Another war in the Middle East did not unfold between the United States and Iran, as many assumed, but between Israel and Lebanon. Combat operationwhich began with the "destruction of infrastructure and warehouses" of the terrorist organization Hezbollah is gaining momentum. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Lebanese Armed Forces and groups of various terrorist organizations are involved in the conflict. You should also consider the possibility of intervention in the conflict by the Syrian armed forces.
The IDF is undoubtedly the main player in the theater of war. The total strength of the Israeli armed forces is 186.5 thousand people, including 141 thousand in ground forcesoh. The IDF is recruited according to a conscription scheme - there is universal conscription in Israel, and the army can be deployed up to 631 thousand people, including 521 thousand in the ground forces.
The territory of Israel is divided into three military districts - northern, central and southern. In the event of hostilities, the headquarters of the belligerent districts become the headquarters of the fronts. The highest formation that exists in peacetime is the "ugda" - division. During Operation Peace for Galilee in 1982, corps rank formations were also used, uniting several divisions.
The IDF is armed with military equipment, mainly American and its own production, as well as military equipment captured during the Arab-Israeli conflicts made in the USSR and Eastern Europe. The main striking force of the ground forces is made up of tanks - there are more than three thousand of them (in service and in reserve), including 1,300 Merkava tanks of our own production, the same number of M60 Magah-6/7 tanks supplied from the USA and modernized in Israel, 250 modernized American tanks М48А5, 800 tanks "Shot" (modernized British "Centurions"; this number also includes heavy armored personnel carriers based on tanks "Shot"). Also in service with the Israeli ground forces there are 100 captured T-62 ("Tiran-6") tanks. The captured T-54 and T-55 tanks (Tiran-4 and Tiran-5), of which there are about 200, are being converted into heavy armored personnel carriers.
BTR "Akhzarit". Photo from israeli-weapons.com
The main armored personnel carrier of the IDF is the American M113 armored personnel carrier, of which there are approximately six thousand. In addition to the M-113, the IDF has several hundred heavy armored personnel carriers "Akhzarit", converted from T-54 and T-55 tanks; "Nagmakhon" converted from "Shot" tanks; and heavy engineering vehicles "Puma", also converted from "Shots".
A large number of tanks and armored personnel carriers gives the IDF ground forces high mobility and combat power. Self-propelled artillery units provide fire support to tank and mechanized units. The IDF is armed with over 1000 self-propelled artillery units with a caliber of 105-203 millimeters. The main self-propelled gun of the IDF is an American-made 155-mm self-propelled gun M-109 (over 600 vehicles).
In addition to the self-propelled guns in service with the IDF (mainly in reserve units) there are about 400 towed artillery systems. A large percentage of self-propelled guns ensures high mobility and combat stability of artillery units. Also, the IDF ground forces have over 6,000 mortars, of which the majority (about 5,000) are company 60-mm mortars. In addition, the IDF is armed with about 200 multiple launch rocket systems, both of its own design (MAR 290, MAR 350) and foreign (American MRLS, captured BM-24 and BM-21).
The mechanized infantry units of the IDF are armed with over 300 medium anti-tank complexes TOW-2 of American design and over 1000 light Dragon ATGMs.
In general, the IDF ground forces are a modern regional army capable of leading fighting both against illegal armed groups and against the regular armed forces of the enemy. A significant number and good quality combat equipment is combined with developed support forces - including engineering units, communications, reconnaissance and target designation. Traditionally, it is believed that the ground forces of the IDF have a well-established interaction with the Air Force, but this opinion can only be confirmed or refuted by a battle test.
Israel's air defense is administered by the Air Force. The air defense forces have three batteries of the Arrow anti-aircraft missile system, designed to protect the country's territory from ballistic missile attacks, 6 batteries (48 launchers) of American-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems, 17 batteries (from 180 to 204 launchers) anti-aircraft missile systems Improved Hawk. These long-range and medium-range complexes are designed to cover areas and important objects from air strikes.
The ground forces on the battlefield are covered by melee air defense and anti-aircraft artillery units. In total, the IDF is armed with 8 batteries (48 launchers) of the Chapparel and Avenger melee air defense systems, over 200 portable Stinger air defense systems, and about 800 Red I portable air defense systems. In anti-aircraft artillery units there are, according to various sources, from 36 to 48 self-propelled M163 Vulkan self-propelled guns and over 1000 towed anti-aircraft guns with a caliber of 20-40 millimeters.
The Israeli Air Force (Hel Haavir) is by far the strongest in the Middle East, both in terms of quantity and quality of equipment. The Air Force has 97 F-15 fighters, including 25 F-15I fighter-bombers, 238 F-16 fighters of the A / B and C / D modifications (C / D are also used as strike vehicles). In addition, the newest F-16I Sufa fighters are entering service (102 aircraft are to be delivered in 2005-08).
Anti-aircraft gun "Volcano". Photo from the site cs.voxnet.ru
Also in service with the Israeli Air Force (mainly in reserve units) there is a large number of 2nd and 3rd generation vehicles, including 140 F-4E Phantom-II (in tactical fighter and photo reconnaissance versions), over 100 A-4 attack aircraft Skyhawk and 140 Israeli-made Kfir fighter-bombers. In addition, the Air Force has over 150 transport, training and reconnaissance aircraft.
The Israeli Air Force helicopter fleet includes 41 AH-64A Apache combat helicopters (also 8 AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters are to be delivered in 2005-06 and 15 helicopters are to be upgraded to this version), 64 AH-1 Cobra combat helicopters of modifications G and S , 30 light attack helicopters 500MD Defender. In addition to combat, the Air Force has more than 160 transport and communication helicopters.
Fighter F-16 "Sufa". Photo from israeli-weapons.com
In general, the Israeli Air Force is strong not only with a large number of the latest technology, but also with a well-functioning air force combat control system. A significant advantage in combat is provided by the use of AWACS aircraft, which Israel's neighbors do not possess. The qualitative and numerical superiority of Hel Haavir is exacerbated by the intensive combat training of the Air Force flight and ground personnel.
The Israeli Navy includes surface and submarine forces. The surface forces include 12 missile boats (two Reshef types, 10 Saar-4.5 types) and three corvettes (Saar-5 types). Corvettes (which include, in particular,) are used as flagships of groups of missile boats, providing air defense formations and target designation for anti-ship missiles.
The Israeli Navy's submarine forces have three German-built Dolphin-class submarines. These boats, which are similar in design to the latest German submarines of the 212 type, can be used to combat enemy submarines, deliver torpedo and missile attacks on its ships and coastal facilities, as well as for special operations using combat swimmers.
In addition to these funds, the Israeli Navy is armed with several dozen patrol boats and motorbots with machine-gun armament, designed to patrol the coast and land special forces units. There are no amphibious forces in the Navy.
The Israeli Navy is designed to combat the relatively small and weak navies of the Levant and North Africa, and to support the operations of special forces.
Performance characteristics of some models of equipment and weapons of the ground forces and the IDF air force
tank "Merkava-3"
Tank "Merkava-3" Photo from the site armor.kiev.ua
Fighter F-15I
The Israel Army (IDF), better known to many as the IDF, has been around for over 65 years. However, at the same time, not everyone knows the details of the conduct of service in this army and how the life of its soldiers is.
The Israeli army is the only one in the world that is based on the principle of professionalism, based on compulsory conscription.
Men must serve in the military for 36 months, while for girls the mandatory service life is 24 months.
After being drafted into the Army in Israel, the troops are divided into three main categories:
- Rear. They work from 8 am to 5 pm in specially equipped offices; occasionally they can also work during the night shift.
- Combat. They are on the front line and are constantly fighting.
- Support troops.
It is worth noting the fact that soldiers who serve in the combat and support troops only return home one to three times a month.
Here it is impossible to "skip" the army for a certain amount, which is actively practiced in modern CIS countries, as a result of which even children of presidents are soldiers. The only option is to be crazy or to have an extremely deplorable state of health, but if in our countries this does not in any way affect the future life of a person, then in Israel with such diagnoses it will be almost impossible to get a normal job.
If a citizen has not passed the Israeli army, he is, in principle, prohibited from working in various government services, that is, he simply cannot get a job there.
About a quarter of the country's total budget is spent on the army.
Appeal
In the process of carrying out the first check before the service, the conscript in the military registration and enlistment office is given an individual assessment of health, as well as social status. The maximum possible indicator is 97 out of 100, since there are no absolutely healthy people, while the maximum possible assessment of social status is 56.
It is worth noting the fact that the Israeli army assesses the social status of a person not only depending on how much his parents earn, but also in accordance with the peculiarities of education, the area of \u200b\u200bresidence, the presence of bad habits, hobbies and features of public life. There is a huge list of criteria by which a person's further service in the army is determined, ranging from the type of troops in which he will serve, ending with the possibility of prospects in terms of career growth.
Girls
Girls are strictly forbidden to be recruited into special forces. The only exception in this case is the shooting and mining instructors, hand-to-hand combat or drivers and similar professions. In the overwhelming majority of cases, approximately 80% of female conscripts serve exclusively in the rear or support troops.
It is worth noting that there are many opportunities that the Israeli army provides to the female sex. Girls can voluntarily refuse conscription in accordance with their religious beliefs, but at the same time they will have to obligatorily pay their own debt to their homeland, having worked in socially useful positions for two years. In particular, you will need to interact with wounded soldiers, pensioners, children and other similar segments of the population. It is also worth noting the fact that those girls who managed to get married or have one or more children are completely exempt from service.
Are girls sent to combat units?
Girls have the right to independently choose service in certain types of units, such as light infantry, air defense, aviation, border police or artillery, but in this case, their service life is exactly the same as that established for men by the Israeli army. Girls serve in such units exclusively on a voluntary basis.
Men
With men, the situation is radically different. Accordingly, more than 80% of the total number of conscripts are fighters (and this is what this position is called). If a guy's health is in perfect order, then in this case he is almost automatically sent to the motorized infantry or to special forces, less strong in health - to the artillery or tank forces, while very weak - in the air defense. If health fails completely, then in this case, the possibility of service in the rear forces is provided for.
Features of the call
It is worth noting that there are also certain exceptions to the rules. Thus, even if the guy is absolutely healthy, but at the same time distinguished himself with special achievements in the field of programming or is excellently versed in foreign languagesThe Israel Defense Forces provides him with the opportunity to serve in non-field intelligence. At the same time, in the presence of certain problems in the family, the same healthy men are sent to work in the office so that, if necessary, they can help their own family with any household responsibilities, as well as get additional evening earnings.
Among other things, there are cases when very weak health guys with great efforts knocked out for themselves the opportunity to serve in combat troops or even took part in service on the front line. People with disabilities are also periodically recruited voluntarily, for whom, if desired, they find a variety of positions.
Distribution
To get into the troops special purpose, you need to go through an extremely difficult selection, and this applies to both physical testing and psychological. Perhaps it is thanks to such a serious selection that the IDF is distinguished by such high professionalism.
For the first time, a spetsnaz fighter can go to an operation only after he undergoes training, which lasts for two years. Due to the fact that the training is quite lengthy, the special forces soldiers, at the beginning of their service, sign the passage of an additional six months of military service. It is worth noting the fact that in standard combat troops the training period lasts for one year, as a result of which the fighter can go directly to the combat unit or enroll in the commander's course.
Commanders course
The commanders' course is the first stage of what is involved in serving in the army of officers, since only through it can one get to the appropriate school. Thus, initially four months of the course for the commanders of the departments are taken, then the officers' school itself goes for eight months, and the post-student is given the rank of junior lieutenant, as a result of which he will have to do contract service for one year. One way or another, ultimately, service in the army provides for the obligatory passage through a combat company, as a result of which an officer or a soldier independently determines whether to move up the career ladder or go to "demobilization".
Pilots
The pilots represent the absolute elite of the local troops. Thus, any person who has ended up in the Israeli armed forces dreams of becoming a pilot, but, naturally, not everyone has such an opportunity. First of all, it is provided exclusively to the excellent students of the school, and at the same time it is necessary to have perfect health not only from a physical, but also from a moral point of view. Among other things, you must definitely have a sufficiently high social status, as well as show nice results in the process of conducting extremely difficult physical and psychotechnical examinations.
In the event that a conscript fully meets these criteria, he is drafted into the Air Force for a pilot course, which is three years. It is worth noting that the women's army in Israel also provides for the possibility of serving in the Air Force.
During the training, the cadet, in addition to directly studying flying art, also receives a bachelor's degree and, in parallel, graduates from an officer's school. At the same time, it is worth noting the fact that after the full completion of the pilot course, the officer must sign a contract for service for at least seven years. Girls in the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) can be pilots of both fighters and transport planes. Thus, everyone can serve, but extremely strict requirements must be met.
How does the army work?
The Israeli army has been on constant combat readiness for more than 65 years, because during this time all kinds of clashes with terrorist groups from the so-called Palestinian Authority, who are not ready for peace, have not been interrupted, but at the same time, sometimes fire begins to be conducted directly at the borders, after which a serious war begins. However, while everything is in a state of periodic skirmishes, the troops are engaged in the sole task of patrolling the borders and, if necessary, nightly arresting terrorists. After the outbreak of the war, the Israeli army is transferred to a combat position and each individual battalion takes its own place in the army hierarchy, doing what it specializes in.
Hazing
Unlike the opinion of many people who were not affected by the call to the Israeli army due to their residence in another state, in fact, hazing is also present, but it is radically different from what it looks like in the CIS countries. The "grandfathers" here are exclusively engaged in teaching their soldiers about army affairs, as well as customizing a bulletproof vest, "unloading" and other equipment for each individual soldier. It should be noted that "traditional" manifestations of hazing are observed only in the case of the appointment of duties in the canteen, that is, the "grandfathers" do less cleaning work, etc. Moreover, if an ordinary soldier is slightly guilty, the "grandfather" has the right to deprive him of one day off ...
Do not forget that, in principle, hazing in such a form, in which it is present in the CIS countries, in this case is simply unacceptable, since every soldier is constantly present with military weapons, as a result of which he can get on his nerves just during hostilities shoot your abuser. Thus, the company tries to maintain the most friendly relations and create an appropriate atmosphere.
Serious violations
If the soldier makes any serious violations of the army service, then in this case he is brought to trial or sent to a specialized army prison. In Israel, girls serve in the army on almost the same terms as men, therefore the punishments for them are the same. It is worth noting the fact that the time of such "imprisonment" is not included in the service life, that is, it is added to its original term.
Civil life
After the soldier finishes his service, the uniform of the Israeli army is surrendered to them, and in ordinary life he is provided with a wide variety of benefits. Thus, for example, if he worked for more than 1200 hours for the benefit of society, and at the same time received a salary from the place of work, the former soldier is provided with additional bonuses from the Social Security Institute, which amount to $ 1700 for each such soldier. Among other things, on a monthly basis, the army transfers funds to a specific personal account that can be used to get an education, buy your own home, or even open a small business.
If for five years the soldier has not used this money for certain purposes, then in this case he can simply transfer it to his account. It should be noted that this amount is approximately $ 4500 to $ 7000. Former combat soldiers are granted certain privileges in the process of receiving scholarships to study at higher education institutions.
Thus, the Israeli army is a real school of life, which young people strive to get into, and do not try to "deny" in all possible ways. It teaches how to survive in the most difficult conditions, allows you to form friendships with other people and revise your own values \u200b\u200bof life - this is how those who managed to pass it characterize the army.
The IDF are gradually losing the experience of a classic war, although they are permanently in a state of rebellion against the Arabs and Hezbollah. Since its founding in 1947, Israel has been in a hostile environment of Arab states, with which it fought seven times, not counting the permanent war against the Palestinians on its own territory.
Because of this, being very small in terms of territory and population, Israel has an armed forces (Armed Forces - IDF), one of the five strongest in the world. They are recruited by conscription, which even women are subject to, while all conscripts are constantly undergoing retraining in the units to which they are assigned. The level of combat, moral and psychological training of the Israeli military is considered to be the highest in the world.
This fact, by the way, completely destroys all the arguments of the fighters for the "professional army". Their traditional argument that "Israel is in special conditions", of course, is not an argument, it just has nothing to do with the case. There is a fact - the most conscripted army in the world is also the most professional one without quotes. From any " special conditions”It doesn't depend.
Israel is the exclusive partner of the United States, receiving from them the latest military equipment. A certain amount of equipment is acquired in other Western countries, in addition, the country has a very powerful military-industrial complex of its own, producing weapons and equipment of all classes, including nuclear weapon and means of delivery. At the same time, due to the country's constant readiness for a major war along the entire perimeter of the borders, a significant amount of old equipment, including captured Soviet ones, is stored in Israel.
It is impossible not to mention one more factor that additionally strengthens the military potential of Israel - the emphasized disregard for the norms of international law and the readiness to strike at anyone, at any time. This provides such useful things in military affairs as surprise and initiative.
What is the Israeli army
Israel's ground forces are divided into three military districts, moreover, it is the command of the districts that directs the actions of the forces subordinate to them, and the command of the ground forces as a whole has only administrative functions.
Northern VO includes the 36th armored division "Gaash" (it includes the 1st infantry "Golani", 7th "Saar me-Golan", 188th "Barak" armored brigades), 91st territorial division "Kha- Galil ", 143rd" Amud ha-Esh ", 319th" Ha-Mapats ", 366th" Netiv ha-Esh "reserve armored divisions.
Central VO includes the 162nd armored division "Ha-Plada" (it includes the 401st armored division "Iquot ha-Barzel", 933rd "Nahal", 900th "Kfir" infantry brigades), 877th territorial division of Judea and Samaria, 98th reserve special division "HaEsh" (35th, 551st "Hetzei HaEsh", 623rd "Hod HaKhanit" parachute brigades), 340th reserve division "Idan" ...
Israeli soldiers in front of the Merkava tank
Southern VO consists of the 80th territorial division "Edom" (it includes the territorial brigades "Arava", "Sagi", "Eilat"), the 643rd territorial division of the Gaza Strip (territorial brigades "Gefen", "Katif"), 252 1st Reserve Armored Division "Sinai", 84th Infantry Brigade "Givati".
In addition, there are a significant number of special and support units.
It is in service with the ground forces that most of the Israeli nuclear arsenal is located (its existence has not been officially confirmed, but there is no doubt about its presence). There are 50-90 Jericho-2 ballistic missiles (flight range - 1500-1800 km, warhead weight - 750-1000 kg) and 150 Jericho-1 (500 km, warhead - 1000 kg). The number of nuclear warheads is, according to various estimates, from 100 to 400.
The Israeli army's tank fleet includes 2030 tanks four modifications (440 of the oldest Mk1, 450 Mk2, 780 Mk3, 360 of the most modern Mk4), some of them are in reserve. In addition, 350 old British Centurion tanks and 1800 Magah tanks, which are modernized American M60 and M48 (1040 Magah-7, 560 Magah-6, 200 Magah-5), are in storage.
Israel became the first country to create infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers on a tank chassis with an appropriate level of protection. It is armed with 65 Namer infantry fighting vehicles (on the Merkava chassis), 215 Akhzarit armored personnel carriers (on the captured Soviet T-55 chassis), and 400 Nagmashot armored personnel carriers (on the Centurion chassis). In addition, there are 6131 American "traditional" M113 armored personnel carriers (some of them are in storage) and 100 own "Zeev".
In service there are 600 American self-propelled guns М109 (155 mm). In addition, 148 own self-propelled guns L-33, 50 American M-50 (155 mm), 70 M107 (175 mm), 36 M110 (203 mm) are in storage. Similarly, in service there are 300 own towed guns M-71 (155 mm). At the same time, five captured Soviet D-30 (122 mm) and 100 M-46 (130 mm), 40 converted M-46, 50 own M-68 and 81 M-839/845 (155 mm) are in storage.
They are in service with 250 mortars (81 mm), 64 self-propelled mortars "Kardom" and 250 M-65 (120 mm). At the same time, 1100 mortars (81 mm), 650 (120 mm), 18 M-66 (160 mm) are in storage. In service are 48 American MLRS (227 mm), 30 similar MLRS, as well as 58 Soviet BM-21 (122 mm) and 36 BM-24 (240 mm), 50 own LAR-160 (160 mm) and 20 LAR-290 (290 mm) - in storage.
There are several hundred domestic ATGM "Spike" of various modifications.
The military air defense includes 500 American Stinger MANPADS and 400 own Macbeth air defense systems (created by installing four Stinger MANPADS on the American M163 ZSU).
F-16 (foreground) and F-15 of the Israeli Air Force
The backbone of the Israeli Air Force is the American F-15 and F-16 fighters... There are 53 F-15 (19 A, 6 B, 17 C, 11 D; another 4-10 A in storage), 25 F-15I (analogue of the American attack aircraft F-15E), 278 F-16 (44 A, ten B, 77 C, 48 D, 99 I; another 38 A, eight B, one D in storage). In addition, there are old fighters in storage - up to 109 American F-4E and eight reconnaissance aircraft RF-4E, 60 own "Kfir" (20 C1, 19 C2, two TC2, one R-C2, 18 C7).
Also, combat aircraft include American attack aircraft - eight of the newest anti-guerrilla AT-802F (officially considered fire-fighting aircraft) and 26 old A-4N (38 more similar vehicles, as well as 17 A-4E, 5 F, 24 H are in storage), which are officially considered educational.
There are seven RC-12D reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft, two Gulfstream-550 electronic warfare aircraft (seven EC-707 and one RC-707 in storage), 11 tankers (four KS-130N, seven KS-707), 70 transport aircraft. It should be noted that the lack of tankers is the main (if not the only) real reason that Israel has not yet struck Iran. The United States, having two hundred KS-135 tankers in storage, however, does not give Israel even one - precisely because now they absolutely do not want to fight Iran.
Training aircraft - 17 German Grob-120, 20 American T-6A (two more in storage), 20 combat training TA-4 (two H, 18 J; two more H in storage) based on the aforementioned A-4 attack aircraft, one newest Italian M-346.
Combat helicopters - 50 AN-64 "Apache" (29 A, 21 D; another A in storage), 54 AN-1 "Cobra" (including ten E, ten F, 27 S; seven more E, 58 F, one S in storage). Multipurpose and transport helicopters - 19 OH-58V (one more in storage), ten CH-53A (three more A and five D in storage), 39 S-70A, ten UH-60A.
Israel is currently the only country in the world with a tactical missile defense system. It includes three Arrow anti-missile batteries (24 launchers) and one Iron Dom anti-missile battery, both systems of our own production. "Classic" air defense includes 17 batteries of the American Advanced Hawk air defense system (102 PU) and six batteries of the Patriot air defense system (48 PU), 105 American ZSU M163 (20 mm) and 60 Soviet ZSU-23-4 Shilka, 755 anti-aircraft guns - 150 Soviet ZU-23 (23 mm), 455 American M167 and own TSM-20 (20 mm), 150 Swedish L / 70 (40 mm).
Naval forces have four state-of-the-art German submarines (submarines) of the Dolphin type (project 212, one more is under construction). It is believed that these submarines can carry nuclear SLCMs, although it is not entirely clear what type. Germany is building these submarines for Israel at half price, or even free of charge as compensation for the Holocaust.
In service are three missile corvettes of the Eilat (Saar-5) type, eight missile boats of the Hetz type (Saar-4.5) and two Reshef (Saar-4) types, 47 patrol boats boats - 23 "Super Dvora" types, 15 "Dabur" types, five "Shaldag" types, four "Stingray" types. The corvettes are American-built, the rest are our own.
Naval aviation has three base patrol aircraft IAI-1124 of its own production and seven French AS565 anti-submarine helicopters.
"Erosion" of military consciousness
IN recent times there has been a certain erosion of all the factors mentioned at the beginning of the article that make the Israeli army one of the strongest in the world. This manifested itself in the 2006 war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, which was apparently unsuccessful for Israel. A noticeable rise in the standard of living and the complete Westernization of Israeli society led to the fact that pacifism and hedonism began to penetrate there (although, of course, the scale of these phenomena is incomparable with European ones), reducing the level of defense consciousness and, accordingly, moral and psychological preparation.
Israeli soldiers in Maroun al-Ras, Lebanon, 2006
The Israeli armed forces are gradually losing the experience of a classic war (the last was in 1982), although they are permanently in a state of rebellion against the Palestinians and Hezbollah. In addition, the Israelis are increasingly borrowing American methods of waging a "contactless" war, which is unrealistic in their conditions. This further undermines the ability to wage a real war.
The desire to completely secure the country from external threats leads to the adoption of rather strange measures, such as the creation of an air defense / missile defense system "Iron Dom" ("Iron Dome"). Within the framework of this system, with the help of missiles worth several hundred thousand dollars, NURSs worth several hundred (or even tens) dollars are destroyed.
Nevertheless, Israel is not seriously threatened for the foreseeable future. Jordan has not been an enemy to him for a long time (neither in the military, nor in the political aspect), the return of the military to power in Egypt guarantees Israel security from the south, and comments on current Syria are generally superfluous.
Ally of Russia
Of course israel is not a potential enemy for Russia... But it is, firstly, a nuclear power, and secondly, it has a very significant impact on the geopolitical situation in the Near and Middle East. This influence from the point of view of Russian interests is rather contradictory.
One side, Israel is Russia's obvious ally in the fight against Islamic terrorism... Tel Aviv has always unconditionally supported all of Moscow's actions in Chechnya and in the North Caucasus in general. Interestingly, he also fully supported the actions of the Yugoslav leadership in the fight against the Kosovo separatists and spoke out sharply against the NATO aggression against Yugoslavia in 1999, fully in solidarity with Moscow. The Israeli experience in fighting terrorism is of great interest to the Russian military and special services.
On the other hand, Israel's anti-Iranian paranoia begins to create problems precisely in terms of the fight against terrorism. Both the scale and danger of Sunni terrorism, financed by the Arab monarchies led by Saudi Arabia, is an order of magnitude higher than the scale and danger of Shiite terrorism in the person of the small-town Lebanese Hezbollah, financed by Iran.
It is still difficult to take seriously the nuclear threat from Iran. Not to mention the fact that Tel Aviv was completely lying about Iranian plans and opportunities (based on the numerous statements of Israeli officials over the years, Tehran should have created nuclear weapons 10 years ago), it does not follow from anything that Iranian leaders are suicides ...
It is difficult to understand the reasons for the anti-Iranian paranoia of the Jews. Apparently, the collective psychoses of small nations require a large separate study. And it is extremely doubtful that Moscow will be able to convince the Israelis of anything. Moreover, we have no less paranoia than the Jews.
This article concludes the series "This is how the IDF was created", which tells about the most interesting factsassociated with the creation of the Israel Defense Forces and the supply of weapons to the young Jewish state. You can write a whole monograph or a fascinating fiction book about this period of the history of the Middle East, but we will talk about it in the next articles, which will be devoted to the history of the War of Independence and biographies of famous personalities.
The Israel Defense Forces was formed on May 26, 1948, 12 days after the founding of the State of Israel – at the very beginning of the second stage of the War of Independence, during which local clashes between Arab radicals and Jewish self-defense units grew into a full-scale military conflict. The Provisional Government of Israel has decided to create a full-fledged armyand on May 26, 1948, its head David Ben-Gurion signed the Israel Defense Forces Decree.
Before the creation of the State of Israel, there were several Jewish military organizations in Palestine:
1) "Haganah" ("Defense"), subordinate to the leadership of the "ishuv" (Jewish settlements in Palestine). Part of the "Haganah" was in legal position and cooperated with the British colonial authorities.
2) National military organization "Etzel" (full name "Irgun Tsvai Leumi" –
"National Military Organization") – a radical underground organization that fought against the British authorities.
3) "Lehi" (full name "Lohamey Herut Israel" – "Fighters for the freedom of Israel") – an organization that was founded by immigrants from the Irgun, who did not agree with the policy of ending the struggle against the British colonial administration.
Members of these three organizations became the backbone of the IDF personnel. At the same time, most of the recruits were members of the "Haganah", and its commanders were placed in the leadership and command posts of the IDF. By the time Israel proclaimed its independence, the number of this organization had reached 45,000 people, 3,000 of whom were members of the shock companies (Palmach).
After the proclamation of Israel's independence, the commander of "Etzel" Menachem Begin made a statement that the organization would stop clandestine activities. In his speech to the Jewish nation, he said: “ In the State of Israel, we will be soldiers and builders. We will obey its laws, as this– our laws, and his government, we will respect, since this– our government».
On June 1, 1948, Menachem Begin and a member of the interim government, Israel Galili, signed an agreement that the soldiers of "Ezel" become soldiers of the IDF. Soon two battalions were created from them, all in all, about 7,000 "Ezelites" were included in the IDF.
In Jerusalem, which according to the UN Plan for the Partition of Palestine was not included in the State of Israel, "Etzel" for some time continued to operate independently, while actively cooperating with the "Haganah", and later with the IDF.
The leadership of the Lehi organization, which included Yitzhak Shamir (Yezernitsky), Nathan Elin-Mor (Fridman) and Israel Eldad (Shayb), in negotiations with representatives of the Israeli government Levi Eshkol and Israel Galili, also decided that their the organization will enter to the IDF. On May 29, 1948, all members of "Lehi", for the first time since leaving the underground, were gathered together. In total, more than 1,000 Lehi members have joined the Israel Defense Forces. Most of them became part of the 8th Armored Brigade, commanded by Yitzhak Sade. The 89th Shock Battalion, commanded by Moshe Dayan, also included one company of former Lehi fighters. Just like the members of the Etzel organization, the Lehi fighters acted independently for some time on the territory of Jerusalem. – this group was led by Yehoshua Zetler.
As for the total number of the army and statistics on the types of troops, it is very difficult to provide accurate data. In fact, the Israel Defense Forces was created throughout the Israel War of Independence (1947 – 1949), while incurring losses. At the same time, new repatriates and new equipment arrived, so the number of the IDF in different periods either increased or decreased. At the beginning of its establishment, the total strength of the IDF and the Jerusalem combat units Lehi and Etzel ranged from 50,000 to 55,000. The army was armed with anti-tank and anti-aircraft artillery, hand-held firearms, flamethrowers and 30 light aircraft, which were used mainly for delivering goods or reconnaissance. In October 1948, the IDF had already numbered 120,000 people, and the army was armed with about 100 combat aircraft. By the end of the war, according to various sources, from 84 to 90 thousand people remained in the ranks, while one full-fledged armored battalion appeared in the army.
The State of Israel, consisting of ground forces, air forces and naval forces. It is the main and only organ of the Israeli security forces with no civilian jurisdiction in the state. The IDF is headed by a Chief (Ramatkal) who reports to Lieutenant General Beni Gantz is a Ramatkal since 2011.
What has characterized the Israeli army throughout its diverse history is the pursuit of innovation, the constant maximization of the resources at its disposal (both technological and human).
The Israeli army has always placed great emphasis on the importance of improvisation in order to protect small and vulnerable areas of the country. It was designed to meet the unique defense and security needs within the borders of its own state, initially tuning in to advanced technologies.
She has a commitment to upholding a meritocracy and has a proven track record of working with hundreds of thousands of immigrants, refugees. I must say that almost a quarter of the current officer corps are former immigrants.
The Israeli army (its officers and soldiers) represents an association of people from different social and religious strata of society: from kibbutzim, from developed cities, Druze from the North, Bedouins from the South, Jewish volunteers from other countries of the world.
History and formation can be described by the example of contrasts. On the one hand, it is a modern army, officially founded in 1948 by order of Defense Minister David Ben-Gurion as a conscript from the underground paramilitary organizations "Haganah", "Etzel" and "Lehi".
Today the Israeli army is considered one of the most professional and efficient in the world. The air forces, special forces, intelligence, engineering units were the first in the world to use many innovative tactics that are being studied in the armies of other countries. Ballistic missile, electro-optics and other technologies are almost always world-class breakthroughs.
Research and development units make a huge contribution to the field of advanced technologies, the use of which is much wider than just the introduction into weapons. Soldiers from these units are highly regarded in civilian professions after they have completed their service. They successfully adapt their military experience in areas such as programming, medical research.
On the other hand, the Israeli army retains the traditions and symbols that were characteristic of the ancient Israelites. It is considered one of the most informal and least hierarchical. It is customary for officers to eat and sleep in the same room with their subordinate soldiers. The Israeli army performs an important educational function, providing special courses for illiterate recruits, organizing manuals for soldiers from disadvantaged and poor families. In addition, salutes and parades are minimally used.
She is different from most others in the world in many ways. Above all, by the structure itself, underlined by the close ties between the air force and naval forces... The uniqueness lies in the fact that service in the Israeli army is compulsory for men and women. It is the only country in the world that supports mandatory military service for women, continuing the tradition of female fighters who fought during Israel's War of Independence. Men serve for three years, women a little less than two years.