|country = Israel

|image = [[File:Badge of the Israel Defence Forces.svg|150px]]

|caption = Israel Defense Forces logo

|founded = 1948

|current_form =

|disbanded =

|branches = [[File:Israeli Army (Land Arm) Flag.svg|30px]] [[GOC Army Headquarters|Israeli Army]]<br>[[File:Israel Air Force Flag.svg|30px]] [[Israeli Air Force]]<br>[[File:Naval Ensign of Israel.svg|30px]] [[Israeli Navy]]

<!-- Leadership -->

|minister = [[Ehud Barak]]

|minister_title = [[Defense Minister of Israel|Defense Minister]]

|commander = [[Rav Aluf]] [[Benny Gantz]]

|commander_title = [[Chief of General Staff (Israel)|Chief of General Staff]]

<!-- Manpower -->

|age = 18

|conscription = 18

|manpower_data = 2000 est.

|manpower_age = 17–49

|available = 1,554,186

|available_f = 1,514,063

|fit = 1,499,998

|fit_f = 1,392,319

|reaching = 54,148

|reaching_f = 47,996

|active = 176,500<ref name="INSS">[http://www.inss.org.il/upload/(FILE)1336472780.pdf "The Institute for National Security Studies", chapter Israel, 2012] 8 May 2012.</ref> ([[List of countries by number of active troops|ranked 34th]])

|reserve = 445,000<ref name="INSS"/>

<!-- Financial -->

|amount = 50.6[[Israeli new shekel|₪]] billion (~$14.5 billion)<ref name="budget12">{{cite web|url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/dti/2012/01/01/DT_01_01_2012_p42-400663.xml&headline=Israel%20Uses%20Special%20Funds%20To%20Boost%20Spending |title=Israel Uses Special Funds To Boost Spending |author=David Eshel |publisher=AviationWeek }}</ref> (2012)

|percent_GDP = 6.9% (2011)<ref name="budget11">{{cite web|url=http://gb.zinio.com/reader.jsp?issue=416150696 |title=Analyzing numbers: The cost of Israeli defense is elusive (page 52)|author=David Esel |publisher=AviationWeek/dti }}</ref><ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4054947,00.html Defense budget gets additional NIS 260M] ynetnews, Zvi Lavi Published: 11 April 2011, 14:27</ref>

<!-- Industrial -->

|domestic_suppliers = [[Israel Aerospace Industries]]<br>[[Israel Military Industries]]<br>[[Israel Weapon Industries]]<br>[[Elbit Systems]]<br>[[Elisra]]<br>[[Elta]]<br>[[Rafael Advanced Defense Systems]]<br>[[Soltam Systems]]<br>[[Plasan]]<br>[[Automotive Industries]]<br>[[Hatehof]]<br>[[Israel Shipyards]]<br>[[SimiGon]]<br>[[BUL Transmark]]<br>[[Aeronautics Defense Systems]]<br>[[Ordnance Corps (Israel)|Israel Ordnance Corps]]<br>[[Meprolight]]

|foreign_suppliers = {{flag|United States}} (1968–present)<ref name="WJS">{{cite news |title= U.S., Israel Build Military Cooperation|url= http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703321004575427272550050504.html

|author=Charles Levinson |date=14 August 2010|work=Wall Street Journal}}</ref><br>{{flag|Czechoslovakia}} (1948)<ref>''New Perspectives on Israeli History: The Early Years of the State'', By Laurence Jay Silberstein, (NYU Press 1991), 232</ref><ref>''Jane's international defense review:

IDR'', Volume 41, page 18 (Jane's Information Group, 2008)</ref><br>{{flag|South Africa}} (prior to 1990)<ref>''The Unspoken Alliance: Israel's Secret Relationship with Apartheid South Africa'', By Sasha Polakow-Suransky, 204</ref>

{{flag|Germany}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/24/AR2006082401050.html |title=Israel Buys 2 Nuclear-Capable Submarines |work=The Washington Post |date= 25 August 2006|accessdate=1 June 2010 | first=Ramit | last=Plushnick-Masti}}</ref><br>

{{flag|France}} (1955–1966)<ref>''France & Iraq: Oil, Arms And French Policy Making in the Middle East'', I.B.Tauris, 2 April 2006, By David Styan page 39-47</ref><!-- Related aricles -->

|history = [[1948 Arab–Israeli War|War of Independence]] (1948–1949)<br />[[Retribution operations]] (1950s–1960s)<br />[[Suez Crisis|Sinai War]] (1956)<br />[[War over Water]] (1964–1967)<br />[[Six-Day War]] (1967)<br />[[War of Attrition]] (1967–1970)<br />[[Battle of Karameh]] (1968)<br />[[Operation Spring of Youth]] (1973)<br />[[Yom Kippur War]] (1973)<br />[[Operation Entebbe]] (1976)<br />[[1978 South Lebanon conflict|Litani]] (1978)<br />[[1982 Lebanon War|First Lebanon War]] (1982)<br />[[South Lebanon conflict (1982–2000)|South Lebanon conflict]] (1982–2000)<br />[[First Intifada]] (1987–1993)<br />[[Second Intifada]] (2000–2005)<br />[[Operation Defensive Shield]] (2002)<br />[[2006 Lebanon War|Second Lebanon War]] (2006)<br />[[Gaza War]] (2008–2009)<br />[[Operation Pillar of Defense]] (2012)<br />[[Military operations conducted by the Israel Defense Forces|Other]]

|ranks =

The '''Israel Defense Forces''' ('''IDF'''; {{lang-he-n|צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל}} {{Audio|He-Israeli Defense Forces.ogg|''Tzva Hahagana LeYisra'el''}}, ''lit.'' "The Army of Defense for [[Israel]]"; {{lang-ar|جيش الدفاع الإسرائيلي}} ''{{transl|ar|ALA|Jaysh ad-Difāʻ al-Isrāʼīlī&nbsp;}}''), commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew [[Acronym and initialism|acronym]] ''Tzahal'' ({{Hebrew|צה"ל}}), are the military forces of the State of [[Israel]]. They consist of the [[GOC Army Headquarters|ground forces]], [[Israeli Air Force|air force]], and [[Israeli navy|navy]]. It is the sole military wing of the [[Israeli security forces]], and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel. The IDF is headed by its [[Ramatkal|Chief of General Staff]], the ''Ramatkal'', subordinate to the [[Defense Minister of Israel]]; [[Rav Aluf]] [[Benny Gantz]] has served as Chief of Staff since 2011.

An order from Defense Minister [[David Ben-Gurion]] on 26 May 1948, officially set up the Israel Defense Forces as a [[Conscription|conscript army]] formed out of the paramilitary group [[Haganah]], incorporating the [[militant (word)|militant]] groups [[Irgun]] and [[Lehi (group)|Lehi]]. The IDF served as Israel's armed forces in all the country's major military operations—including the [[1948 War of Independence]], [[Retribution operations|1951–1956 Retribution operations]], [[Suez Crisis|1956 Sinai War]], [[the War over Water|1964–1967 War over Water]], [[Six-Day War|1967 Six-Day War]], [[War of Attrition|1967–1970 War of Attrition]], [[Battle of Karameh|1968 Battle of Karameh]], [[1973 Israeli raid on Lebanon|1973 Operation Spring of Youth]], [[Yom Kippur War|1973 Yom Kippur War]], [[Operation Entebbe|1976 Operation Entebbe]], [[Operation Litani|1978 Operation Litani]], [[1982 Lebanon War]], [[South Lebanon conflict (1982–2000)|1982–2000 South Lebanon conflict]], [[First Intifada|1987–1993 First Intifada]], [[Second Intifada|2000–2005 Second Intifada]], [[Operation Defensive Shield|2002 Operation Defensive Shield]], [[2006 Lebanon War]], [[Gaza War|2008–2009 Gaza War]], [[Operation Pillar of Defense|2012 Operation Pillar of Defense]], and others. The number of wars and border conflicts in which IDF was involved in its short history, makes it one of the most battle-trained armed forces in the world.<ref>{{Cite document |url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Facts+About+Israel/State/THE+STATE-+Israel+Defense+Forces+-IDF-.htm |publisher=Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs |title=The State: Israel Defense Forces (IDF) |accessdate=9 August 2007 |date=13 March 2009 |postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/israel/idf.htm |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |title=Israel Defense Forces |accessdate=16 September 2007 |postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref> While originally the IDF operated on three fronts—against [[Lebanon]] and [[Syria]] in the north, [[Jordan]] and [[Iraq]] in the east, and [[Egypt]] in the south—after the 1979 [[Egyptian–Israeli Peace Treaty]], it has concentrated its activities in [[southern Lebanon]] and the [[Palestinian Territories]], including the [[First Intifada|First]] and the [[Second Intifada]].

The Israel Defense Forces differs from most armed forces in the world in many ways. Differences include the conscription of women and its structure, which emphasizes close relations between the army, navy, and air force. Since its founding, the IDF has been specifically designed to match Israel's unique security situation. The IDF is one of Israeli society's most prominent institutions, influencing the country's economy, culture and political scene. In 1965, the Israel Defense Forces was awarded the [[Israel Prize]] for its contribution to education.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cms.education.gov.il/EducationCMS/Units/PrasIsrael/Tashkag/Tashlab_Tashkag_Rikuz.htm?DictionaryKey=Tashka|title=Israel Prize recipients in 1965 (in Hebrew)|publisher=Israel Prize Official Site |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5wE6Ihijv|archivedate=3 February 2011 by WebCite}}</ref> The IDF uses several technologies developed in Israel, many of them made specifically to match the IDF's needs, such as the [[Merkava]] main battle tank, high tech weapons systems, the [[Iron Dome]], [[Trophy (countermeasure)|Trophy countermeasure]], and the [[IMI Galil|Galil]] and [[IMI Tavor TAR-21|Tavor]] assault rifles. The [[Uzi]] submachine gun was invented in Israel and used by the IDF until December 2003, ending a service that began in 1954. Following 1967, the IDF has had close [[Israel&nbsp;– United States military relations|military relations with the United States]],<ref>{{cite book |author=Mahler, Gregory S. |title=Israel After Begin |page=45 |publisher=SUNY Press |year=1990 |isbn=0-7914-0367-X}}</ref> including development cooperation, such as on the [[F-15I]] jet, [[Tactical High Energy Laser|THEL]] laser defense system, and the [[Arrow (Israeli missile)|Arrow missile]] defense system.

{{Refimprove section|date=January 2013}}

[[File:Ink flag.jpg|thumb|160px|The [[Ink Flag]], a symbol of IDF's victory in the [[Israeli Independence War]], 1949]]

{{Main|History of the Israel Defense Forces|Wars involving Israel|Military operations conducted by the Israel Defense Forces}}

The IDF traces its roots to Jewish paramilitary organizations in the [[Yishuv|New Yishuv]], starting with the [[Second Aliyah]] (1904 to 1914). The first such organization was [[Bar-Giora]], founded in September 1907. It was converted to [[Hashomer]] in April 1909, which operated until the [[British Mandate of Palestine]] came into being in 1920. Hashomer was an elitist organization with narrow scope, and was mainly created to protect against criminal gangs seeking to steal property. During World War I the forerunners of the Haganah/IDF were the [[Zion Mule Corps]] and the [[Jewish Legion]], both of which were part of the British Army. After the [[1920 Palestine riots|Arab riots]] against Jews in April 1920, the Yishuv's leadership saw the need to create a nationwide underground defense organization, and the [[Haganah]] was founded in June of the same year. The Haganah became a full-scale defense force after the [[1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine]] with an organized structure, consisting of three main units—the [[HISH|Field Corps]], [[Guard Corps (Haganah)|Guard Corps]], and the [[Palmach]]. During World War II the successor to the Jewish Legion of World War I was the [[Jewish Brigade]].

The IDF was founded following the [[Declaration of Independence (Israel)|establishment of the State of Israel]], after Defense Minister and Prime Minister [[David Ben-Gurion]] issued an order on 26 May 1948. The order called for the establishment of the Israel Defense Forces, and the abolishment of all other Jewish armed forces. Although Ben-Gurion had no legal authority to issue such an order, the order was made legal by [[Cabinet of Israel|the cabinet]] on 31 May.<ref name="ostfeld-legal">{{cite book |title=An Army is Born (Vol. 1) |author=Ostfeld, Zehava |year=1994 |publisher=[[Ministry of Defense (Israel)|Israel Ministry of Defense]] |pages=104–106 |isbn=965-05-0695-0 |editor=ed. Shoshana Shiftel}} {{he icon}}</ref>

The two other Jewish underground organizations, [[Irgun]] and [[Lehi (group)|Lehi]], agreed to join the IDF if they would be able to form independent units and agreed not to make independent arms purchases. This was the background for the dispute which led to the [[Altalena Affair]], when following a confrontation regarding the weapons it brought resulted in a battle between Irgun members and the newly created IDF. It ended when the ship was shelled. Following the affair, all independent Irgun and Lehi units were either disbanded or merged into the IDF. The Palmach, a strong lobby within the Haganah, also joined the IDF with [[The Generals' Revolt|provisions]], and Ben Gurion responded by disbanding its staff in 1949, after which many senior Palmach officers retired, notably its first commander, [[Yitzhak Sadeh]].

The new army organized itself during the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]] when neighbouring Arab states attacked Israel. Twelve [[Infantry Corps (Israel)|infantry]] and [[Armor Corps (Israel)|armored]] brigades formed: [[Golani Brigade|Golani]], [[Carmeli Brigade|Carmeli]], [[Alexandroni Brigade|Alexandroni]], [[Kiryati Brigade|Kiryati]], [[Givati Brigade|Givati]], [[Etzioni Brigade|Etzioni]], the [[7th Armoured Brigade (Israel)|7th]], and [[8th Armored Brigade (Israel)|8th]] armored brigades, [[Oded Brigade|Oded]], [[Harel Brigade|Harel]], [[Yiftach Brigade|Yiftach]], and [[Negev Brigade|Negev]].<ref name="idf-enc-11-15">{{cite encyclopedia |title=The Infantry Brigades |encyclopedia=IDF in Its Corps: Army and Security Encyclopedia |last=Pa'il |first=Meir |authorlink=Meir Pa'il |publisher=Revivim Publishing |year=1982 |page=15 |volume=Volume 11 |editor=Yehuda Schiff}} {{he icon}}</ref> After the war, some of the brigades were converted to reserve units, and others were disbanded. Directorates and corps were created from corps and services in the Haganah, and this basic structure in the IDF [[#Organization|still exists today]].

[[File:Israeli Tanks Cross the Suez Canal - Flickr - Israel Defense Forces.jpg|thumb|200px|143rd Division crossing the Suez Canal, in the direction of Cairo during the [[Yom Kippur War]], 15 October 1973]]

Immediately after the 1948 war, the Israel Defense Forces shifted to [[low intensity conflict|low intensity]] [[Retribution operations|conflict]] against [[Palestinian fedayeen|Arab Palestinian guerrillas]]. In the 1956 [[Suez Crisis]], the IDF's first test of strength after 1949, the new army proved itself by capturing the [[Sinai Peninsula]] from Egypt, which was later returned. In the 1967 [[Six-Day War]], Israel conquered the Sinai Peninsula, [[Gaza Strip]], [[West Bank]] (including [[East Jerusalem]]) and [[Golan Heights]] from the surrounding Arab states, changing the balance of power in the region as well as the role of the IDF. In the following years leading up to the [[Yom Kippur War]], the IDF fought a [[War of Attrition|war of attrition]] against Egypt in the Sinai and a border war against the [[Palestine Liberation Organization|PLO]] in Jordan, culminating in the [[Battle of Karameh]].

The surprise of the Yom Kippur War and its aftermath completely changed the IDF's procedures and approach to warfare. Organizational changes were made{{By whom|date=January 2010}} and more time was dedicated to training for conventional warfare. However, in the following years the army's role slowly shifted again to low-intensity conflict, [[urban warfare]] and [[counter-terrorism]]. It was involved in the [[Lebanese Civil War]], initiating [[Operation Litani]] and later the [[1982 Lebanon War]], where the IDF ousted Palestinian guerilla organizations from [[Lebanon]]. Palestinian militancy has been the main focus of the IDF ever since, especially during the [[First Intifada|First]] and [[Second Intifada]]s, [[Operation Defensive Shield]], and the [[Gaza War]], causing the IDF to change many of its values and publish the [[#Code of conduct|IDF Spirit]]. The Islamic [[Shia Islam|Shia]] organization [[Hezbollah]] has also been a growing threat, against which the IDF fought an [[South Lebanon conflict (1982–2000)|asymmetric conflict]] between 1982 and 2000, as well as a [[2006 Lebanon War|full-scale war]] in 2006.

==Etymology==

The [[Cabinet of Israel|Israeli cabinet]] ratified the name "Israel Defense Forces" ({{lang-he-n|צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל}}), ''Tzva HaHagana LeYisra'el'', literally "army for the defense of Israel," on 26 May 1948. The other main contender was ''Tzva Yisra'el'' ({{lang-he-n|צְבָא יִשְׂרָאֵל}}). The name was chosen because it conveyed the idea that the army's role was defense, and because it incorporated the name [[Haganah]], upon which the new army was based.<ref name="ostfeld-name">{{cite book |title=An Army is Born (Vol. 1) |author=Ostfeld, Zehava |year=1994 |publisher=[[Ministry of Defense (Israel)|Israel Ministry of Defense]] |pages=113–116 |isbn=965-05-0695-0 |editor=ed. Shoshana Shiftel}} {{he icon}}</ref> Among the primary opponents of the name were Minister [[Haim-Moshe Shapira]] and the [[Hatzohar]] party, both in favor of ''Tzva Yisra'el''.<ref name="ostfeld-name" />

All branches of the IDF answer to a single [[General Staff (Israel)|General Staff]]. The [[Chief of General Staff (Israel)|Chief of the General Staff]] is the only serving officer having the rank of [[Lieutenant General]] (''Rav Aluf''). He reports directly to the [[Defense Minister of Israel|Defense Minister]] and indirectly to the [[Prime Minister of Israel]] and the cabinet. Chiefs of Staff are formally appointed by the cabinet, 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 [[Benny Gantz]]. He replaced [[Gabi Ashkenazi]] in 2011.

The IDF includes the following bodies (those whose respective heads are members of the [[General Staff (Israel)|General Staff]] are in bold):

[[File:structure idf.png|thumb|center|550px|Structure of the Israel Defense Forces (click to enlarge)]]

*'''[[Israeli Northern Command|Northern Command]]'''

*'''[[Israeli Central Command|Central Command]]'''

*'''[[Israeli Southern Command|Southern Command]]'''

*'''[[Israeli Home Front Command|Home Front Command]]'''

'''[[GOC Army Headquarters|Ground Arm]]'''

*[[Israeli Infantry Corps|Infantry Corps]]

**[[Paratroopers Brigade]]

**[[Golani Brigade]]

**[[Nahal Brigade]]

**[[Givati Brigade]]

**[[Kfir Brigade]]

**[[Bislamach Brigade]]

*[[Israeli Armor Corps|Armor Corps]]

**[[7th Armored Brigade (Israel)|7th Sa'ar Armored Brigade]]

**[[Barak Armored Brigade|188th Barak Armored Brigade]]

**[[401st Brigade (IDF)|401st Ikvot HaBarzel Armored Brigade]]

**[[460th Brigade (IDF)|460th Sons of Light Armored Brigade]]

*[[Israeli Artillery Corps|Artillery Corps]]

*[[Israeli Engineering Corps|Combat Engineering Corps]]

*[[Combat Intelligence Collection Corps]]

*[[Israeli Air Force|Air Force]]

*[[Israeli Navy]]

====Other bodies====

'''Military:'''

*'''[[Israeli Military Academies|Military Academies]]'''

**[[Tactical Command College]]

**[[Command and Staff College (Israel)|Command and Staff College]]

**[[National Security College]]

*'''[[Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories]]'''

*'''[[Military Advocate General]]'''

*'''[[Israeli Military Court of Appeals|Military Court of Appeals]]'''

*'''[[Financial Advisor to the Chief of Staff]]'''

*'''[[Military Secretary to the Prime Minister]]'''

'''Civilian:'''

*'''[[Director-general]] of the [[Ministry of Defense (Israel)|Ministry of Defense]]'''

*'''[[Defense Establishment Comptroller Unit]]'''

*'''[[Administration for the Development of Weapons and the Technological Industry]]'''

====Branches====

'''[[Israeli General Staff|General Staff]]'''

*'''[[Israeli Planning Directorate|Planning Directorate]]'''

*'''[[Israeli Operations Directorate|Operations Directorate]]'''

**[[IDF Spokesperson's Unit|IDF Spokesperson]]

*'''[[Aman (IDF)|Intelligence Directorate]]'''

**[[Israeli Intelligence Corps|Intelligence Corps]]

**[[Israeli Military Censor|Military Censor]]

*'''[[Depth Corps|Depth Headquarters]]'''

*'''[[Manpower Directorate]]'''

**[[Israeli Military Police|Military Police Corps]]

**[[Israeli Education and Youth Corps|Education and Youth Corps]]

**[[Israeli Adjutant Corps|Adjutant Corps]]

**[[Israeli General Corps|General Corps]]

**[[Military Rabbinate]]

**[[Women's Affairs advisor]]

**[[Israeli Chief Reserve Officer|Chief Reserve Officer]]

*'''[[Israeli Computer Service Directorate|Computer Service Directorate]]'''

**[[C4I Corps]]

*'''[[Logistics, Medical, and the Centers Directorate|Technological and Logistics Directorate]]'''

**[[Israeli Ordnance Corps|Ordnance Corps]]

**[[Israeli Logistics Corps|Logistics Corps]]

**[[Israeli Medical Corps|Medical Corps]]

{{col-end}}

===Related bodies===

The following bodies work closely with the IDF, but do not (or only partially) belong to its formal structure.

{{col-begin}}

====Security forces====

*[[Israeli Intelligence Community|Intelligence Community]]

:*[[Shin Bet|Shabak]]

:*[[Mossad]]

:*[[National Security Council (Israel)|National Security Council]]

*[[Israeli police]]

:*[[Israel Border Police|Border Police]]

*[[Israel Prison Service|Prison Service]]

*[[Knesset Guard]]

{{col-break}}

====Development====

* [[Israel Military Industries]] (IMI)

* [[Israel Aerospace Industries]] (IAI)

* [[Rafael Advanced Defense Systems]]

* [[Elbit Systems]]

* [[Elisra|Elisra Group]]

* [[Soltam]]

* [[Plasan]]

===Ranks, uniforms and insignia===

====Ranks====

[[File:Idf back from lebanon.jpg|thumb|180px|Soldiers of the Nahal Brigade returning to Israel after the [[Second Lebanon War]]]]

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - "Yanshuf" Battalion Soldiers at ABC Warfare Exercise, Nov 2010.jpg|thumb|180px|Soldiers of the "Yanshuf" (Owl) Battalion, which specializes in [[Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear|NPC]] warfare]]

Unlike most world armies, the IDF uses the same rank names in all corps, including the air force, and navy. All enlisted ranks, as well as some of the officer and NCO ranks, may be given as a result of time spent in service, and not for accomplishment or merit.

For ground forces' officers, rank insignia were brass on a red background; for the air force, silver on a blue background; and for the navy, the standard gold worn on the sleeve. Officer insignia were worn on epaulets on top of both shoulders. Insignia distinctive to each service were worn on the cap (see fig. 15).

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Soldiers in Deep Snow.jpg|thumb|180px|upright|IDF [[Alpinist Unit]] dispatched to [[Mount Hermon]]]]

[[File:Milhama1.jpg|thumb|180px|Israeli soldiers coming back from the Second Lebanon war, armed with the [[M4 Carbine]] and the [[IMI Negev]] light [[machinegun]]]]

Enlisted grades wore rank insignia on the sleeve, halfway between the shoulder and the elbow. For the army and air force, the insignia were white with blue interwoven threads backed with the appropriate corps color. Navy personnel wore gold-colored rank insignia sewn on navy blue material.

From the formation of the IDF until the late 1980s, sergeant major was a particularly important warrant officer rank, in line with usage in other armies. However, in the 1980s and 1990s the proliferating ranks of sergeant major became devalued, and now all professional NCO ranks are a variation on sergeant major (''rav samal'') with the exception of ''rav nagad''.

All translations here are the official translations of the IDF's website.<ref name="IDF">{{cite web |url=http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/about/insignia/ranks.htm |title=IDF Ranks |publisher=IDF |accessdate=10 June 2010}}</ref>

*[[Private (rank)|Private]] (''Turai'')

*[[Corporal]] (''Rav Turai'')

*[[Sergeant]] (''Samal'')

*[[First Sergeant]] (''Samal Rishon'')

'''[[Warrant Officer]]s''' (''Nagadim'') (All volunteers)

*Sergeant First Class (''Rav Samal'')

*Master Sergeant (''Rav Samal Rishon'')

*[[Sergeant Major]] (''Rav Samal Mitkadem'')

*[[Warrant Officer]] (''Rav Samal Bakhir'')

*Master Warrant Officer (''Rav Nagad Mishneh'')

*Chief Warrant Officer (''Rav Nagad'')

*Professional Academic Officer (''Katzin Miktzo'i Akadema'i'')

*Senior Academic Officer (''Katzin Akadema'i Bakhir'')

'''[[Officer (armed forces)|Officer]]''' (''Ktzinim'')

*[[Second Lieutenant]] (''Segen Mishneh'')

*Lieutenant (''Segen'')

*[[Captain (OF-2)|Captain]] (''Seren'')

*[[Major]] (''Rav Seren'')

*[[Lieutenant Colonel]] (''Sgan Aluf'')

*[[Colonel]] (''Aluf Mishneh'')

*[[Brigadier General]] (''Tat Aluf'')

*[[Major General]] (''[[Aluf]]'')

*[[Lieutenant General]] (''Rav Aluf'')

====Uniforms====

[[File:Idf-uniform-en.png|thumb|180px|IDF uniform colours]]

* Service dress (''madei aleph'' – Uniform "A")&nbsp;– the everyday uniform, worn by enlisted soldiers.

* [[battledress|Field dress]] (''madei bet'' – Uniform "B")&nbsp;– worn into combat, training, work on base.

* Officers / Ceremonial dress (''madei srad'')&nbsp;– worn by officers, or during special events/ceremonies.

* [[Dress uniform]] and [[Mess dress]]&nbsp;– worn only abroad. There are several dress uniforms depending on the season and the branch.

The service uniform for all ground forces personnel is [[olive green]]; navy and air force uniforms are beige (tan). The uniforms consist of a shirt, trousers, sweater, jacket or blouse, and shoes or boots. The navy has an all white dress uniform. Green fatigues are the same for winter and summer and heavy winter gear is issued as needed. Women's dress parallels the men's but may substitute a skirt for the trousers.

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Officer Course for Infantry Command.jpg|thumb|180px|IDF female infantry soldiers]]

Headgear included a service cap for dress and semi-dress and a field cap worn with fatigues. IDF personnel generally wear berets in lieu of the service cap. Berets are now worn on the left shoulder under the epaulett daily and on the head only for ceremonial purposes. There are many Beret colors issued to IDF Servicemen and Women. Paratroops are issued a maroon beret, Golani brown, Givati purple, Kfir Camouflage, Combat Engineers gray, IDF Naval and Air force personnel also have berets. Blue-grey for the IDF Air Corps and Black for the IDF Naval Forces. Other beret colors are: black for armored corps, Grey for mechanized infantry and turquoise artillery personnel; olive drab for infantry; grey for combat engineers; and purple for the [[Givati Brigade]] and brown for the [[Golani Brigade]]. For all other army personnel, except combat units, the beret for men was green and for women, black. Women in the navy wore a black beret with gold insignia. Males in the navy once wore a blue/black beret but replaced it with the US Navy's [[sailor hat]].

Some corps or units have small variations in their uniforms&nbsp;– for instance, military policemen wear a white belt and police hat, Naval personnel have dress whites for parades, Paratroopers are issued a four pocket Tunic (shirt) meant to be worn untucked with a pistol belt cinched tight around the waist over the shirt. Similarly, while most IDF soldiers are issued black leather boots, some units issue reddish-brown leather boots for historical reasons&nbsp;— the paratroopers, combat medics, Nahal and Kfir brigades, as well as some SF units ([[Sayeret Matkal]], [[Unit Oketz|Oketz]], [[Duvdevan Unit|Duvdevan]], [[Maglan]], [[Counter-Terror School]]). Women were also formerly issued [[Sandal (footwear)|sandal]]s, but this practice has ceased.

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - 163rd IAF Flight Course Graduates (1).jpg|thumb|180px|163rd IAF Flight Course Graduates]]

====Insignia====

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Flight School Graduates Receive Their New Rankings as Air Force Officers.jpg|thumb|180px|IAF Flight school graduates receive their new rankings as Air Force officers]]

A pin attached to the beret identifies a soldier's corps. Soldiers serving in staffs above corps level are often identified by the General Corps pin, despite not officially belonging to it, or the pin of a related corps. New recruits undergoing [[basic training]] (''[[tironut]]'') do not have a pin. Beret colors are also often indicative of the soldier's corps, although most non-combat corps do not have their own beret, and sometimes wear the color of the corps to which the post they're stationed in belongs. Individual units are identified by a shoulder tag attached to the left [[shoulder strap]]. Most units in the IDF have their own tags, although those that do not, generally use tags identical to their command's tag (corps, directorate, or regional command).

While one cannot always identify the position/job of a soldier, two optional factors help make this identification: an [[aiguillette]] attached to the left shoulder strap and shirt pocket, and a pin indicating the soldier's work type (usually given by a professional course). Other pins may indicate the corps or additional courses taken. Finally, an optional battle pin indicates a war that a soldier has fought in.

==Service==

* '''Regular service''' (שירות חובה) – mandatory military service which is held according to the Israeli security service law.

* '''Permanent Service''' (שירות קבע) – military service which is held as part of a contractual agreement between the IDF and the permanent position holder.

* '''[[Reserve duty (Israel)|Reserve service]]''' (שירות מילואים) – a military service in which citizens are called for active duty of at most a month every year, for training activities and ongoing defense activities and especially for the purpose of increasing the military forces in case of a war.

Sometimes the IDF would also hold pre-military courses (קורס קדם צבאי or קד"צ) for soon to be regular service soldiers.

* '''[[Shoher]]''' (שוחר), a person enrolled in pre-military studies (High School, Technical College up to Eng degree, some of the קד"ץ courses) – after completing the 12th study year will do a 2 month boot-camp, if allowed return to continue the studies to receive [[Practical engineer|P.A]] education after each study year will do at least two weeks training. For successful candidates will continue for an Engineering [[Bachelor degree]]. [[Shoher]] will be enrolled as a regular service if he dropped out before finished his P.A education or in any finishing education stage (after High School, after P.A or after receiving the Bachelor degree).

Shoher will have the ability to serve in R&D units without having the engineering credentials if an officer finds him as worthy and could recommend him for the R&D units, R&D unit have the option to provide "על תקן מהנדס" certificate for few selected personal to allow person to work on life saving or flight equipment without having an Eng. license (the certificate isn't valid for medical R&D machinery), the certificate is provided by the highest in command in the research field (as an example for the Air Force it is the Chef of Equipment Group).

* '''Civilian working for the IDF''' (אזרח עובד צה"ל), a civilian working for the military.

The [[Manpower Directorate|Israeli Manpower Directorate]] (אגף משאבי אנוש) at the [[General Staff (Israel)|Israeli General Staff]] is the body which coordinates and assembles activities related to the control over human resources and its placement.

[[File:Nahal-kumta.jpg|thumb|180px|IDF [[Nahal Brigade]] soldiers on their regular service]]

National military service is mandatory for all [[Israelis|Israeli]] citizens over the age of 18, although [[Arab-Israeli|Arab]] (but not [[Druze]]) citizens are exempted if they so please, and other exceptions may be made on religious, physical or psychological grounds (see [[Profile 21]]). The [[Tal law]], which exempts ultra-orthodox Jews from service, has been the subject of several court cases as well as considerable legislative controversy.

Men serve three years in the IDF, while women serve two. The IDF women who volunteer for several combat positions often serve for three years, due to the longer period of training. Women in other positions, such as programmers, who also require lengthy training time, may also serve three years. Women in most combat positions are also required to serve in the reserve for several years after they leave regular service.

Some distinguished recruits are selected to be trained in order to eventually become members of [[Sayeret|special forces units]]. Every brigade in the IDF has its own special force branch.

Career soldiers are paid on average NIS 23,000 a month, fifty times the NIS 460 paid to conscripts.<ref>Zrahiya, Zvi. http://www.haaretz.com/business/barak-wants-to-pay-minimum-wage-to-idf-conscripts-1.393937 ''Haaretz Newspaper'', 6 November 2011.</ref>

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - The IDF Honors Its Reservists.jpg|thumb|IDF Reservists train in the [[Golan Heights]]]]

Permanent service is designed for soldiers who choose to continue serving in the army after their regular service, for a short or long period, and in many cases making the military their career. Permanent service usually begins immediately after the mandatory Regular service period, but there are also soldiers who get released from military at the end of the mandatory Regular service period and who get recruited back to the military as Permanent service soldiers in a later period.

Permanent service is based on a contractual agreement between the IDF and the permanent position holder. The service contract defines how long the soldier's service would be, and towards the end of the contract period a discussion may rise on the extension of the soldier's service duration. Many times, regular service soldiers are required to commit to a permanent service after the mandatory Regular service period, in exchange for assigning them in military positions which require a long training period.

In exchange for the Permanent service, the Permanent service soldiers receive full wages, and when serving for a long period as a permanent service soldier, they are also entitled for a pension from the army. This right is given to the Permanent service soldiers in a relatively early stage of their life in comparison to the rest of the Israeli retirees.

[[File:Paras226th.JPG|thumb|right|Officers in reserve duty before parachuting exercise. Reserve service may continue until the age of 51<ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Culture/IDF.html Israel Defense Forces (IDF)—An Introduction]''Jewish Virtual Library''</ref>]]

After personnel complete their regular service, the IDF may call up men for:

* reserve service of up to one month annually, until the age of 43–45 (reservists may volunteer after this age)

* active duty immediately in times of crisis

Although still available for call-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, the 2006 Lebanon War) exemptions are rarely requested or exercised; units generally achieve recruitment rates above those considered fully manned.

[[File:Israel 4 021.Israelic Soldier.jpg|thumb|150px|The Israel Border Police (''Magav'') is responsible for security in urban or rural areas]]

Legislation (set to take effect by 13 March 2008) has proposed reform in the reserve service, lowering the maximum service age to 40, designating it as a purely emergency force, as well as many other changes to the 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.{{Update after|2008|03|13}}

Other than the National Service (''[[Sherut Leumi]]''), IDF conscripts may serve in bodies other than the IDF in a number of ways.

Non-combat services include the Mandatory Police Service (''Shaham'') program, where youth serve in the [[Israeli Police]], [[Israel Prison Service]], or other wings of the [[Israeli Security Forces]] instead of the regular army service.

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Karakal Winter Training.jpg|thumb|The unisex [[Caracal Battalion]], which serves in a full combat capacity]]

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Female Soldiers Unload their Weapons.jpg|thumb|IDF infantry instructors, a common role for women in the IDF<ref>''Brothers and others in arms: the making of love and war in Israeli combat units'', Routledge, 2003, Danny Kaplan</ref>]]

Israel is the only nation to [[conscription|conscript]] women and assign some of them to infantry combatant service which places them directly in the line of enemy fire.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/Up_Close/2007/08/0101.htm |title=A Woman of Valor |publisher=Israel Defense Forces |author=Bar Ben-Ari |date=1 August 2007 |accessdate=10 June 2010}}</ref>

Civilian pilot and aeronautical engineer Alice Miller successfully petitioned the High Court of Justice to take the Israeli Air Force pilot training exams, after being rejected on grounds of gender. Though president [[Ezer Weizman]], a former IAF commander, told Miller that she would be better off staying home and darning socks, the court eventually ruled in 1996 that the IAF could not exclude qualified women from pilot training. Even though Miller would not pass the exams, the ruling was a watershed, opening doors for women in new IDF roles. Female legislators took advantage of the momentum to draft a bill allowing women to volunteer for any position, if they could qualify.<ref name="feldinger">{{cite news

| author= Lauren Gelfond Feldinger

| title = Skirting history

| publisher= The Jerusalem Post

| accessdate=22 March 2011

| date = 21 September 2008

| url = http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=114834

}}</ref>

In 2000, the Equality amendment to the Military Service law stated that the right of women to serve in any role in the IDF is equal to the right of men.<ref name=mfaWomen>{{cite web|title=Integration of women in the IDF|publisher=Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs|url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Israel+beyond+politics/Integration_women_in_IDF-March_2009 | accessdate=23 March 2011|date=8 March 2009}}</ref> Women have taken part in Israel’s military before and since the founding of the state in 1948.<ref name=womenIDF>{{cite web|title=Women in the IDF|url=http://idfspokesperson.com/2011/03/07/women-in-the-idf/|publisher=Israel Defense Forces|accessdate=22 March 2011|date=7 March 2011}}</ref> Women started to enter combat support and light combat roles in a few areas, including the Artillery Corps, infantry units and armored divisions. A few platoons named Karakal were formed for men and women to serve together in light infantry. By 2000 Karakal became a [[Caracal Battalion|full-fledged battalion]]. Many women would also join the [[Israeli Border Police|Border Police]].<ref name="feldinger" />

In June 2011, Maj. General [[Orna Barbivai]] became the first female major general in the IDF, replacing head of the directorate Maj. General Avi Zamir. Barbivai stated, "I am proud to be the first woman to become a major general and to be part of an organization in which equality is a central principle. 90 percent of jobs in the IDF are open to women and I am sure that there are other women who will continue to break down barriers."<ref name="The Jerusalem Post">{{cite news|last=Katz|first=Yaakov|title=Orna Barbivai becomes first female IDF major general|url=http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=226336|accessdate=10 July 2012|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=23 July 2011}}</ref><ref name="Yedioth Ahronot">{{cite news|last=Greenberg|first=Hanan|title=IDF names 1st female major-general|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4074563,00.html|accessdate=10 July 2012|newspaper=Yedioth Ahronot|date=26 May 2011}}</ref>

Non-Jewish minorities tended to serve in one of several special units: the [[Unit of the Minorities|Minorities Unit]], also known as Unit 300; the Druze Reconnaissance Unit; and the Trackers Unit, which comprised mostly [[Negev Bedouins]]. In 1982 the IDF general staff decided to integrate the armed forces by opening up other units to minorities, while placing some Jewish conscripts in the Minorities Unit. Until 1988 the intelligence corps and the air force remained closed to minorities.

[[File:DruzeSoldier.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Druze]] commander of the IDF Herev battalion]]

Israel, being a Jewish state, has a majority of Jewish soldiers. [[Israeli Druze|Druze]] and [[Circassians in Israel|Circassian]] men are subject to mandatory conscription to the IDF just like [[Israeli Jews]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aka.idf.il/brothers/skira/default.asp?catId=57478&docId |title=IDF human resources site |publisher=IDF |accessdate=10 June 2010}} {{he icon}}</ref> Originally, they served in the framework of a special unit called "The Minorities' Unit", which still exists today, in the form of the independent Herev ("Sword") battalion. However, since the 1980s Druze soldiers have increasingly protested this practice, which they considered a means of segregating them and denying them access to elite units (like [[sayeret]] units). The army has increasingly admitted Druze soldiers to regular combat units and promoted them to higher ranks from which they had been previously excluded. In recent years, several Druze officers have reached ranks as high as Major General and many have received commendations for distinguished service. In proportion to their numbers, the Druze people achieve much higher—documented—levels in the Israeli army than other soldiers. Nevertheless, some Druze still charge that discrimination continues, such as exclusion from the [[Israel Air Force|Air Force]], although the official low security classification for Druze has been abolished for some time. The first Druze aircraft navigator completed his training course in 2005; his identity is protected as are those of all air force pilots. During the [[Israeli War of Independence]], many Druze who had initially sided with the Arabs deserted their ranks to either return to their villages or side with Israel in various capacities.<ref name="Gelber">{{cite news |title= Druze and Jews in the war of 1948. (Israel-Arab War of 1948–49)|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-16921885.html|author=Gelber, Yoav |date=1 April 1995|work=Middle Eastern Studies}}</ref>

Since the late 1970s the [[Druze Initiative Committee]], centered at the village of [[Beit Jan]] and linked to the [[Israeli Communist Party]], has campaigned to abolish Druze conscription.

Military service is a tradition among some of the Druze population, with most opposition in Druze communities of the [[Golan Heights]]; 83 percent of Druze boys serve in the army, according to the IDF's statistics.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=129391 |title=Covenant of blood |publisher=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |author=Larry Derfner |date=15 January 2009 |accessdate=10 June 2010}}</ref> According to the Israeli army, 369 Druze soldiers have been killed in combat operations since 1948.<ref>http://dover.idf.il/IDF/News_Channels/Personal/10/10/1102.htm מוכנים לטייס הדרוזי הראשון?</ref>

[[File:Bedouin IDF1949.jpg|thumb|170px|Bedouin soldiers in 1949]]

[[File:Israeli soldiers and Arabs .jpg|thumb|170px|Israeli Arab soldiers, serving in the [[Galilee]] in 1978]]

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Bedouin Soldier with Schoolchild.jpg|thumb|170px|Bedouin Desert Reconnaissance Battalion, visiting an Arab school]]

By law, all Israeli citizens are subject to conscription. The Defense Minister has complete discretion to grant exemption to individual citizens or classes of citizens. A long-standing policy dating to Israel's early years extends an exemption to all other Israeli minorities (most notably [[Israeli Arab]]s). However, there is a long-standing government policy of encouraging [[Bedouin]]s to volunteer and of offering them various inducements, and in some impoverished Bedouin communities a military career seems one of the few means of (relative) social mobility available. Also, Muslims and Christians are accepted as volunteers, even at an age greater than 18.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aka.idf.il/brothers/skira/default.asp?catId=57479&docId= |title=IDF Human Resources site |accessdate=10 June 2010}} {{he icon}}</ref>

From among non-Bedouin Arab citizens, the number of volunteers for military service—some [[Arab Christians and Arabic-speaking Christians|Christian Arabs]] and even a few Muslim Arabs—is minute, and the government makes no special effort to increase it. Six Israeli Arabs have received orders of distinction as a result of their military service; of them the most famous is a Bedouin officer, Lieutenant Colonel Abd el-Majid Hidr (also known as [[Amos Yarkoni]]), who received the Order of Distinction. Vahid el Huzil was the first Bedouin to be a battalion commander.<ref>[http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART2/271/121.html History in Tzahal the first Bedouin to be Battalion Commander]</ref><ref>[http://news.walla.co.il/?w=/9/782336 a Bedouin officer got the command on a battalion]</ref> Recently, a Bedouin officer was promoted to the rank of Colonel.{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}}

Until the second term of [[Yitzhak Rabin]] as Prime Minister (1992–1995), social benefits given to families in which at least one member (including a grandfather, uncle or cousin) had served at some time in the armed forces were significantly higher than to "non-military" families, which was considered a means of blatant discrimination between Jews and Arabs. Rabin had led the abolition of the measure, in the teeth of strong opposition from the Right. At present, the only official advantage from military service is the attaining of security clearance and serving in some types of government positions (in most cases, security-related), as well as some indirect benefits.

Rather than perform army service, Israeli Arab youths have the option to volunteer to [[Sherut Leumi|national service]] and receive benefits similar to those received by discharged soldiers. The volunteers are generally allocated to Arab populations, where they assist with social and community matters. {{As of|2010}} there are 1,473 Arabs volunteering for national service. According to sources in the national service administration, Arab leaders are counseling youths to refrain from performing services to the state. According to a National Service official, "For years the Arab leadership has demanded, justifiably, benefits for Arab youths similar to those received by discharged soldiers. Now, when this opportunity is available, it is precisely these leaders who reject the state's call to come and do the service, and receive these benefits".<ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3974580,00.html Rise in Arab National Service volunteers], by Aviel Magnezi. YNet, 25 October 2010, 14:47</ref>

Although Arabs are not obligated to serve in IDF, any Arab can volunteer. A Muslim Arab woman is currently serving as a medic with unit 669.<ref>"First female Arab soldier joins elite unit 669 ", [http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3527584,00.html online]:

:"Muslim soldier serving as medic on IAF’s special airborne search and rescue unit is candidate to become airborne medic"</ref>

Cpl. [[Elinor Joseph]] from [[Haifa]] became the first female Arab combat soldier for IDF. Elinor said:

{{cquote|...there was a Katyusha [rocket] that fell near my house and also hurt Arabs. If someone would tell me that serving in the IDF means killing Arabs, I remind them that Arabs also kill Arabs.<ref>"Cpl. Elinor Joseph, first female Arab combat soldier in IDF: "proud to serve" ", {{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} "I treated all the people at the checkpoints in the same manner, because we are all human. For this reason, no one reacted to me in a negative manner, and to tell the truth, that surprised me.” Elinor’s presence also helped change people’s perceptions, "People knew I was there and that I wouldn’t hold my tongue if need be, so they had a constant reminder to treat the Palestinians well. But really, their treatment was always full of respect."</ref>}}

Another Arab-Muslim officer in the IDF is Hisham Abu Varia, who is currently a [[Second Lieutenant]].<ref name="ynetFirsftOff">{{cite news|last=Pevzner|first=Yana|title=The lone Arab Soldier|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3968706,00.html|accessdate=27 October 2010|newspaper=Ynet|date=13 October 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Falasha makstyle.jpg|thumb|120px||An [[Beta Israel|Ethiopian-Jewish]] soldier]]

In October 2012, the IDF promoted Mona Abdo to become the first female Christian Arab to the rank of combat commander. Abdo had voluntarily enlisted in the IDF, which her family had encouraged, and transferred from the [[Ordnance Corps (Israel)|Ordnance Corps]] to the [[Caracal Battalion]], a mixed-gender unit with both Jewish and Arab soldiers.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.algemeiner.com/2012/10/18/israel-promotes-first-female-christian-arab-to-combat-commander/ | title=Israel Promotes First Female Christian Arab to Combat Commander | publisher=The Algemeiner | date=18 October 2012 | accessdate=21 October 2012}}</ref>

The IDF carried out extended missions in [[Ethiopia]] and neighboring states, whose purpose was to protect [[Ethiopian Jews]] (Beta Israel) and to help their immigration to Israel.<ref>The Jewish state: the struggle for Israel's soul. Yoram Hazony. 2001. Page 54</ref> The IDF adopted policies and special activities for absorption and integration of Ethiopian immigrant soldiers, which resulted in great positive impact on the achievements and integration of those soldiers in the army as well as Israeli society in general.<ref>The Beta Israel in Ethiopia and Israel: studies on Ethiopian Jews By Tudor Parfitt, Emanuela Trevisan Semi. p.170</ref><ref>Israel social science research, Volumes 10–11. Hubert H. Humphrey Center for Social Ecology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 1995. p.70</ref> Statistical research showed that the Ethiopian soldiers are esteemed as excellent soldiers and many aspire to be recruited to combat units.<ref>Becoming Ethiopian Israelis: An appraisal of the adjustment of the Ethiopian Jewish community to Israeli society. Ami Steinberger, Pepperdine University. 2006. p.24</ref>

[[File:NetzahYehudafield.jpg|thumb|180px|IDF soldiers of the religious [[Netzah Yehuda Battalion|97th "Netzah Yehuda" Infantry Battalion]]]]

Men in the [[Haredi Judaism|Haredi]] community may choose to defer service while enrolled in ''[[Yeshiva|yeshivot]]'' (see [[Tal committee]]); many avoid conscription altogether. This special arrangement is called [[Torato Omanuto]], and has given rise to [[religious relations in Israel|tensions]] between the Israeli religious and secular communities. While options exist for Haredim to serve in the IDF in an atmosphere conducive to their religious convictions, most Haredim do not choose to serve in the IDF.

Haredi males have the option of serving in the [[Netzah Yehuda Battalion|97th "Netzah Yehuda" Infantry Battalion]]. This unit is a standard IDF infantry battalion focused on the [[Jenin]] region. To allow Haredi soldiers to serve, the Netzah Yehuda military bases follow the highest standards of [[Jewish dietary laws]]; the only women permitted on these bases are wives of soldiers and officers. Additionally, some Haredim serve in the IDF via the [[Hesder]] system, principally designed for the [[Religious Zionism|Religious Zionist]] sector; it is a 5-year program which includes 2 years of religious studies, 1½ years of military service and 1½ years of religious studies during which the soldiers can be recalled to active duty at any moment. Haredi soldiers are permitted to join other units of the IDF as well, but rarely do.

The IDF has identified an urgent gap of hundreds of soldiers in their technical units that might be filled by the Haredi. The IAF is currently using [[Defense contractor]]s to fill in the gaps and continue operations.<ref>Harel, Amos. [http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/idf-ultra-orthodox-recruits-can-plug-gap-in-technical-units.premium-1.435374 "IDF: Ultra-Orthodox recruits can plug gap in technical units."] ''Haaretz Newspaper'', 10 June 2012.</ref>

Israel is one of 24 nations that allow openly gay individuals to serve in the military. Since the early 1990s, sexual identity presents no formal barrier in terms of soldiers' military specialization or eligibility for promotion.<ref name="eichner" />

Until the 1980s, the IDF tended to discharge soldiers who were openly gay. In 1983, the IDF permitted homosexuals to serve, but banned them from intelligence and top-secret positions. A decade later, Professor Uzi Even,<ref name="barbara" /> an IDF reserves officer and chairman of [[Tel Aviv University]]’s Chemistry Department revealed that his rank had been revoked and that he had been barred from researching sensitive topics in military intelligence, solely because of his sexual orientation.

His testimony to the [[Knesset]] in 1993 raised a political storm, forcing the IDF to remove such restrictions against gays.<ref name="eichner">{{cite news

| last = Eichner

| first = Itamar

| title = Follow Israel's example on gays in the military, US study says

| publisher = Ynetnews

| accessdate =10 June 2010

| date = 8 February 2007

| url = http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3362505,00.html

}}</ref>

The chief of staff's policy states that it is strictly forbidden to harm or hurt anyone's dignity or feeling based on their gender or sexual orientation in any way, including signs, slogans, pictures, poems, lectures, any means of guidance, propaganda, publishing, voicing, and utterance. Moreover, gays in the IDF have additional rights, such as the right to take a shower alone if they want to. According to a [[University of California, Santa Barbara]] study,<ref name="barbara">{{cite web|url=http://www.filmforum.org/films/yossi/israelstudyafs.pdf |title=Homosexuality and the Israel Defense Forces: Did Lifting the Gay Ban Undermine Military Performance? |format=PDF |accessdate=1 October 2010}}</ref> a brigadier general stated that Israelis show a "great tolerance" for gay soldiers. Consul [[David Saranga]] at the Israeli Consulate in New York, who was interviewed by the ''St. Petersburg Times'', said, “It's a non-issue. You can be a very good officer, a creative one, a brave one, and be gay at the same time.”<ref name="eichner" />

A study published by the [[Israel Gay Youth]] (IGY) Movement in January 2012 found that half of the homosexual soldiers who serve in the IDF suffer from violence and homophobia, although the head of the group said that "I am happy to say that the intention among the top brass is to change that."<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=273609], "Does viral IDF Gay Pride photo show full picture?" By Yaakov Katz, Jerusalem Post, 12 June 2012</ref>

Israel is the only country in the world that requires the deaf and hard-of-hearing people to serve in the conscription or military.<ref>http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=11734</ref> The sign language interpreters are provided during the training, and many of them serve in the non-combat capacities such as mappers, office work, and like. The deaf and hard-of-hearing people who have served IDF have better opportunities in the employment, housing, education, and other areas than the ones who do not serve. In addition, they gained a greater respect and recognition for their service and contribution to the country as well as stronger self-esteem and motivation.<ref>http://jdcc.org/jewish-deaf-tidbits/deaf-israeli-serves-in-israeli-army</ref>

=== Vegans ===

According to a [[Care2]] report, vegans in the IDF may refuse vaccination if they oppose animal testing. They are provided with special allowances to buy their own food. They are also given artificial leather boots.<ref name="C2-20121103">{{cite web|url=http://www.care2.com/news/member/296771588/3479034|title=Israel: Veganism promoted in defence forces|date=2012-11-03|publisher=[[Care2]]|accessdate=11 November 2012}}</ref>

===Volunteers===

In cases when a citizen cannot be normally drafted by the law (old age, served as a soldier in a different country, severe health problems, handicaps, autism, etc.), the person could enroll as volunteer in places where his knowledge can be used or in cases there is a base that accepts volunteer service from one day per week up to a full 24/7 service upon person abilities and wishes.

Non-immigrating foreign volunteers typically serve with the IDF in one of four ways:

* The [[Mahal (Israel)|Mahal]] program targets young non-Israeli Jews (men younger than 24 and women younger than 21). The program consists typically of 14.5–18 months of IDF service, including a lengthy training for those in combat units or (for 18 months) one month of non-combat training and additional two months of learning [[Hebrew]] after enlisting, if necessary. Volunteering for longer service is possible. There are two additional subcategories of Mahal, both geared solely for religious men: Mahal [[Netzah Yehuda Battalion|Nahal Haredi]] (16 months), and Mahal [[Hesder]], which combines yeshiva study of 6.5 months with IDF service of 14.5 months, for a total of 21 months. Similar IDF programs exist for Israeli overseas residents.

* [[Sar-El]], an organisation subordinate to the Israeli [[Logistics Corps]], provides a volunteer program for non-Israeli citizens who are 17 years or older (or 15 if accompanied by a parent). The program is also aimed at Israeli citizens, aged 30 years or older, living abroad who did not serve in the Israeli Army and who now wish to finalize their status with the military. The program usually consists of three weeks of volunteer service on different rear army bases, doing non-combative work.

* [[Garin Tzabar]] offers a program mainly for Israelis who emigrated with their parents to the United States at a young age. Although a basic knowledge of the Hebrew language is not mandatory, it is helpful. Of all the programs listed, only Garin Tzabar requires full-length service in the IDF. The program is set up in stages: first the participants go through five seminars in their country of origin, then have an absorption period in Israel at a [[kibbutz]]. Each delegation is adopted by a kibbutz in Israel and has living quarters designated for it. The delegation shares responsibilities in the kibbutz when on military leave. Participants start the program three months before being enlisted in the army at the beginning of August.

==Doctrine==

{{double image|right|Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Live Interoperability Drill Simulates Enemy Village Takeover (1).jpg|250|Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Live Interoperability Drill Simulates Enemy Village Takeover (2).jpg|250|A live [[combined arms]] exercise simulates an enemy village takeover in southern Israel. IDF infantry, artillery, tank and air forces simulated taking control of an enemy village.}}

===Mission===

The IDF mission is to "defend the existence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state of Israel. To protect the inhabitants of Israel and to combat all forms of terrorism which threaten the daily life."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/about/doctrine/default.htm |title=IDF desk – Doctrine, Mission |publisher=Dover.idf.il |accessdate=1 June 2010}}</ref>

[[File:F16Netz107pic003.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Israeli Air Force]] [[F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16]]A Netz 107 with 6.5 killing marks of other aircraft and one killing mark of [[Operation Opera|Iraqi nuclear reactor]], a world record for a single F-16 fighter]]

[[File:Israeli Urban combat.jpg|thumb|200px|Israeli "Netzah Yehuda" recon company in full combat gear prepare for a night raid in the West Bank]]

===Main doctrine===

The main doctrine consists of the following principles:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/about/doctrine/main_doctrine.htm |title=IDF desk – Main Doctrine |publisher=Dover.idf.il |accessdate=1 June 2010}}</ref>

====Basic points====

* Israel cannot afford to lose a single war

* Defensive on the strategic level, no territorial ambitions

* Desire to avoid war by political means and a credible deterrent posture

* Preventing escalation

* Determine the outcome of war quickly and decisively

* Combating terrorism

* Very low casualty ratio

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Female Infantry Instructors Prepare for a Combat Exercise, Nov 2010.jpg|thumb|200px|Female infantry instructors prepare for a combat exercise]]

====Prepare for defense====

* A small [[standing army]] with an early warning capability, regular air force and navy

* An efficient reserve mobilization and transportation system

====Move to counterattack====

* Multi-arm coordination

* Transferring the battle to enemy territory quickly

* Quick attainment of war objectives

===Code of conduct===

In 1992, the IDF drafted a Code of Conduct that combines international law, Israeli law, Jewish heritage and the IDF's own traditional ethical code—the IDF Spirit ({{lang-he|רוח צה"ל}}, ''Ru'ah Tzahal'').<ref name="idf-spirit">{{cite web |url=http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/about/doctrine/ethics.htm |title=Ethics – The IDF Spirit |publisher=[[IDF Spokesperson's Unit]] |accessdate=10 June 2010}}</ref>

====Stated values of the IDF====

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Guns N' Roses, Welcome to the Home Front Jungle.jpg|thumb|200px|A female soldier of the IDF Search and Rescue Unit. She is equipped with an [[M4_carbine#M4A1|M4A1 Carbine]] with a [[Close Quarters Battle Receiver]]]]

The document defines three core values for all IDF soldiers to follow, as well as ten secondary values (the first being most important, and the others appearing sorted in Hebrew alphabetical order):<ref name="idf-spirit" />

;Core values:

* '''Defense of the State, its Citizens and its Residents''' – "The IDF's goal is to defend the existence of the State of Israel, its independence and the security of the citizens and residents of the state."

* '''Love of the Homeland and Loyalty to the Country''' – "At the core of service in the IDF stand the love of the homeland and the commitment and devotion to the State of Israel-a democratic state that serves as a national home for the Jewish People-its citizens and residents."

* '''Human Dignity''' – "The IDF and its soldiers are obligated to protect human dignity. Every human being is of value regardless of his or her origin, religion, nationality, gender, status or position."

;Other values:

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Standing Guard in Nablus.jpg|thumb|200px|Israeli soldiers during the [[Battle of Nablus]]]]

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - The Engineering Corps Atomic-Biological-Chemical Unit.jpg|thumb|200px|The Engineering Corps's Atomic-Biological-Chemical Unit]]

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Nachal Brigade On Historical Trek (1).jpg|thumb|200px|[[Nahal Brigade]] soldiers pay respect to fallen comrades at [[Mt. Herzl]]'s Military Cemetery]]

* '''Tenacity of Purpose in Performing Missions and Drive to Victory''' – "The IDF servicemen and women will fight and conduct themselves with courage in the face of all dangers and obstacles; They will persevere in their missions resolutely and thoughtfully even to the point of endangering their lives."

* '''[[Moral responsibility|Responsibility]]''' – "The IDF servicemen or women will see themselves as active participants in the defense of the state, its citizens and residents. They will carry out their duties at all times with initiative, involvement and diligence with common sense and within the framework of their authority, while prepared to bear responsibility for their conduct."

* '''[[Credibility]]''' – "The IDF servicemen and women shall present things objectively, completely and precisely, in planning, performing and reporting. They will act in such a manner that their peers and commanders can rely upon them in performing their tasks."

* '''Personal Example''' – "The IDF servicemen and women will comport themselves as required of them, and will demand of themselves as they demand of others, out of recognition of their ability and responsibility within the military and without to serve as a deserving role model."

* '''Human Life''' – "The IDF servicemen and women will act in a judicious and safe manner in all they do, out of recognition of the supreme value of human life. During combat they will endanger themselves and their comrades only to the extent required to carry out their mission."

* '''[[Purity of Arms]]''' – "The soldier shall make use of his weaponry and power only for the fulfillment of the mission and solely to the extent required; he will maintain his humanity even in combat. The soldier shall not employ his weaponry and power in order to harm non-combatants or prisoners of war, and shall do all he can to avoid harming their lives, body, honor and property."

* '''[[Professionalism]]''' – "The IDF servicemen and women will acquire the professional knowledge and skills required to perform their tasks, and will implement them while striving continuously to perfect their personal and collective achievements."

* '''Discipline''' – "The IDF servicemen and women will strive to the best of their ability to fully and successfully complete all that is required of them according to orders and their spirit. IDF soldiers will be meticulous in giving only lawful orders, and shall refrain from obeying blatantly illegal orders."

* '''Comradeship''' – "The IDF servicemen and women will act out of fraternity and devotion to their comrades, and will always go to their assistance when they need their help or depend on them, despite any danger or difficulty, even to the point of risking their lives."

* '''Sense of Mission''' – "The IDF soldiers view their service in the IDF as a mission; they will be ready to give their all in order to defend the state, its citizens and residents. This is due to the fact that they are representatives of the IDF who act on the basis and in the framework of the authority given to them in accordance with IDF orders."

====Military ethics of fighting terror====

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Field Doctors Treat "Wounded" During Exercise, Oct 2010.jpg|thumb|Two IDF Medical Doctors in a training exercise]]

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - IDF Soldiers Treats Palestinian Man.jpg|thumb|IDF soldiers treat an injured Palestinian man]]

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - IDF Soldiers Rescue Lebanese Woman (1).jpg|thumb|IDF soldiers rescued an eighty-year-old Lebanese woman, after she got tangled in the security fence on the northern border, on the Lebanese side]]

In 2005, [[Asa Kasher]] and [[Amos Yadlin]] co-authored a noticed article published in the ''Journal of Military Ethics'' under the title: "Military Ethics of Fighting Terror: An Israeli Perspective". The article was meant as an "extension of the classical Just War Theory", and as a "[needed] third model" or missing paradigm besides which of "classical war (army) and law enforcement (police).", resulting in a "doctrine (...) on the background of the IDF fight against acts and activities of terror performed by Palestinian individuals and organizations."<ref>''Military Ethics of Fighting Terror: An Israeli Perspective'' Journal of Military Ethics, Volume 4, Number 1, April 2005, pp. 3–32 (Abstract) http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15027570510014642</ref>

In this article, Kasher and Yadlin came to the conclusion that [[targeted killing]]s of terrorists were justifiable, even at the cost of hitting nearby civilians. In a 2009 interview to ''[[Haaretz]]'', Asa Kasher later confirmed, pointing to the fact that in an area in which the IDF does not have effective security control (e.g., Gaza, vs. Est-Jerusalem), soldiers' lives protection takes priority over avoiding injury to enemy civilians.<ref>"The philosopher who gave the IDF moral justification in Gaza", Haaretz 6 February 2009 http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/the-philosopher-who-gave-the-idf-moral-justification-in-gaza-1.269527</ref> Some, along with [[Avishai Margalit]] and [[Michael Walzer]], have recused this argument, advancing that such position was "contrary to centuries of theorizing about the morality of war as well as international humanitarian law",<ref>Khalidi,''The Most Moral Army in the World?'', Journal of Palestine Studies, Vol 39, no. 3 (Spring 2010), p. 6 http://www.palestine-studies.org/journals.aspx?id=10705&jid=1&href=fulltext</ref> since drawing "a sharp line between combatants and noncombatants" would be "the only morally relevant distinction that all those involved in a war can agree on."<ref>Margalit and Walzer, ''Israel: Civilians & Combatants'', New York Review of Books, May 2009 http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2009/may/14/israel-civilians-combatants/</ref>

The article was intended to (then Chief of Staff) [[Moshe Ya'alon]], to serve as a basis for a new "code of conduct". Although Moshe Ya'alon did endorse the article's views, and is reported to have presented it numerous times before military forums, it was never actually turned into a binding IDF document or an actual "code", neither by Ya'alon nor its successors. However, the document have since reportedly been adapted to serve as educational material, designed to emphasizes the right behavior in [[low intensity warfare]] against terrorists, where soldiers must operate within a civilian population.<ref>Guinora, ''Teaching Morality in Armed Conflict:

The Israel Defense Forces Model'', Jewish Virtual Library, 2006: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Culture/IDFmorals.html</ref>

As of today "The Spirit of the IDF" (cf. supra) is still considered the only biding moral code that formally applies to the IDF troops. In 2009, [[Amos Yadlin]] (then head of [[Military Intelligence]]) suggested that the article he co-authored with [[Asa Kasher]] be ratified as a formal binding code, arguing that "the current code ['The Spirit of the IDF'] does not sufficiently address one of the army's most pressing challenges: [[asymmetric warfare]] against terrorist organizations that operate amid a civilian population".<ref>Harel, ''MI: IDF needs new ethics code for war on terror'', Haaretz, 30 September 2009 http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/mi-idf-needs-new-ethics-code-for-war-on-terror-1.6991</ref>

The 11 key points highlighted in the article and educational material mentioned above :

# Military action can be taken only 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 themselves and to enemies.

# 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.

==Budget==

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. They reached a high of about 24% of GDP in the 1980s, but have since come down significantly, following the signing of peace agreements with Jordan and Egypt.

On 30 September 2009 Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz and Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] endorsed an additional NIS 1.5 billion for the defense budget to help Israel address problems regarding Iran. The budget changes came two months after Israel had approved its current two-year budget. The defense budget in 2009 stood at NIS 48.6 billion and NIS 53.2 billion for 2010 – the highest amount in Israel's history. The figure constituted 6.3% of expected gross domestic product and 15.1% of the overall budget, even before the planned NIS 1.5 billion addition.<ref name="haaretz.com">

{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/business/defense-budget-to-grow-education-spending-to-shrink-1.6974 |title=Defense budget to grow, education spending to shrink |work=Haaretz |location=Israel |author=Moti Bassok |date=30 September 2009 |accessdate=9 June 2010}}</ref>

However in 2011, the prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu reversed course and moved to make significant cuts in the defense budget in order to pay for social programs.<ref>[http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2011/10/10/Israel-Generals-say-defense-cuts-perilous/UPI-60991318262603/ "Israel: Generals say defense cuts perilous."] ''UPI'', 10 October 2011.</ref> The General Staff concluded that the armed forces endangered their battle readiness under the proposed cuts.<ref>Harel, Amos. [http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/idf-battle-readiness-to-suffer-if-budget-cut-senior-officers-warn-1.389238?localLinksEnabled=false "IDF battle readiness to suffer if budget cut, senior officers warn."] ''Haaretz Newspaper'', 11 October 2011.</ref> In 2012, Israel spent $15.2 billion on its armed forces, making it the country with one the highest ratio of defense spending to GDP of the developed countries ($1,900 per person). However, the spending per capita is below that of the USA.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures |title= List of countries by military expenditures |work=Wikipedia |accessdate=25 November 2012 }}</ref>

{{Main|Military equipment of Israel}}

[[File:F-15I Ra'am.jpg|thumb|180px|[[Israeli Air Force]] [[F-15I|F-15I Ra'am]]]]

[[Image:LAHAT.jpg|thumb|180px|[[LAHAT]] ATGM, by Israel Aerospace Industries]]

[[File:ILS IMG 3819.JPG|thumb|180px|[[Israeli Navy]] [[Sa'ar 5-class corvette]]]]

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Storming Ahead.jpg|thumb|180px|Merkava Mark 4 with [[Trophy active protection system]]]]

===Military technology===

The IDF possesses top-of-the-line weapons and computer systems used and recognized worldwide. Some gear comes from the US (with some equipment modified for IDF use) such as the [[M4A1]] and [[M16 rifle|M16]] [[assault rifle]]s, the [[M24 SWS]] 7.62&nbsp;mm [[bolt action]] [[sniper rifle]], the [[SR-25]] 7.62&nbsp;mm semi-automatic sniper rifle, the [[F-15 Eagle]] and [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]], and the [[AH-64D Apache]] and [[AH-1 Cobra]] [[attack helicopter]]s. Israel also has developed its own independent weapons industry, which has developed weapons and vehicles such as the [[Merkava]] battle tank series, the [[IAI Nesher|Nesher]] and [[Kfir]] [[fighter aircraft]], and various small arms such as the [[IMI Galil|Galil]] and [[Tavor]] [[assault rifle]]s, and the [[Uzi]] [[submachine gun]]. Israel has also installed a variant of the [[Samson RCWS]], a remote controlled weapons platform, which can include machine guns, grenade launchers, and anti-tank missiles on a remotely operated turret, in [[Bunker#Pillbox|pillboxes]] along the [[Israeli Gaza Strip barrier]] intended to prevent [[Palestinian militant]]s from entering its territory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogscript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3A344244b3-3fee-4dfc-be03-992bf38a6f19 |title=Weaponized Sentry-Tech Towers Protecting Hot Borders |publisher=Aviationweek.com |date=4 December 2008 |accessdate=1 October 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.eurasiareview.com/201007134943/israels-new-video-game-executions.html |title=Israel's New 'Video Game' Executions |publisher=Eurasia Review |author=Palestine Chronicle |date=13 July 2010 |accessdate=8 August 2010}}</ref> Israel has developed observation [[Military ballooning|balloons]] equipped with sophisticated cameras and surveillance systems used to thwart terror attacks from Gaza.<ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4224907,00.html IDF observation balloon crashes near Gaza], Ynet News 5 May 2012</ref>

The IDF also has several large internal [[research and development]] departments, and it purchases many technologies produced by the Israeli security industries including [[Israel Aircraft Industries|IAI]], [[Israel Military Industries|IMI]], [[Elbit Systems]], [[Rafael Advanced Defense Systems|Rafael]], 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 good reputation.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

In response to the price overruns on the US [[Littoral Combat Ship]] program, Israel is considering producing their own [[warship]]s, which would take a decade<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.trcb.com/news/israel/general/israel-navy-mulls-building-larger-scale-missile-ships-locally-12305.htm |title=Israel Navy mulls building larger-scale missile ships locally |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |author=Yaakov Katz |date=1 July 2009 |accessdate=10 June 2010}}</ref> and depend on diverting US financing to the project.<ref>{{cite web |author=Yehudah Lev Kay |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/132104 |title=Navy Drops US Warship for Made-in-Israel Option |publisher=IsraelNationalNews.com |date=29 June 2009 |accessdate=10 June 2010}}</ref>

Israel's military technology is most famous for its firearms, [[armored fighting vehicles]] ([[tank]]s, tank-converted [[armored personnel carrier]]s (APCs), [[armoured bulldozer]]s, etc.), [[unmanned aerial vehicle]]s, and rocketry (missiles and rockets). Israel also has manufactured aircraft including the [[IAI Kfir|Kfir]] (reserve), [[IAI Lavi]] (canceled), and the [[IAI Phalcon]] [[Airborne early warning]] [[System]], and naval systems (patrol and missile ships). 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), as are many of its [[precision-guided munition]]s.

The [[Israel Military Industries]] (IMI) is known for its firearms. The [[IMI Galil]], the [[Uzi]], the [[IMI Negev]] light machinegun and the new [[Tavor TAR-21]] bullpup assault rifle are in IDF use.

Israel is the only country in the world with an operational anti-ballistic missile defense system on the national level – the [[Arrow (Israeli missile)|Arrow]] system, jointly funded and produced by Israel and the United States. The [[Iron Dome]] system against short-range [[rocket]]s is operational and proved to be successful. [[David's Sling]], an anti-missile system designed to counter [[Medium-range ballistic missile|medium range rocket]]s is under development. Israel has also worked with the US on development of a tactical high energy [[laser]] system against medium range rockets (called Nautilus or [[THEL]]).

Israel has the independent capability of launching [[reconnaissance satellites]] into orbit, a capability shared with Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, South Korea, Italy, Germany, the People's Republic of China, India, Japan, Brazil and Ukraine. Israeli security industries developed both the satellites ([[Ofeq]]) and the launchers ([[Shavit]]).

Israel is known to have developed [[Nuclear weapons and Israel|nuclear weapons]].<ref name="fas-nuke">{{cite web |url=http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/israel/nuke/ |title=Nuclear Weapons – Israel |publisher=Federation of American Scientists |accessdate=22 September 2010}}</ref> Israel [[Policy of deliberate ambiguity|does not officially acknowledge]] its nuclear weapons program. It is thought Israel possess between one hundred and four hundred nuclear warheads.<ref name="fas-nuke"/><ref>Brower, Kenneth S., “A Propensity for Conflict: Potential Scenarios and Outcomes of War in the Middle East,” [[Jane's Intelligence Review]], Special Report no. 14, (February 1997), 14–15. Brower notes that he is making a high estimate of the number of weapons.</ref> It is believed that [[Jericho (missile)|Jericho intercontinental ballistic missiles]] are capable of delivering nuclear warheads with a superior degree of accuracy and a range of 11,500&nbsp;km.<ref name="cns.miis.edu">[http://cns.miis.edu/opapers/op7/op7.pdf Missile Proliferation and Defences: Problems and Prospects]. (PDF) . Retrieved 4 June 2011.</ref> Israeli [[F-15]] and [[F-16]] fighter-bomber aircraft also have been cited as possible nuclear delivery systems.<ref>[http://www.cdi.org/nuclear/database/isnukes.html#f16 F-16 Falcon]. Cdi.org. Retrieved 4 June 2011.</ref><ref>[http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200208/20/eng20020820_101736.shtml Israel's F-16 Warplanes Likely to Carry Nuclear Weapons: Report]. English.peopledaily.com.cn (20 August 2002). Retrieved 4 June 2011.</ref><ref name=OTA-ISC-559>{{Cite book|url=http://www.princeton.edu/~ota/disk1/1993/9341/9341.PDF|title=Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction: Assessing the Risks|publisher=[[U.S. Congress]] [[Office of Technology Assessment]]|date=August 1993|id=OTA-ISC-559|accessdate=9 December 2008}}</ref> The [[U.S. Air Force]] [[F-15 Eagle|F-15]] has tactical nuclear weapon capability.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://thebulletin.metapress.com/content/82558p4j65585158/fulltext.pdf|title=U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe, 1954–2004|author=Robert S. Norris and Hans M. Kristensen|date=November/December 2004|publisher=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists|accessdate=11 June 2009}}</ref> It has been asserted that [[Dolphin submarine]]s have been adapted to carry missiles with nuclear warheads, so as to give Israel a [[second strike]] capacity.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2006/08/25/israel_buys_2_nuclear_capable_submarines_from_germany/ Israel buys 2 nuclear-capable submarines from Germany – The Boston Globe]</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=J’lem and Berlin sign contract for sixth submarine|newspaper=Jerusalem Post|date=5 February 2012|url=http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=256494}}</ref>

From 2006 Israel deployed the [[Wolf Armoured Vehicle]] [[Armoured personnel carrier|APC]] for use in [[urban warfare]] and to protect [[VIP]]s.

<center>

<gallery>

File:MerkavaMk4 ZE001m.jpg|[[Merkava#Merkava Mark IV|Merkava Mark 4]] [[tank]]

File:INS Hetz.JPEG|[[Sa'ar 4.5-class missile boat]]

File:Tavor-latrun-exhibition-1.jpg|[[IMI Tavor TAR-21|Tavor]] [[assault rifle]]

File:Zeev-jeep001.jpg|[[Wolf Armoured Vehicle]]

File:Guardium001.jpg|[[Guardium]] [[UGV]]

File:Cannon fire.JPG|[[M109 howitzer|M109 self-propelled howitzer]]

File:IDF-D9-Zachi-Evenor-001.jpg|[[IDF Caterpillar D9]] [[Armored bulldozer]]

File:Israeli F-16s at Red Flag.jpg|IAF [[F-16I]] "Sufa" multirole [[jet aircraft|jet]] [[warplane]]

File:M-71-cannon-deployed.JPG|[[Soltam M-71]] [[Howitzer]]

File:Iron Dome near Sderot.jpg|[[Iron Dome]] anti-rocket system launcher

File:PumaAPC01.jpg|[[IDF Puma]] [[combat engineering vehicle]]

File:IDF-Namer003.jpg|[[Namer]] heavy armored personnel carrier

File:Ah-64d.jpg|[[Saraph]] [[helicopter]]

File:Achzarit.jpg|[[IDF Achzarit]] [[armored personnel carrier]]

File:IMI-Negev006a.jpg|[[IMI Negev]] [[light machine gun]]

</center>

== Commemoration ==

[[File:PikiWiki Israel 5670 war memorial in tel hashomer.jpg|thumb|160px|An official IDF ceremony for Yom Hazikaron]]

[[File:PikiWiki Israel 12768 IDF parade in Jerusalem in 1968 .jpg|thumb|160px|Israeli female soldiers on parade, Jerusalem, 1968]]

[[Yom Hazikaron]], Israel's day of remembrance for fallen soldiers, is observed on the 4th day of the month of [[Iyar]] of the [[Hebrew calendar]], the day before the celebration of [[Yom Ha'atzmaut|Independence Day]]. Memorial services are held in the presence of Israel's top military personnel. A two-minute siren is heard at 11:00, which marks the opening of the official military memorial ceremonies and private remembrance gatherings at each cemetery where soldiers are buried. Many Israelis visit the graves of family members and friends who were killed in action. On the evening before the remembrance day all shops, restaurants and entertainment places must close gates to the public no later than 7 P.M. (the same routine and law applies to the day of remembrance of the Holocaust which takes place a week earlier).

The main museum for Israel's armored corps is the [[Yad La-Shiryon]] in [[Latrun]], which houses one of the largest tank museums in the world. Other significant military museums are the Batei Ha-Osef, in [[Tel Aviv]], the [[Palmach Museum]], and the Beit HaTotchan of artillery in [[Zikhron Ya'akov]]. The [[Israeli Air Force Museum]] is located at [[Hatzerim Airbase]] in the [[Negev Desert]], and the Israeli Clandestine Immigration and Naval Museum, is in [[Haifa]].

Israel's National Military Cemetery is at [[Mount Herzl]]. Other Israeli military cemeteries include Kiryat Shaul Military Cemetery in Tel Aviv, and Sgula military cemetery at [[Petah Tikva]].

{{See also|Yom Ha'atzmaut|Israel Defense Forces parade}}

Israel Defense Forces parades took place on Independence Day, during the first 25 years of the State of Israel's existence. They were cancelled after 1973 due to financial concerns. The Israel Defense Forces still has weapon exhibitions country-wide on Independence Day, but they are stationary.

Starting on the Independence day on 14 May 1948 (5 Iyar 5708), a strong military, commercial and political relationship were established between France and Israel until 1969. The highest level of the military collaboration was reached between 1956 and 1966.<ref>The bomb in the basement, Michael Karpin, Ed Simon & Schuster ISBN 978074326595{{Please check ISBN|reason=Invalid length.}}</ref> At this time France provided almost all the aircraft, tanks and military ships. In 1969 the French president [[Charles de Gaulle]] limited the export of weapons to Israel. This was the end of the "golden age" 20 years of relations between Israel and France.

{{Main|Israel – United States military relations}}

[[File:Gen. Martin E. Dempsey meets with Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz.jpg|thumb|190px|IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz (right) meets with [[Martin Dempsey]] (left), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]]

[[File:US Navy 050415-M-9114Y-008 Marines assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (special operations capable) along Israeli Defense Force soldiers fast rope from a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter.jpg|thumb|190px|Israeli soldiers training alongside the [[26th Marine Expeditionary Unit]] on the [[USS Kearsarge (LHD-3)|USS ''Kearsarge'']]]]

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. Additionally the [[Military of the United States|U.S. military]] maintains two classified, pre-positioned [[War Reserve Stock]]s in Israel valued at $493 million.<ref name="globalsecurity">{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/agency//31muns.htm| title=31st Munitions Squadron (31st MUNS) |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |accessdate=10 June 2010}}</ref> Israel has the official distinction of being an American [[Major non-NATO ally]]. As a result of this, the US and Israel share the vast majority{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} of their security and military technology.

Since 1976, Israel had been the largest annual recipient of U.S. foreign assistance. In 2009, Israel received $2.55 billion in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grants from the Department of Defense.<ref name="fas2006-10"/> All but 26% of this military aid is for the purchase of military hardware from American companies only.<ref name="fas2006-10">{{cite web | first=Jeremy M. |last= Sharp |title = CRS report for Congress: U.S. foreign aid to Israel | publisher = [[Federation of American Scientists]] | date = 4 December 2009 | accessdate=8 June 2010 | url = http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33222.pdf |format=PDF}}</ref>

The United States has an anti-missile system base in the [[Negev]] region of Southern Israel, which is manned by 120 US Army personnel.{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}}

In October 2012, United States and Israel began their biggest joint air and missile defense exercise, known as [[2012 US-Israel military exercise|Austere Challenge 12]], involving around 3,500 U.S. troops in the region along with 1,000 IDF personnel.<ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/10/2012102195738284839.html US and Israel launch joint military drill], ''Al Jazeera'' 21 October 2012</ref> Germany and Britain also participated.<ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-15/u-dot-s-dot-israeli-military-exercise-sending-message-to-iran U.S.-Israeli Military Exercise Sending Message to Iran]</ref>

[[File:I.n.s. dolfin-03.JPG|thumb|190px|A German-made [[Dolphin class submarine]]]]

India and Israel enjoy strong military and strategic ties.<ref>{{cite web|author=Riedel, Bruce |url=http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2008/0321_india_riedel.aspx |title=Israel & India: New Allies |publisher=Brookings.edu |date=21 March 2008 |accessdate=1 June 2010}}</ref> Israeli authorities consider Indian citizens to be the most pro-Israel people in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3696887,00.html |title=ynet article |publisher=ynet article |date=20 June 1995 |accessdate=1 October 2010}}</ref><ref>[http://netwmd.com/blog/2009/04/22/3955 netwmd article].</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Daniel Pipes |url=http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/2009/04/india-the-most-pro-israel-country |title=daniel pipes article |publisher=daniel pipes article |accessdate=1 October 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=140suffolk |url=http://digg.com/world_news/India_the_Most_Pro_Israel_Country |title=digg article |publisher=digg article |date=21 April 2009 |accessdate=1 October 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dover.idf.il/NR/exeres/D9D64F57-94C0-44F3-AE59-6A9C3E2E49BA.htm |title=A Little Piece of New Delhi in Haifa |publisher=Dover.idf.il |accessdate=1 October 2010}}</ref><ref name="JINSA01">[http://web.archive.org/web/20061107084915/http://www.jinsa.org/articles/articles.html/function/view/categoryid/1948/documentid/1971/history/3,2360,1947,1948,1971 India and Israel Forge a Solid Strategic Alliance] by Martin Sherman,''The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs''</ref> Apart from being Israel's second-largest economic partner in Asia,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ficci.com/international/countries/israel/israel-commercialrelations.htm |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070103015020/http://www.ficci.com/international/countries/israel/israel-commercialrelations.htm |archivedate=3 January 2007 |title=India-Israel Economic and Commercial Relations |publisher=Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry |accessdate=9 June 2010}}</ref> India is also the largest customer of Israeli arms in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/16/stories/2009021658931100.htm |title=Israel largest defence supplier to India: report |work=The Hindu |date=16 February 2009 |accessdate=1 June 2010}}</ref> In 2006, annual military sales between India and Israel stood at US$900 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3310835,00.html |title=Israel arms sales to India top USD 900 million a year |publisher=Yedioth Internet |date=4 October 2006 |accessdate=9 June 2010}}</ref> Israeli defense firms had the largest exhibition at the 2009 [[Aero India]] show, during which Israel offered several state-of-the art weapons to India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defensenews.com/osd_story.php?i=3944502 |title=Israeli Exhibit Among Largest at Show |publisher=Defensenews.com |accessdate=1 June 2010}}</ref> The first major military deal between the two countries was the sale of Israeli [[EL/M-2075]] [[AEW]] radars to the [[Indian Air Force]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/mar/05phal.htm |title=India, Israel ink the Phalcon deal |publisher=In.rediff.com |date=6 March 2004 |accessdate=1 June 2010}}</ref> In March 2009, India and Israel signed a US$1.4 billion deal under which Israel would sell India an advanced air-defense system.<ref>{{cite web|author=By: PTI Date: 27 March 2009 Place: Jerusalem |url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/mar/270309-India-Israel-sign-deal-on-air-defence-system.htm |title=India, Israel sign $1.4 bn deal on air defence system |publisher=Mid-day.com |date=27 March 2009 |accessdate=1 June 2010}}</ref> India and Israel have also embarked on extensive space cooperation. In 2008, India's [[ISRO]] launched Israel's most technologically advanced [[spy satellite]] [[TecSAR]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Koshy |first=Ninan |url=http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/4959 |title=India and Israel Eye Iran |publisher=Fpif.org |accessdate=1 June 2010}}</ref> In 2009, India reportedly developed a high-tech spy satellite [[RISAT-2]] with significant assistance from Israel.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/03/21/india.satellite/index.html?iref=mpstoryview |title=India to launch Israel-backed satellite |publisher=CNN |date=21 March 2009 |accessdate=1 June 2010}}</ref> The satellite was successfully launched by India in April 2009.<ref>{{cite web |author=IANS |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ISRO-launches-spy-satellite-RISAT-2/articleshow/4422951.cms |title=Spy satellite RISAT takes off from Sriharikota |work=The Times of India |date=20 April 2009 |accessdate=10 June 2010}}</ref>

According to a Los Angeles Times news story the [[2008 Mumbai attacks]] were an attack on the growing India-Israel partnership. It quotes retired Indian Vice Admiral Premvir S. Das thus "Their aim was to... tell the Indians clearly that your growing linkage with Israel is not what you should be doing..."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-india-israel1-2009feb01,0,4924558.story |title=Some see Mumbai terrorism as an attack on India–Israel ties |work=Los Angeles Times |date=1 February 2009 |accessdate=1 June 2010 | first=Peter | last=Spiegel}}</ref> In the past, India and Israel have held numerous joint anti-terror training exercises<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/india-israel-likely-to-hold-joint-antiterror-training-exercises/360288/ |title=India, Israel likely to hold joint anti-terror training exercises |work=The Indian Express |date=12 September 2008}}</ref> and it was also reported that in the wake of the Mumbai attacks, Israel was helping India launch anti-terror raids inside [[Pakistan]]i territory.

It is also believed by many Indian citizens that Israel special unit commandos were in Mumbai airport within 4 hours of the attack; but were not allowed to operate in Indian soil.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}}

Germany developed the [[Dolphin class submarine|Dolphin submarine]] and supplied it to Israel. Two submarines were donated by Germany.<ref>[http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/germany-may-sell-2-more-dolphin-subs-to-israel-for-117b-01528/ Defense Industry Daily]</ref> The military co-operation has been discreet but mutually profitable: Israeli intelligence, for example, sent captured [[Warsaw Pact]] armour to West Germany to be analysed. The results aided the German development of an [[Anti-tank warfare|anti-tank system]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article3564572.ece |title=Israel welcomes new Germany to a celebration of its 60th birthday |work=The Times |author=Roger Boyes |date=17 March 2008 |accessdate=9 June 2010 | location=London}}</ref> Israel also trained [[GSG 9]] members. The Israeli [[Merkava|Merkava MK IV]] tank uses a German [[V12 engine]] produced under license, and its [[IMI 120 mm gun]].<ref>http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Armour-and-Artillery-Upgrades/Israel-Military-Industries-120-mm-smoothbore-tank-gun-MG251-Israel.html</ref>

In 2008, the website DefenseNews revealed that Germany and Israel had been jointly developing a nuclear warning system, dubbed Operation Bluebird.<ref name='israel_germany_nukes1'>{{cite news |last=Defense News Staff |title=Israel Seeks Missile-Sensing UAV |date=3 November 2008 | publisher=DefenseNews.com |url=http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3800042 |work =Defense News |accessdate=10 June 2010}}</ref><ref name='israel_germany_nukes2'>{{cite news | first=Yaakov |last=Lappin |title=Israel, Germany develop nuclear warning system |date=17 November 2008 |url=http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=120776 |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |accessdate=10 June 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Israeli Sea Corps Soldiers.jpg|thumb|190px|Sailors of the [[Israeli Navy]]]]

{{Further|Israel – United Kingdom relations}}

The United Kingdom has supplied equipment and spare parts for [[Sa'ar 4.5-class missile boat]]s and [[F-4 Phantom]] fighter-bombers, components for small-caliber artillery ammunition and air-to-surface missiles, and engines for [[Elbit Hermes 450]] [[Unmanned aerial vehicle]]s. British arms sales to Israel mainly consist of light weaponry, and ammunition and components for helicopters, tanks, armored personnel carriers, and combat aircraft.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/report-britain-places-embargo-on-arms-sales-to-israel-1.47870 |title=Report: Britain places embargo on arms sales to Israel |work=Haaretz |location=Israel |date=13 April 2002 |accessdate=10 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=British MPs slam weapons exports to Israel|newspaper=ynetnews|date=30 March 2010|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3869789,00.html}}</ref>

===China===

{{Further|People's Republic of China – Israel relations}}

Israel is the second-largest foreign supplier of arms to the People's Republic of China, only after the [[Russian Federation]]. China has purchased a wide array of military hardware from Israel, including [[Unmanned aerial vehicle]]s and [[communications satellite]]s. China has become an extensive market for Israel's military industries and arms manufacturers, and trade with Israel has allowed it to obtain "dual-use" technology which the United States and [[European Union]] were reluctant to provide.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FL21Ak01.html |title=US up in arms over Sino-Israel ties |publisher=Asia Times Online |author=Sudha Ramachandran |date=21 December 2004 |accessdate=10 June 2010}}</ref> In 2010 [[Yair Golan]], head of [[Home Front Command|IDF Home Front Command]] visited China to strengthen military ties.<ref>{{cite web|last=Katz |first=Yaakov |url=http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=179117 |title=IDF strengthening ties with Chinese military |work=Jerusalem Post |date=22 June 2010 |accessdate=4 July 2010}}</ref> In 2012 [[Chief of General Staff (Israel)|IDF Chief of Staff]] [[Benny Gantz]] visited China for high-level talks with the Chinese defense establishment.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/Features/FrontLines/Article.aspx?id=276460 |title=Security and Defense: The Chinese connection |publisher=Jerusalem Post |author=Yaakov Katz |date=5 July 2012}}</ref>

{{Further|Cyprus-Israel relations}}

As closely neighboring countries, Israel and Cyprus have enjoyed greatly improving diplomatic relations since 2010. During the [[Mount Carmel forest fire (2010)|Mount Carmel Forest Fire]], Cyprus dispatched two aviation assets to assist fire-fighting operations in Israel – the first time Cypriot Government aircraft were permitted to operate from Israeli airfields in a non-civil capacity.<ref>^ "Cyprus helps aid teams at huge forest fire". Famagusta-gazette.com. 2009-07-15. Retrieved 16 January 2012.</ref> In addition, Israel and Cyprus have closely cooperated in maritime activities relating to Gaza, since 2010, and have reportedly begun an extensive sharing program of regional intelligence to support mutual security concerns. On 17 May 2012, it was widely reported that the Israeli Air Force had been granted unrestricted access to the Nicosia Flight Information Region of Cyprus, and that Israeli aviation assets may have operated over the island itself.<ref>http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-plane-violates-turkish-cypriot-airspace/</ref> Cyprus, as a former [[S-300 (missile)|S-300]] air-defense system operator, was speculated by Greek media to have assisted Israel in strategic planning to challenge such air-defense systems, alongside shorter-range [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]] systems, although this remains unconfirmed.

{{Further|Greece-Israel relations}}

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - To the Olympic.jpg|thumb|190px|Three IAF helicopters, two Apache longbows and one Blackhawk, fly above Greek mountains during a joint exercise with the Hellenic Air Force, June 2011]]

Israel and Greece have enjoyed a very cordial military relationship since 2008, including military drills ranging from Israel to the island of Crete. Drills include air-to-air long-distance refueling, long-range flights, and most importantly aiding Israel in outmaneuvering the [[S-300 (missile)|S-300]] which Greece has (as well as Iran).<ref>{{cite news|title=Israel goes all-out to stop S-300 sale to Iran|newspaper=PressTV|url=http://edition.presstv.ir/detail.fa/78623.html}}</ref> Recent purchases include 100 million euro deal between Greece and Israel for the purchase of [[Spice (guidance kit)|SPICE]] 1000 and SPICE 2000 pound bomb kits. They have also signed many defense agreements, including Cyprus, in order to establish stability for transporting gas from Israel-Cyprus to Greece and on to the European Union-a paramount objective to the future stability and prosperity of all three countries, threatened by Turkey.

Israel has provided extensive military assistance to Turkey. Israel sold Turkey [[IAI Heron]] [[Unmanned aerial vehicle]]s, and modernized Turkey's [[F-4 Phantom]] and [[Northrop F-5]] aircraft at the cost of $900 million. Turkey's [[main battle tank]] is the Israeli-made [[Sabra (tank)|Sabra]] tank, of which Turkey has 170. Israel later upgraded them for $500 million. Israel has also supplied Turkey with Israeli-made missiles, and the two nations have engaged in naval cooperation. Turkey allowed Israeli pilots to practice long-range flying over mountainous terrain in Turkey's Konya firing range, while Israel trains Turkish pilots at Israel's computerized firing range at [[Nevatim Airbase]].<ref>Nechmani, 1988, p. 24.</ref><ref>Pipes, 1997, p. 34.</ref> Until 2009, the Turkish military was one of Israel's largest defense customers. Israel defense companies have sold unmanned aerial vehicles and long-range targeting pods.<ref>http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=235160 Despite strained ties, IDF attache welcomed in Turkey</ref>

However, relations have been strained in recent times. In the last two years, the Turkish military has declined to participate in the annual joint naval exercise with Israel and the United States. The exercise, known as "Reliant Mermaid" was started in 1998 and included the Israeli, Turkish and American navies.<ref>http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/reliant-mermaid.htm Reliant Mermaid</ref> The objective of the exercise is to practice search-and-rescue operations and to familiarize each navy with international partners who also operate in the [[Mediterranean Sea]].<ref>http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=232401 Turkey absent again from naval drills with Israel, US</ref>

Azerbaijan and Israel have engaged in intense cooperation since 1992.<ref>[http://www.news.az/articles/politics/30558 News.Az interview with Norma Zager]</ref> Israeli military have been a major provider of battlefield aviation, artillery, antitank, and anti-infantry weaponry to Azerbaijan.<ref>[http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2287 Good Relations between Azerbaijan and Israel: A Model for Other Muslim States in Eurasia?]</ref><ref>Jane's Defense Weekly, 16 October 1996</ref> In 2009, Israeli President [[Shimon Peres]] made a visit to Azerbaijan where military relations were expanded further, with the Israeli company [[Aeronautics Defense Systems Ltd]] announcing it was going to build a factory in [[Baku]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Aeronautics to build plant in Azerbaijan |author=Ora Coren |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1096354.html |newspaper=Haaretz |date=29 June 2009 |accessdate=5 March 2012}}</ref> In 2012, Israel and Azerbaijan signed an agreement according to which state-run [[Israel Aerospace Industries]] would sell $1.6 billion in drones and anti-aircraft and missile defense systems to Azerbaijan.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/israel-signs-deal-to-provide-azerbaijan-with-16-billion-in-military-equipment/2012/02/26/gIQAjtmQbR_story.html Israel signs deal to provide Azerbaijan with $1.6 billion in military equipment]. ''The Washington Post''. 26 February 2012.</ref> In March 2012, the magazine ''[[Foreign Policy]]'' reported that the [[Israeli Air Force]] may be preparing to use the [[Sitalchay Military Airbase]], located 500&nbsp;km (340 miles) from the Iranian border, for air strikes against the [[nuclear program of Iran]],<ref name="FP 2012">{{cite news|last=Perry|first=mark|title=Israel’s Secret Staging Ground|url=http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/03/28/israel_s_secret_staging_ground?page=full|accessdate=29 March 2012|newspaper=[[Foreign Policy]]|date=28 March 2012}}</ref> later confirmed by other media.<ref>{{cite news |title=Azerbaijan eyes aiding Israel against Iran |author=Thomas Grove |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/30/us-iran-israel-azerbaijan-idUSBRE88T05L20120930 |newspaper=Reuters |date=30 September 2012}}</ref>

Israel has also sold or received supplies of military equipment from the [[Czech Republic]], [[Spain]], [[Slovakia]], [[Italy]], [[South Africa]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[Poland]], [[Slovenia]], [[Romania]], [[Hungary]], [[Belgium]], [[Austria]], [[Serbia]], [[Montenegro]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]],<ref name=amnesty>{{cite web|url=http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/arms-embargo-vital-gaza-civilian-toll-mounts-20090115 |title=Arms embargo vital as Gaza civilian toll mounts |publisher=Amnesty.org |date=15 January 2009 |accessdate=1 June 2010}}</ref> [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]],<ref>[http://www.stratfor.com/sitrep/israel_georgia_israel_halt_arms_sales_georgia Israel, Georgia: Israel To Halt Arms Sales To Georgia]. ''Stratfor''. 5 August 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.russiatoday.ru/news/news/28500 Israel blocks arms sales to Georgia]. ''Russia Today''. 5 August 2008.</ref> and [[Colombia]],<ref>[http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/10/2503.htm Head of Defense Ministry Meets with Colombian President], IDF Spokesperson's Unit 25 October 2010</ref> among others.

==See also==

{{portal|Israel|War}}

{{Div col}}

*[[Arab–Israeli conflict]]

*[[Israel and weapons of mass destruction]]

*[[Israeli casualties of war]]

*[[Israeli security forces]]

*[[Israeli wars]]

*[[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]]

*[[Krav Maga]]

*[[Military equipment of Israel]]

*[[Military history of Israel]]

*[[Military operations conducted by the Israel Defense Forces]]

*[[Palestinian political violence]]

{{Div col end}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

* {{Cite book|author=Rosenthal, Donna|title=The Israelis|publisher=Free Press|year=2003|isbn=0-7432-7035-5}}

* {{Cite book|title=An Army is Born|author=Ostfeld, Zehava|year=1994|publisher=Israel Ministry of Defense|isbn=965-05-0695-0|editor=Shiftel, Shoshana}} {{he icon}}

* {{Cite book|title=Nucleus for a Standing Army|author=Gelber, Yoav|authorlink=Yoav Gelber|year=1986|publisher=Yad Ben Tzvi}} {{he icon}}

* {{Cite book|title=IDF in Its Corps: Army and Security Encyclopedia (18 volumes)|editor=Yehuda Shif|publisher=Revivim Publishing|year=1982}} {{he icon}}

* Country Briefing: Israel, [[Jane's Defence Weekly]], 19 June 1996

* [http://www.idf.il/894-en/IDFGDover.aspx IDF Official Website]

* [http://www.opoccuu.com/israel-rank-insignia.htm Israel Defense Forces ranks and insignia]

* [http://idfspokesperson.com/ IDF Official Blog – news and updates from the field]

* [http://www.jcpa.org/brief/brief3-8.htm IDF Code of Conduct]

* Moshe Yaalon, [http://www.adelsoninstitute.org.il/FullArticleViewer.aspx?id=119&member=a The IDF and the Israeli Spirit]

* [http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/about/doctrine/ethics.htm The IDF Spirit – the ethical code of the IDF]

* [http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-%20Obstacle%20to%20Peace/Palestinian%20terror%20since%202000/Palestinian%20violence%20and%20terrorism%20since%20September Palestinian violence and terror attacks since September 2000]

* [http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-%20Obstacle%20to%20Peace/Memorial/2000/In%20Memory%20of%20the%20Victims%20of%20Palestinian%20Violence%20a A list of civilians and soldiers who died during Palestinian terror attacks since September 2000]

* [http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2002/terror.victims/ CNN.com Special – Victims of Terror]

* [http://www.isayeret.com/ isayeret.com] – The Israeli Special Forces Database

* [http://www.israeli-weapons.com Israeli Weapons]

*[http://www.shapell.org/manuscript.aspx?ben-gurion-idf-george-washington Original Letters and Manuscripts: Ben-Gurion on the IDF] Shapell Manuscript Foundation

* [http://www.israelborderguardvolunteers.com/ Jerusalem volunteer Border Guard]

* [http://www.tsahal-miniature.com/ Tsahal-Miniature]

* [http://www.fotw.net/flags/il%5E.html Israeli Armed Forces at Flags of the World]

* [http://plasmastik.livejournal.com/tag/%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%8F+%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%8B+%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BB%D1%8F IDF photos]

* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/israel/idf.htm GlobalSecurity.org entry]

* [http://www.972films.com/israels-war-history/ Israel's War History]

* [http://www.israelmilitary.net/ Israel Military Forum]

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX6vyT8RzMo UNwatch, Goldstone Gaza Report: Col. Richard Kemp Testifies at U.N. Emergency Session]

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2012}}

[[Category:Israel Defense Forces|*]]

[[Category:Conscript militaries]]

[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1948]]

[[Category:Israel–United Kingdom relations]]

[[Category:Israel–United States relations]]

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[[ba:Израиль Ҡурғауы Әрмеһе]]

[[bg:Израелски отбранителни сили]]

[[br:Tsahal]]

[[ca:Forces de Defensa d'Israel]]

[[cs:Izraelské obranné síly]]

[[cy:Llu Amddiffyn Israel]]

[[da:Israel Defense Forces]]

[[de:Israelische Streitkräfte]]

[[es:Fuerzas de Defensa de Israel]]

[[fa:نیروهای دفاعی اسرائیل]]

[[fr:Armée de défense d'Israël]]

[[ko:이스라엘 방위군]]

[[hy:Իսրայելի պաշտպանության բանակ]]

[[hr:Cahal]]

[[io:Defensa armeo di Israel]]

[[id:Angkatan Pertahanan Israel]]

[[it:Forze di Difesa Israeliane]]

[[he:צבא הגנה לישראל]]

[[jv:Angkatan Pertahanan Israel]]

[[ka:ცაჰალი]]

[[lad:Tsahal]]

[[lv:Izraēlas Aizsardzības armija]]

[[lt:Izraelio ginkluotosios pajėgos]]

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[[tr:İsrail Savunma Kuvvetleri]]

[[uk:Армія оборони Ізраїлю]]

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[[vi:Các lực lượng Phòng vệ Israel]]

[[wuu:以色列国防军]]

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[[zh:以色列國防軍]]