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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; Hebrew: צבא הגנה לישראל Tsva Haganah Le-Israel, often abbreviated צה"ל Tsahal) is the name of Israel's armed forces (army, air force and navy). It was formed following the founding of Israel in 1948 to "defend the existence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state of Israel" and "to protect the inhabitants of Israel and to combat all forms of terrorism which threaten the daily life." The predecessors to the IDF were the Haganah (in particular, its operative detachmen, the Palmach) and the British armed forces, in particular the Jewish Brigade that fought during World War II.

After the establishment of the IDF, the two Jewish guerillas the Irgun and Stern gang came under control of the IDF. But they were allowed to operate independently in Jerusalem until the end of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war after which they eventually dispersed.

For detailed IDF history, see: Israel Defense Forces History.

Israel Defense Forces
Military manpower
Military age18 years of age
Availability males age 15-49: 1,499,186 (2000 est.)


females age 15-49: 1,462,063 (2000 est.)

Fit for military service males age 15-49: 1,226,903 (2000 est.)


females age 15-49: 1,192,319 (2000 est.)

Reaching military age annually males: 50,348 (2000 est.)
females: 47,996 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures
Dollar figure$8.7 billion (FY99)
Percent of GDP9.4% (FY99)


Overview

The IDF falls under the command of a single general staff. The current head of staff is Lieutenant-General (Rav-Aluf) Moshe (Boogie) Ya'alon, answerable to the Minister of Defense.

The Chief of the General Staff (in Hebrew: רמטכ"ל, pronounced: Ramatkal) is the high commander of the IDF and answers to the Defense minister and the Prime minister. All Ramatkals are in the rank of Lieutenant General (in Hebrew: רב אלוף , pronounced: "Rav Aluf").

Service is mandatory for Jewish men and women over the age of 18, although exemptions may be made on religious grounds. The fact that an increasing number of people in the ultraorthodox community are exempt, has been a source of tension in Israeli society. Druze also serve in the IDF. In recent years, some Druze officers have reached positions in the IDF as high as Major General. Israeli Arabs, with few exceptions, are not obliged to serve, though they may volunteer.

Six Israeli Arabs have received orders of distinction as a part of their military service; of them the most famous is a Bedouin officer, Lieutenant Colonel Abd El-Amin Hajer (also known as Amos Yarkoni), that has received the Order of Example. Recently, a Bedouin officer was promoted to the rank of Colonel.

Men serve three years in the IDF, as do the women in combat positions, while women in non-combat positions serve two. The IDF requires women who volunteer for combat positions to serve for three years because combat soldiers must go through a lengthy period of training, and the IDF wants to get as much use of that training as possible. In addition, men serve up to one month annually of reserve service, up to the age of 43-45. No direct social benefits are tied to completion of military service, but doing it is required for attaining a security clearance and serving in some types of government positions (in most cases, security-related); Israeli Arabs claim, however, that this puts them at a disadvantage.

During 1950-66, Israel spent an average of 9% of its GDP on defense. Defense expenditures increased dramatically after both the 1967 and 1973 wars. In 1996, the military budget reached 10.6% of GDP and represented about 21.5% of the total 1996 budget.

In 1983, the United States and Israel established the Joint Political Military Group, which meets 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.

Military branches:

Israeli Military Technology

The IDF is considered to be one of the most high-tech armies in the world, possessing top-of-the-line weapons and computer systems. Beside of purchasing American-made weapon systems (such as the M4A1 assult rifle, F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon jets and Apache helicopter), the IDF holds a large department of weapon develoment, Rafael (The Authority For Weapons Development), which develops new weapons and technology to the IDF. Most of the technologies are produced by the Israeli security industries including the IMI, Elbit, El-Op and the IAI.

Currently Israel is the only country in the world with anti ballistic missile defense system "Hetz" and working with the USA on development of a tactical high energy laser system against medium range rockets (THEL Nautilus). Also, Israel has the independant capability of launching satellites into orbit (a capability which is only held by Russia, the USA, China, the UK, Japan, France, India, and Israel).

Main Israeli Developments:

Nuclear capability

It is generally acknowledged that Israel is a nuclear power. The weapons were thought to have been developed at the Dimona nuclear reactor since the 1960s. The first two nuclear bombs were probably operational before the Six-Day War and that Prime Minister Eshkol ordered them armed in Israel's first nuclear alert during that war. It is also believed that, fearing defeat in the October 1973 Yom Kippur War, the Israelis assembled thirteen twenty-kiloton nuclear bombs.

The current size and composition of Israel's nuclear stockpile is uncertain, and is the subject of various estimates and reports. FAS estimates that Israel probably has 100-200 nuclear warheads, which can be delivered by airplanes (A4 Skyhawk or converted F-4 Phantom II), or ballistic missiles (Lance, Jericho, or Jericho II missiles). The Jericho II is reported to have a range between 1,500 and 4,000 kms, meaning that it can target sites as far away as central Russia.

The Israeli government has neither acknowledged nor denied that it possesses nuclear weapons, an official policy referred to as "ambiguity". However, an ex-Dimona employee, Mordechai Vanunu, who is currently imprisoned in Israel, confirmed much of the earlier speculation.

Recent policies and tactics

Owing to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the tactics of the IDF have been adapted for low intensity warfare primarily against Palestinian militants. Frequently, such clashes have resulted in the deaths of unarmed civilians during clashes, for which the IDF draws heavy criticism.

The IDF also employs a strategy of assassinations (called targeted killings for Palestinian militant leaders for which it is strongly criticized.

The IDF claims that these tactics have led to a dramatic decrease in attacks on Israeli citizens.

The Israeli Gaza Strip barrier has proven effective in prevent suicide bombers from leaving Gaza. No suicide bomber has left Gaza since 1996.

The Code of Conduct

In 1992, the IDF has writen down a Code of Conduct that is a combination of international law, Israeli law, and the IDF's own traditional ethical code - Ruach Tzahal רוח צה"ל ("[[http://www.idf.il/english/doctrine/doctrine.stm the spirit of the IDF]").

Recently, a team of profesors, commanders and former judges, led by Tel Aviv University head of Ethics cathedra, proffessor Assa Kasher, wrote down a code of conduct which emphasis the right behaivor in low intensity warfare against terrorists, where soldier must operate within civilian population. Reserve units and regular units alike are taught the following eleven rules of conduct, which are an addition to the more general IDF Spirit:

  1. Military action can only be taken against military targets.
  2. The use of force must be proportional.
  3. Soldiers may only use weaponry they were issued by the IDF.
  4. Anyone who surrenders cannot be attacked.
  5. Only those who are properly trained can interrogate prisoners.
  6. Soldiers must accord dignity and respect to the Palestinian population and those arrested.
  7. Soldiers must give appropriate medical care, when conditions allow, to oneself and one's enemy.
  8. Pillaging is absolutely and totally illegal.
  9. Soldiers must show proper respect for religious and cultural sites and artifacts.
  10. Soldiers must protect international aid workers, including their property and vehicles.
  11. Soldiers must report all violations of this code.

Source: [1]

See also

Refusal to serve in the Israeli military, Israel Defense Forces History, Arab-Israeli conflict, Nuclear proliferation, Military technology and equipment, List of brigades in the Israeli Defense Forces.

External links

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Israel_Defense_Forces&oldid=2651066

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