supplies.

The 2010 flotilla to Gaza, however, had a much different agenda, refusing to deliver goods via land

crossings (some of which included expired medicine) and having already declared its purpose in

March of that year as the isolation of Israel in the international community and breaching the lawfu l

naval blockade on the Gaza Strip.

StepsfortransferringgoodsandmaterialsintotheGazaStrip

1. To make a donation to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, contact a humanitarian organization

operating in the Gaza Strip, either UNRWA or the Red Cross in Gaza.

2. Humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza submit all formal requests to the international

organizations branch of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (CoGAT).

3. CoGAT's donations officer, part of the international organizations branch, is responsible for

approving and coordinating the transfer of all donations. UNRWA, the Red Cross and other majororganizations typically receive immediate approval.

4. Requests for dual-use items must undergo a project review.

5. Per submitted requests, Israel transfers thousands of tons in goods and materials into Gaza on

a weekly basis via the Kerem Shalom land crossin

June 2011



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CoGATtransfers16,599tonsofgoodstoGazaStrip

On Tuesday (June 21), 253 truckloads

carrying 16,599 tons of goods and gas were

transferred to Gaza from Israel via the Kerem

Shalom Crossing.

The Coordinator of Government Activities in

the Territories (CoGAT) is a unit within the IDF

responsible for transportation of aid into theJudea and Samaria region and the Gaza Strip.

It works with the Coordination and Liaison

Administration (CLA) of the Gaza Strip and

Judea and Samaria's Civil Administration to

facilitate entrance of supplies such as gas,

building materials, electrical appliances,

ceramic parts, wheat and other foods, hygienic

products and more.

"It is very important for us to shape and implement these relationships," explained Coordinator ofthe Government Activities in the Territories, Maj. Gen. Eitan Dangot, "actions that aim to provide a

stable base for a possible future agreement."

In addition to the transfer of products, CoGAT also arranges for the passing of people through the

crossings to receive services such as medical assistance.

June 2011



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FirstwomanappointedasIDFMajorGeneral

Brig. Gen. Orna Barbivai was given the rank of Major General

and the position of Head of the Human Resources Directorate

in a formal ceremony at the Chief of Staff's offices in Tel Aviv

on Thursday (June 23). Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak, Chief

of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, director general of

the Ministry of Defense, members of the General Staff Forum

and family members all participated.Maj. Gen. Orna Barbivai is the f irst woman in the history of the

IDF to attain the rank of Major General and will be replacing

Maj. Gen. Avi Zamir, who is ending his military service after

35 years in the IDF.

Maj. Gen. Barbivai was drafted to the IDF in 1981 to the

Manpower and Personnel Corps and served in many

positions throughout her military career including being the

first commander of the Corps, making her the first woman

commander in charge of a Corps not strictly comprised ofwomen.

She has received a Bachelor's degree in humanities from Ben Gurion University and an MBA in

Business Management from the University of Derby in Israel, among taking other courses. She is

a mother of three.

June 2011



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AllthatyouwanttoknowaboutthenewestgroupofIAFpilots

The latest group of IAF cadets have finished

their flight training course and the graduation

ceremony during which they will receive

their wings will be held on Thursday (June

30) in the presence of President Shimon

Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,

Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Chief of the

General Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz and IAFCommander Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan.

This group of new IAF flight course graduates

has a significantly higher percentage of

soldiers who served in other units of the IDF

before starting the flight course (16 percent

compared to 5 percent in the previous cycle).

53 percent of the flight course graduates are from cities. The city that produced the most graduates

is Haifa with eight. Maccabim-Re'ut came in second with five.

Nine percent of the graduates come from moshavim and two percent from kibbutzim.

51 percent were born in the center of the country, 37 percent in the north, 12 percent in the south

and 14 percent were born overseas.

None of the new graduates is an only child. 46 percent are a middle child, 30 percent are the

youngest child and 24 percent are the eldest child.

Two of the graduates are cousins with each other.

One of the graduates is married.

June 2011



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AnewplanforIDFcareersoldierswasapproved

The Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen.

Benny Gantz, and the General Staff

Forum approved the new IDF plan for

career soldiers, or soldier who sign on

extra time in the army. Led by former

Head of the Manpower Directorate, Maj.

Gen. Avi Zamir, and in cooperation with

every department of the IDF, the planwas created over the past two years in

order to better the path of career soldiers

and tackle the anticipated administrative

challenges.

The new plan includes several changes to

the current career soldier path, intended

to improve the current chain of command

in terms of morals and reward. The new plan will be put into effect in the next two decades.

The changes include: administrative tools intended to increase compensation for career soldiers,the transition to accumulative pensions and dealing with its effects, a decrease in release rates

from the IDF, and an orderly plan to increase the retirement age, according to the treasury

agreement of August, 2010.

Additionally, a new plan has been instated touching on the subject of new ranks for career

soldiers.

After approving the new plan, Lt. Gen. Gantz began implementing it and said that, "The security

of the nation depends on professional, well trained career soldiers and the new plan supports

this. It responds to the needs and challenges of the IDF, and helps combat soldiers as well as

soldiers in combat support positions take full advantage of the maturity and experience theyhave gained."

June 2011



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Morethan10,000IDFsoldiersparticipateinrace

The IDF Ground Forces held a race on

Thursday (June 2) at the Bahad 1 officer

training school in Mitzpe Ramon.

In the presence of Ground Forces Commander

Maj. Gen. Sami Turgeman, more than 10,000

IDF soldiers participated in the race, making

it one of the largest military races in the

world.

Participants ran on one of four courses: a ten

kilometer competitive route, or one of three

friendly routes that were ten, six and three

kilometers in length.

As part of the growing healthy lifestyle awareness campaign within the IDF, a variety of running

events, health and fitness seminars and workshops and group swimming and jogging exercises

have been held.

The development of physical fitness amongst IDF soldiers improves their personal capabilitiesand benefits the IDF as a whole.

"This race is a significant milestone but it does not stand on its own," said Maj. Gen. Turgeman.

"We will continue to train daily to preserve and improve the general fitness levels of all IDF units.

If we turn this into a dai ly routine, I'm sure that this is the first step to victory in war."

June 2011

Eng Newsletter - June 2011

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