IDF (Israeli Defence Forces). The IDF is responsible for dealing with external and internal security threats to Israel and was established on 31 May 1948, two weeks after Israel's declaration of independence. In its early days the IDF was an amalgamation of former members of the British army's Jewish Brigade, pre-Independence Jewish security forces (Hagana and Palmach), and terrorist organizations (Irgun and Leshi). It has developed into one of the world's most effective military organizations, with army, navy, and air force closely integrated. During the past 50 years the IDF has fought six major Arab-Israeli wars against neighbouring states: War of Independence (1948-9) ; Sinai War (1956) ; Six Day War (1967) ; War of Attrition (1967-70) ; Yom Kippur War (1973) ; and Peace for Galilee War (1982). In addition it has waged a prolonged counter-insurgency campaign against the PLO and, from 1987, an internal uprising (intifada) in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. Although these demands have been muted since the 1991 peace settlement, the IDF continues to operate against other Islamic terrorist organizations within Israel and southern Lebanon. In the course of its brief history the IDF has achieved stunning military victories, such as in 1956 and 1967, but has also suffered occasional reverses, as in the opening days of the 1973 Yom Kippur war. Its approach to counter-insurgency has been heavy-handed and of dubious effectiveness, particularly in southern Lebanon since 1985. As guarantor of Israel's security the IDF's actions have quite often led to vociferous international criticism.
The organization and doctrine of the IDF are the result of political, demographic, economic, and geographic circumstances. Historically, without military allies and surrounded by stronger and often hostile Arab states, Israel relies upon large military forces to guarantee her security. A small population and weak economy mean that IDF is organized as a militia rather than as a standing army. All able-bodied Jews and Druze over the age of 18 are required to do two-three years' military service followed by one month of annual reserve training until aged 42.
The IDF is divided into administrative and territorial commands which deal with all three services: army, air force, navy. The administrative commands are responsible for planning, manpower, and intelligence. There are four territorial battle commands: Northern (Lebanon, Syria), Central (Jordan), Southern (Egypt), and Rear (created after the 1991 Gulf war to protect civilian centres), each of whose commanders are responsible for the conduct of military operations. Administrative, territorial commands, and the three services come under the supervision of the COS (head of the IDF), who is appointed by the cabinet on the recommendation of the Minister of Defence.
The army is the largest of the three services and bears the brunt of action in general war. It is an all-arms formation designed to conduct high-tempo mobile operations. It is divided into sixteen corps/functional commands: armour, artillery, infantry, parachute, engineers, signals, ordnance, supply, general services, women's medical, military police, education, rabbinate, judge advocate, military intelligence, and Nahal (combining military and agricultural training to defend kibbutzim). The basic unit is the Brigade, grouped together on an ad hoc basis under a Divisional (Ugdah) headquarters according to the requirements of an operation. As a civilian army discipline is more relaxed than in other armed forces, yet the paucity of drill has not prevented it from becoming a highly trained and effective force.
The élite of the armed services is the Israeli Air Force (IAF), one of the best and most combat-experienced air forces in the world. Its tasks are to defend civilian centres from air and missile attack, gain time for the mobilization of IDF reservists, neutralize enemy air defences, attain air superiority, and provide combat support to the other services; it is both the sword and shield of Israel. To carry out these tasks it is equipped with a large and varied inventory of the latest aircraft and aerial weapon systems and has a large attack and transport helicopter force for mobile operations. The IAF's crucial importance means it is maintained at maximum preparedness and has first priority in selecting IDF recruits.
The navy is the smallest service and until recently was largely neglected. It has concentrated upon acquiring small torpedo and missile attack boats, but has also acquired modest numbers of landing craft for amphibious operations and a small submarine force. Its principal role remains coastal defence and raiding operations.
The size and proficiency of the IDF is above all one of deterrence and in line with this policy it is known that Israel possesses nuclear weapons, although it remains a ‘nuclear opaque’ state, never having declared them. In the event of war numerical and economic weakness combined with long indefensible frontiers and lack of territorial depth have made it unfeasible for the IDF to adopt a defensive posture in the face of Arab military threats. The result has been an emphasis upon pre-emptive attacks to seize the initiative, in order to carry the war onto enemy territory and swiftly overwhelm them. To achieve this the IDF is organized to carry out large-scale high-tempo armoured operations under the cover of a strong airforce. In the late 1960s an overemphasis upon the tank as the decisive arm of the ground forces led to the neglect of all-arms co-operation and consequently heavy losses in the 1973 war. The obsession with the offensive to the detriment of defensive techniques was also highlighted. Although steps were taken to remedy these force imbalances after the war the task of reorganization is not complete. In recent years civilian and some military commentators have argued that changes in the threats facing Israel mean that IDF doctrine is no longer appropriate. Some argue that long-range precision-guided munitions and air mobility will allow the IDF to wage defensive operations. In response to this strong criticism in early 1999 COS Lt Gen Shaul Mofaz presented the first serious examination of IDF doctrine in 40 years. Fifty years after its creation the IDF is embroiled in a heated debate concerning the defence of Israel in the next century.
Bibliography
- Hertzog, Chaim, The Arab Israeli Wars (London, 1982).
- Hogg, Ian V., The Israeli War Machine (London, 1983).
- Luttwak, E., and Horovitz, D., The Israeli Army (New York, 1975).
- van Creveld, Martin, The Sword and the Olive: A Critical History of the Israeli Defence Force (London, 1998)
— Tim Bean
