ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES (IDF)
"IDF" redirects here. For other uses, see IDF (disambiguation).
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; Hebrew: צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל Tsva ha-Hagana le-Yisra'elⓘ, lit. 'The Army of the Defense for Israel'), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym Tzahal (צה״ל), is the national military of the State of Israel. It consists of three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy.[3] It is the sole military win of the Israeli security apparatus. The IDF is headed by the Chief of the General Staff, who is subordinate to the Israeli Defense Minister.
ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES
Emblem
Standard
Founded
26 May 1948; 75 years ago
Service branches
Israeli Ground Forces
Israeli Air Force
Israeli Navy
Leadership
Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu
Defense Minister
Yoav Galant
Chief of the General Staff
Herzi Halevi
Personnel
Military age- 17
Conscription
24–34 months
Available for
military service
1,554,186 males, age 17–49 (2016),
1,514,063 females, age 17–49 (2016)
Fit for
military service
1,499,998 males, age 17–49 (2016),
1,392,319 females, age 17–49 (2016)
Reaching military
age annually
60,000 males (2016),
60,000 females (2016)
Active personnel
169,500[1]
Reserve personnel
465,000[1]
Expenditures
Budget
US$24.3 billion (2021)[2] (ranked 15th)
Percent of GDP
5.2% (2021)[2]
Industry
Domestic suppliers
-Israel Aerospace Industries
-Israel Military Industries
-Israel Weapon Industries
Elbit Systems
-Elisra
-Elta
-Rafael
-Israel Shipyards
Foreign suppliers
United States 🇺🇸
Germany 🇩🇪
United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Italy 🇮🇹
France 🇫🇷
Related articles
History
1948 Arab–Israeli War (1948–1949)
Reprisal operations (1951–1956)
Sinai War (1956)
Six-Day War (1967)
War of Attrition (1967–1970)
Yom Kippur War (1973)
Operation Litani (1978)
First Lebanon War (1982–1985)
South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000)
First Intifada (1987–1993)
Second Intifada (2000–2005)
Second Lebanon War (2006)
Operation Cast Lead (2008–2009)
Pillar of Defense (2012)
Protective Edge (2014)
2021 Israel–Palestine crisis (2021)
Israel–Hamas war (2023-present)
Others
Ranks
Israel Defense Forces ranks
On the orders of David Ben-Gurion, the IDF was formed on 26 May 1948 and began to operate as a conscript military, drawing its initial recruits from the already-existing paramilitaries of the Yishuv—namely Haganah, the Irgun, and Lehi. It was formed shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence and has participated in every armed conflict involving Israel. In the wake of the 1979 Egypt–Israel peace treaty and the 1994 Israel–Jordan peace treaty, the IDF underwent a significant strategic realignment. Previously spread across various fronts—Lebanon and Syria in the north, Jordan and Iraq in the east, and Egypt in the south—the IDF redirected its focus towards southern Lebanon and its occupation of the Palestinian territories (the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem). In 2000, the IDF withdrew from Southern Lebanon and in 2005 from Gaza. Conflict between Israel and Islamist groups based in Gaza, notably Hamas, has continued since then. Moreover, notable Israeli–Syrian border incidents have occurred frequently since 2011, due to regional instability caused by the Syrian civil war.
Since 1967, the IDF maintains a close security relationship with the United States,[4] including in research and development cooperation, with joint efforts on the F-15I, the Tactical High-Energy Laser, and the Arrow defence system, among others. The IDF is believed to have maintained an operational nuclear weapons capability since 1967, possibly possessing between 80 and 400 nuclear warheads.[5] The IDF's conduct in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories for decades has received widespread criticism.[6]
Netanyahu redirects here. For his brother, see Yonatan Netanyahu. For other people with this name, see Netanyahu (surname).
LEADERSHIP
Prime Minister
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu (/ˌnɛtənˈjɑːhuː/ NET-ən-YAH-hoo;[2] Hebrew: בִּנְיָמִין נְתַנְיָהוּ, romanized: Binyamin Netanyahu, pronounced [binjaˈmin netanˈjahu] ⓘ; born 21 October 1949) is an Israeli politician who has been serving as the prime minister of Israel since 2022, having previously held the office from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009 to 2021.[3] He is the chairman of the Likud party. Netanyahu is the longest-serving prime minister in the country's history, having served for a total of over 16 years. He is also the first prime minister to have been born in Israel after its establishment.[4][5]
9th Prime Minister of Israel
Incumbent
Assumed office
29 December 2022
President
Isaac Herzog
Deputy
Yariv Levin
Preceded by
Yair Lapid
In office
31 March 2009 – 13 June 2021
President
Shimon Peres
Reuven Rivlin
Alternate
Benny Gantz (2020–21)
Preceded by
Ehud Olmert
Succeeded by
Naftali Bennett
In office
18 June 1996 – 6 July 1999
President
Ezer Weizman
Preceded by
Shimon Peres
Succeeded by
Ehud Barak
Leader of the Opposition
In office
28 June 2021[1] – 29 December 2022
Prime Minister
Naftali Bennett
Yair Lapid
Preceded by
Yair Lapid
Succeeded by
Yair Lapid
In office
16 January 2006 – 31 March 2009
Prime Minister
Ehud Olmert
Preceded by
Amir Peretz
Succeeded by
Tzipi Livni
In office
3 February 1993 – 18 June 1996
Prime Minister
Yitzhak Rabin
Shimon Peres
Preceded by
Yitzhak Shamir
Succeeded by
Shimon Peres
Chairman of Likud
Incumbent
Assumed office
20 December 2005
Preceded by
Ariel Sharon
In office
3 February 1993 – 6 July 1999
Preceded by
Yitzhak Shamir
Succeeded by
Ariel Sharon
7th Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations
In office
1 September 1984 – 1 March 1988
Prime Minister
Yitzhak Shamir
Shimon Peres
Yitzhak Shamir
Preceded by
Yehuda Blum
Succeeded by
Yohanan Bein
Ministerial roles
1996–1997
Science and Technology
1996–1999
Housing and Construction
2002–2003
Foreign Affairs
2003–2005
Finance
2009–2013
Economic StrategyHealthPensioner Affairs
2012–2013
Foreign Affairs
2013
Foreign AffairsJerusalem and Diaspora Affairs
Personal details
Born
21 October 1949 (age 74)
Tel Aviv, Israel
Political party
Likud
Spouses
Miriam Weizmann
(m. 1972; div. 1978)
Fleur Cates
(m. 1981; div. 1988)
Sara Ben-Artzi (m. 1991)
Children
3, including Yair
Parent
Benzion Netanyahu (father)
Relatives
Nathan Mileikowsky (grandfather)
Yonatan Netanyahu (brother)
Iddo Netanyahu (brother)
Elisha Netanyahu (uncle)
Nathan Netanyahu (cousin)
Alma mater
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS, MS)
Harvard University
Occupation
Diplomatmanagement consultantmarketing executivepoliticianwriter
Cabinet
Nickname
Bibi
Military service
Branch/service
Israel Defense Forces
Years of service
1967–1973
Rank
Séren (Captain)
Unit
Sayeret Matkal
Battles/wars
War of Attrition
Yom Kippur War.
Minister of Defense
Yoav Gallant (Hebrew: יוֹאָב גָּלַנְטְ; born 8 November 1958) is an Israeli politician and retired military general. A member of the Knesset for Likud, he has served as Minister of Defense since 2022. He is a former commander of the Southern Command in the Israel Defense Forces. In January 2015, he entered politics, joining the new Kulanu party. After being elected to the Knesset, he was appointed Minister of Construction. At the end of 2018, he joined Likud. Gallant also previously held the posts of Minister of Aliyah and Integration and Minister of Education.
The armed conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups[s] has been taking place chiefly in and around the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023. It began when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. After clearing the militants from its territory, the Israeli military embarked on an extensive aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip followed by a large-scale ground invasion beginning on 27 October. Clashes have also occurred in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and with Hezbollah along the Israel–Lebanon border. The fifth war of the Gaza–Israel conflict since 2008, it is part of the broader Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and the most significant military escalation in the region since the Yom Kippur War 50 years earlier.[148]
The Hamas-led attack on 7 October involved a barrage of several thousand rockets directed at Israel concurrent to an estimated 3,000 militants breaching the Gaza–Israel barrier and attacking Israeli military bases and civilian communities. During this attack, 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals including 766 civilians and 373 security personnel were killed,[t] while 253 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive to the Gaza Strip. The attack has been described as a major Israeli intelligence failure.[149] Hamas said its attack was in response to the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, the blockade of the Gaza Strip, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, threats to the status of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the plight of Palestinian refugees and prisoners.[150][151][152][153][154] In response, Israel declared a state of war, tightened its blockade and launched one of the deadliest and most destructive bombing campaigns in modern history,[155][156] before commencing the ground invasion on 27 October with the stated objective of destroying Hamas and controlling the Gaza Strip.[157]
Since the start of the Israeli operation, more than 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed,[86] with a majority consisting of over 14,000 children and 9,000 women.[87][88] Several thousand more are missing and presumed trapped under rubble.[158][159] Nearly all of the strip's 2.3 million population has been internally displaced.[160] Israel's tightened blockade cut off food, water and medicine, and its attacks on infrastructure have led to a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, including a collapse of the healthcare system and an ongoing famine, leading to accusations that Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war.[161][162][163] By early 2024, Israeli forces had destroyed more than half of Gaza's houses,[164] at least a third of its tree cover and farmland,[165][166] most of its schools,[167][168] all of its twelve universities,[169] hundreds of cultural landmarks,[170] and dozens of cemeteries.[171] Israel's ground invasion started on 27 October, focusing initially on northern Gaza, including Gaza City. After the expiration of a seven-day truce which involved the release of dozens of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, Israel moved south to attack Khan Yunis on 3 December. By January 2024, Israel reoccupied most of northern Gaza.[172][173][174] Israel's next stated objective is a major offensive in Rafah, despite objections from the international community. As for 29 February 2024, Israeli forces claim to have killed an estimated 13,000 Palestinian militants during the conflict[175][176] while the latter killed over 250 Israeli soldiers.[177]
The war has had significant international repercussions. Large protests have occurred across the world, primarily pro-Palestinian ones calling for a ceasefire and an end to the Israeli occupation. Israel's actions have been denounced in the Islamic world and much of the Global South. In December 2023, South Africa launched proceedings at the International Court of Justice alleging that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Israel has received significant support from its traditional Western allies, most notably the United States, which has provided Israel extensive military aid throughout the war and has vetoed multiple UN Security Council resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire.[178] In response, the Axis of Resistance has attacked American military bases in the Middle East, while the Yemeni Houthi movement started attacks on commercial ships they alleged were linked to Israel in a stated effort to end the war, incurring a military response from a number of countries led by the United States.[179][180]
Our Troops Request Leave Here
The Israel defense forces board of the welfare department has made the new rules for the expatriates in war zones, that request for a work leave to be applied by their loved ones/friends/relatives for the reasons below.
Health leave: the health leave is the visit whereby
an expatriate/soldier under the Israel defense forces Organization is not in good health or his spouse, child or any close relative and want him back for proper treatment or support.
Marital Leave: This leave is whereby the Government gives an expatriate/soldier opportunity to leave the war zone to meet up with their fiancee for marriage purpose.
We must also bring to your notice that the Israel defense forces authority does not ask our troops to pay for their official leaves or holidays/vacations assigned and approved by the military authority but in a situation where any member of the IDF or staff on his/her own discretion and agreement with his Guarantor to apply or request for an (EMERGENCY LEAVE) when it's not time for his/her annual or official leave it must involve payment of fees because of the additional expenses for his/her flight booking, luggages, replacement expenses and other little things. The military authority only take care of our troops flight when it's time for their official leave assigned and approved by the military authority and is very important that you understand these points very well and reasons why we need your support in other to assist this office to make provision for his/her flight and other necessary arrangements since the above soldier in question won't be going with others.
These are the duration available for the leave.
1-3 months work leave.
6 months-1 year work leave.
Kindly tell us the duration you are applying for your loved one/friend/relative at the war zone so that we can forward you the necessary information for the leave processing.
