8/20/2019 The Israel Defense Forces.doc

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-israel-defense-forcesdoc 1/5

The Israel Defense Forces

I. Background

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (lit. Defense Army for  Israel), commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzaha, are Israel's military forces, comprisingthe ground forces,  air force and nay ! It is the solemilitary wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no

ciilian "urisdiction within Israel! The ID# is headed by its $hief of %eneral &taff , the Ramatkal , subordinate tothe  Defense inister of Israel the current $hief of &taff, since **+, is  ieutenant %eneral %abi

 Ashkena-i!

 At the order of Defense inister Daid .en/%urion onay 0, 1234, the Israel Defense #orces were officially formed as a conscript army   out of the paramilitary group Haganah, incorporating the militant groupsIrgun and ehi! It sered as Israel's armed forces in allthe country's ma"or military operations 5 includingthe 1234 Arab6Israeli 7ar,   the  1280 &inai 7ar, the

120+ &i9/Day 7ar, the 7ar of Attrition, the 12+: ;om<ippur 7ar, =peration itani, the 124 ebanon 7ar,=peration Defensie 7all, the **0 ebanon 7ar and=peration $ast ead! 7hile originally the ID# wasoperational on three fronts5against ebanon  and&yria in the north,  >ordan  and  Ira? in the east, and@gypt  in the south5after the 12+2  @gyptian6Israelieace Treaty , its actiities hae mainly beenconcentrated in southern ebanon and the alestinianTerritories,   including the #irst  and the  &econdIntifada!

The Israel Defense #orces differs from most armedforces in the world in many ways, including theconscription of women, and the structure, with closerelations between the ground forces, air force andnay! &ince its founding, the ID# has strien to be auni?ue army fitting Israel's specific re?uirements! In1208, the Israel Defense #orces was awarded the Israelri-e for its contribution to education! The ID# usesseeral technologies deeloped in Israel, many of themmade specifically to match the ID#'s needs, such as theerkaa main battle tank, adanced Hi/Tech weaponssystems, and the %alil and Taor assault rifles! The B-isubmachine gun was inented in Israel and used by theID# until December **:, ending a serice that beganin 1283! The ID# also has close military relations with

the Bnited &tates, including deelopment cooperation,such as on the  #/18I  "et,  TH@ laser defense system,and the Arrow missile defense system!

 A. Organization

 All branches of the ID# are subordinate to a single%eneral &taff ! The $hief of the %eneral &taff  is the only sering officer haing the rank of ieutenant %eneral( Rav Aluf )! He reports directly to the Defense inisterand indirectly to the  rime inister of Israel and thecabinet! $hiefs of &taff are formally appointed by the

cabinet, based on the Defense inister's recommendationfor three years, but the goernment can ote to e9tendtheir serice to four (and in rare occasions een fie) yearsThe current chief of staff is %abi Ashkena-i! He replacedDan Halut-,   who resigned from the ID# following the**0 ebanon 7ar!

B. Budget

During 128*/00, Israel spent an aerage of 2C of its %Don defense! Defense e9penditures increased dramaticallyafter both the 120+ and 12+: wars! They reached a high ofabout 3C of %D in the 124*s, but hae since come backdown to about 2C, about 18 billion, following the signingof peace agreements with >ordan and @gypt! In **4Israel spent 10! billion on its armed forces, making it thecountry with the biggest ratio of defense spending to %Dand as a percentage of the budget of all deelopedcountries!(,:** per person)!

=n :* &eptember **2 Defense inister @hud .arak#inance inister ;ual &teinit- and rime inister

.en"amin Eetanyahu endorsed an additional EI& 1!8 billion for the defense budget to help Israel addressproblems regarding Iran! The budget changes wereendorsed months after Israel approed its current two/

 year budget! The defense budget in **2 stands at EI&34!0 billion and EI& 8:! billion for *1* / the highestamount in Israel's history! The figure constitutes 0!:C ofe9pected gross domestic product and 18!1C of the oeral

 budget, een before the planned EI& 1!8 billion addition!

C. Service

Eational military serice is mandatory for any non/Arab

Israeli citi-en) oer the age of 14, although othere9ceptions may be made on religious, physical orpsychological grounds en sere three years in the ID#

 while women sere two! The ID# allowed women who olunteer for seeral combat positions to sere for three years because combat soldiers must undergo a lengthyperiod of training! 7omen in other positions, such asprogrammers, who re?uire lengthy training time may alsosere three years! 7omen in most combat positions arealso re?uired to sere as resere for seeral years aftertheir dismissal from regular serice!

eanwhile, Israel does not produce officers throughacademies, rather commanders rise through the rankssolely on the basis of their leadership and commandcapabilities! This system allows youth to grow andma9imi-e their potential! At the same time, bonds ofriendship are forged during basic training or actie dutyand are maintained through resere duty and proideimportant social cohesion! In 1244, the InternationaInstitute for &trategic &tudies in ondon estimated thestrength of the ground forces at 1*3,*** troops, including10,*** career soldiers and 44,*** conscripts! Anadditional 323,*** men and women were regularlytrained reseres who could be mobili-ed within seenty/two hours! According to The ilitary .alance, in 122+/

8/20/2019 The Israel Defense Forces.doc

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-israel-defense-forcesdoc 2/5

1224 there were 1+8,*** soldiers in the regular Israeliarmy (conscripts and career soldiers) and 3:*,*** inthe reseres! The air force is not designated as aseparate serice! =fficially known as the Air $orps (Hel

 Air), the air force, howeer, en"oy more autonomy  within the ID# structure than the official designation would suggest! The commander has the status of senior adiser to the chief of staff! Along with theground force area commanders, the commander of theair force holds two/star rank! In 1244, the air force

consisted of about 4,*** men, of whomappro9imately 2,*** were career professionals, and12,*** were conscripts assigned primarily to airdefense units! An additional 8*,*** resere members

 were aailable for mobili-ation! As of 1222, the IA#strength of :,8** included some ,*** conscripts

 who mostly sered in the air/defence brigades!Feserists numbered 83,***! .y far the smallest armof the ID#, the nay in 124+ consisted of about 1,***officers and 4,*** enlisted personnel, including :,**conscripts! An additional 1,*** resere personnel

 would be aailable on mobili-ation! The nay is notdesignated as a separate serice! =fficially known as

the &ea $orps (Hel ;am), the nay en"oys moreautonomy within the ID# structure than the officialdesignation would suggest! The commander has thestatus of senior adisers to the chief of staff! Along withthe ground force area commanders, the commander of the nay holds two/star rank! $ommitment to Israel'ssecurity and well being has been a cornerstone of B!&!policy in the iddle @ast since Israel's creation in1234, in which the Bnited &tates played a key supporting role! Israel and the Bnited &tates are boundclosely by historic and cultural ties as well as by mutualinterests! $ontinuing B!&! economic and security assistance to Israel acknowledges these ties and signalsB!&! commitment! The broad issues of Arab/Israelipeace hae been a ma"or focus in the B!&!/Israelirelationship! B!&! efforts to reach a iddle @ast peacesettlement are based on BE &ecurity $ouncilFesolutions 3 and ::4 and hae been based on thepremise that as Israel takes calculated risks for peace,the Bnited &tates will help minimi-e those risks!

II. Timeline and Maor !vents"

#$%& 'ar of Inde(endence (Eoember 123+ / >uly 1232), that started by a 0 months of ciil war between>ewish and Arab militias at the end of the .ritishandate of alestine and that turned into a regular

 war after the declaration of independence of Israel andthe interention of seeral Arab armiesIn human terms, the 7ar of Independence was Israel'scostliest war

 The Sinai 'ar (=ctober 1280) / a military attack on@gypt by  .ritain,  #rance, and Israel  beginning on  2=ctober 1280  with the intention to occupy the &inaieninsula and to take oer the &ue- $anal!

Si)*Da+ 'ar  (>une 120+) / fought between  Israel  and Arab  neighbors @gypt,  >ordan, and  &yria! The nations ofIra?,  &audi Arabia, <uwait and  Algeria also contributedtroops and arms to the Arab forces

 'ar of Attrition  (1204/12+*) / a  limited war  fought between the Israeli  military and forces of the  @gyptianFepublic, the B&&F   and the  alestine iberation=rgani-ation from 120+ to 12+*! It was initiated by the

@gyptians as a way of recapturing the &inai  from theIsraelis, who had been in control of the territory since themid/120+ &i9/Day 7ar! This marked the finatransformation of the ID# into a professional army capableof large/scale operations

 ,om -i((ur 'ar  (=ctober 12+:) / The war, whichstarted on the holiest day in the >ewish calendar, the Dayof Atonement, was the fiercest Arab/Israeli war since the1234 7ar of Independence! #ought from =ctober 0  to=ctober 0, 12+: by a coalition of Arab states led by @gypt

and &yria against Israel as a way of recapturing part of theterritories which they lost to the Israelis back in the &i9/Day 7ar!

First e/anon 'ar (124) / began in 0 >une 124, whenthe Israel Defense #orces inaded southern ebanon! The%oernment of Israel ordered the inasion as a response tothe assassination attempt against Israel's ambassador tothe  Bnited <ingdom,  &hlomo Argo  by the  Abu Eida=rgani-ation and due to the constant terror attacks onnorthern Israel made by the terrorist organi-ations whichresided in ebanon

The 0ulf 'ar (1221)  *  In August 122*, Ira? inaded<uwait and threatened to attack Israel with arious typesof weapons, including non/conentional ordnance! #or thefirst time in Israel's history, the entire country faced a realthreat of destruction!

Second e/anon 'ar  (summer **0) / began asmilitary operation in response to the abduction of twoIsraeli resere soldiers by the He-bollah! The operationgradually strengthened, to become a wider confrontationThe principal parties were He-bollah  paramilitary forcesand the Israeli military !

III*A. Ministr+ of Defense

• a ciilian agency•  minister of defence is a ciilian (although usually

a retired military officer)

•   supreme commander of the ID# and caninterene in all ID# matters

•   responsible for procurement, contractual, legalfinancial, and economical aspects of ID# actiities

8/20/2019 The Israel Defense Forces.doc

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-israel-defense-forcesdoc 3/5

enabling the ID# to concentrate solely onsecurity and the defence of the nation!

 A. MA1O2 0OAS

• deelop and prepare infrastructures andresources for implementing ID# ob"ecties

•   design and implement procurement,manufacture, deelopment, construction, andserice arrangements in order to gie the ID#the means it needs to do its "ob

•  rehabilitate disabled eterans and members of  bereaed families

•   deelop and administer the defense e9portsystem

•   administer, plan, and control the defense budget

•   handle all ciilian aspects of the defensesystem

III*B O/ectives 3IDF4"

• defend the soereignty and territorial integrity of the &tate of Israel

•  determine all enemies and curb all forms of terrorism which threaten daily life

MAI5 TAS-S 3IDF4"

• reinforce the peace arrangements

• ensure oerall security in the 7est .ank and%a-a &trip in coordination of the alestinian

 Authority 

• spearhead the war against terrorism, bothinside Israel and across its borders

• maintain a deterrent capability to preent the

outbreak of hostilities

I6. Code of Conduct" 7nleashing IDF S(irit

Core values of IDF

• Defense of the State8 its Citizens and its

2esidents / GThe ID#'s goal is to defend thee9istence of the &tate of Israel, itsindependence and the security of the citi-ensand residents of the state!G

• ove of the 9omeland and o+alt+ to

the Countr+   / GAt the core of serice in theID# stand the loe of the homeland and the

commitment and deotion to the &tate of Israel/ademocratic state that seres as a national home forthe >ewish eople/its citi-ens and residents!G

• 9uman Dignit+  / GThe ID# and its soldiers areobligated to protect human dignity! @ery human

 being is of alue regardless of his or her originreligion, nationality, gender, status or position!G

Other significant values

•

Tenacit+ of :ur(ose in :erformingMissions and Drive to 6ictor+   / GThe ID#sericemen and women will fight and conducthemseles with courage in the face of all dangersand obstacles They will perseere in theirmissions resolutely and thoughtfully een to thepoint of endangering their lies!G

• 2es(onsi/ilit+  / GThe ID# sericemen or women

 will see themseles as actie participants in thedefense of the state, its citi-ens and residentsThey will carry out their duties at all times withinitiatie, inolement and diligence with commonsense and within the framework of their authority

 while prepared to bear responsibility for theirconduct!G

• Credi/ilit+   / GThe ID# sericemen and womenshall present things ob"ectiely, completely andprecisely, in planning, performing and reportingThey will act in such a manner that their peers andcommanders can rely upon them in performingtheir tasks!G

• :ersonal !)am(le  / GThe ID# sericemen and women will comport themseles as re?uired othem, and will demand of themseles as theydemand of others, out of recognition of theirability and responsibility within the military and

 without to sere as a desering role model!G

• 9uman ife / GThe ID# sericemen and women will act in a "udicious and safe manner in all theydo, out of recognition of the supreme alue ohuman life! During combat they will endangerthemseles and their comrades only to the e9tentre?uired to carry out their mission!G

• :urit+ of Arms / GThe soldier shall make use of

his weaponry and power only for the fulfillment ofthe mission and solely to the e9tent re?uired he

 will maintain his humanity een in combat! Thesoldier shall not employ his weaponry and powerin order to harm non/combatants or prisoners of

 war, and shall do all he can to aoid harming their

lies, body, honor and property!G• :rofessionalism  / GThe ID# sericemen and

 women will ac?uire the professional knowledgeand skills re?uired to perform their tasks, and willimplement them while striing continuously toperfect their personal and collectieachieements!G

• Disci(line  / GThe ID# sericemen and women

 will strie to the best of their ability to fully andsuccessfully complete all that is re?uired of themaccording to orders and their spirit! ID# soldiers

 will be meticulous in giing only lawful orders, and

8/20/2019 The Israel Defense Forces.doc

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-israel-defense-forcesdoc 4/5

shall refrain from obeying blatantly illegalorders!G

• Comradeshi(  / GThe ID# sericemen and women will act out of fraternity and deotionto their comrades, and will always go to theirassistance when they need their help ordepend on them, despite any danger ordifficulty, een to the point of risking theirlies!G

• Trust;orthiness * The ID# ericeman willstrie in all hisactions to fulfil his dutiescorrectly and at the highestprofessional leel,from e9acting and thorough preparation totrue,honest, complete and precise reporting.<

 6. Controversies"

 AM5!ST, I5T!25ATIO5A

T9! I5T!25ATIO5A

COMMITT!! OF T9! 2!DC2OSS

97MA5 2I09TS 'ATC9

=6!2S7S=

*IS2A! D!F!5S! FO2C!*

#.4 7SS IB!2T, I5CID!5T I5 ACCO2DA5C! TO T9! SI>*DA, 'A2 

&eeral specific allegations of killings of prisonersof war by members of the ID# hae been made by former members with regard to incidents in the1280 &inai 7ar and the 120+ &i9/Day 7ar!J4KJ2K =n>une 4, 120+, during the &i9/Day 7ar, ID# forcesfired on a B!&! Eay  intelligence ship, B&& Liberty!

?.4 SAB2A A5D S9ATIA MASSAC2!

The &abra and &hatila massacre was a massacre of alestinian  and  ebanese  ciilians carried out

 between 10 and 14 &eptember 124 by theebanese #orces  militia group, following theassassination of  halangist  leader and president/elect .achir %emayel!

@.4 I5CID!5TS I5 T9! 0AA 'A2 

During the **2 strike of  %a-a &trip, ID# allegedly dropped  white phosphorus  weapon aboealestinian citi-ens! %enerally, human rights

 iolations were also identified as a nominal fault of the ID#!

 6I. 7niueness /ehind all Controversies"

#.4 Social Functions of the Arm+ 

The Israeli army is generally perceied as a Gnation builderG / a school for national identity and unity! TheID# has also taken an actie interest in the educationof new immigrants, especially in the teaching of theHebrew language! The army cuts across ethnic (edah)religious and socio/economic boundaries! Israelis fromall walks of life meet in the army, and are forced tofind a way to lie together!

?.4 :s+chological !ffects of Militar+ Service

&oldiers are gien considerable responsibility! Aparfrom this, they also feel a Gwidening of hori-onsG dueto the many different people and situationsencountered during their serice! ! &trong familial tiesare maintained during army serice and parents aree9pected to support their children while in the armythrough isits, care packages, laundry and financiaassistance!

@.4 Civilian Influences on the Arm+ 

The Israeli army is ery much a Gpeople's armyG andthere are many contacts between the ID# and widersociety!

%.4 Militar+ Influence on Societ+ 

The national security effort in Israel in the early 124*sconstituted between a ?uarter and a third of Israel's%E, about half of the goernment's budget, and afourth of the labor force! In addition to this, those whohae sered in the army also gain certain benefitssome "obs are open only to eterans and certain

 welfare benefits are aailable only to eterans and

their families!

Prepared by:

March

-larisse

0a//+ 

Bea

 An

  ocial anthropology 152

8/20/2019 The Israel Defense Forces.doc

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-israel-defense-forcesdoc 5/5

-January 2010-