Israel Defense ForcesFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Israel Defense Forces

Military manpower

Military age 18 years of age

Availability

males age 15-49:1,499,186 (2000est.)

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

Fit for militaryservice

males age 15-49:1,226,903 (2000est.)

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

Reaching militaryage annually

males: 50,348(2000 est.)females: 47,996(2000 est.)

Military expenditures

Dollar figure $8.7 billion (FY99)

Percent of GDP 9.4% (FY99)

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: לארשיל הנגהה אבצ Tsva HaHagana LeYisrael (help·info),"[Army] Force for the Defense of Israel"), often abbreviated with the Hebrew acronym ל"הצ Tsahal,alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israel's armed forces, comprising the Israeli Army,the Israeli Air Force and the Israeli Navy. "The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), founded in 1948, ranksamong the most battle-trained armed forces in the world, having had to defend the country in five majorwars." The IDF as of August, 2004 had (according to unofficial estimates) 168,000 personnel, including107,500 conscripts. The army had 125,000; the navy had 8,000; the air force had 35,000. Fullmobilization to 576,000 could be quickly achieved with the reserves of 408,000.

History

The Israel Defense Forces were founded May 14, 1948 with the establishment of the state of Israel "todefend the existence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state of Israel and To protect theinhabitants of Israel and to combat all forms of terrorism which threaten the daily life.". The IDFsucceeded the Haganah (in particular, its operational branch, the Palmach) as the permanent military ofthe Jewish state. It was also joined by former elements of the Jewish Brigade that fought under theBritish flag during World War II. After the establishment of the IDF the two Jewish undergroundorganizations the Etzel and Lehi joined with the IDF in a loose confederation but were allowed tooperate independently in some sectors until the end of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, after which these twoorganizations were disbanded, and their members integrated into the IDF. The modern IDF came intoexisting during the period from 1949 to 1956 by experience gained through regional conflicts with theirArab neighbours.

From 1956 to 1966, the IDF faced less conflict and used this time to purchase new equipment andchange from an upstart army to a professional fighting force. As well, this period saw Israel developtheir nuclear capability.

After a decade of peace, the IDF faced a series of regional wars with their Arab neighbours who had thegoal of destroying the Jewish State.

Overview

Service and manpower

Regular Service

National military service is compulsory for Jewish and Druze men, and Jewish women, over the age of18, although exemptions may be made on religious, physical or psychological grounds (see Profile 21).Men in the Haredi community may choose to be exempt while enrolled in Yeshivas, a practice that is asource of tension, though some yeshiva programs like Hesder provide opportunities for service.

Men serve three years in the IDF, while women serve two and sometimes under two. The IDF may onoccasions require women who volunteer for combat positions to serve for three years because combatsoldiers must undergo a lengthy period of training. Women in combat positions are also required toserve as reserve for several years after their dismissal from regular service, pending marriage, orpregnancy, is in order.

Reserve Service

Following regular service, men may be called for reserve service of up to one month annually, until theage of 43-45 (reservists may volunteer after this age), and may be called for active duty immediately intimes of crisis. In most cases, the reserve duty is carried out in the same unit for years, in many cases thesame unit as the active service and by the same people. Many soldiers who have served together inactive service continue to meet in reserve duty for years after their discharge, causing reserve duty tobecome a strong male bonding experience in Israeli society. A well-known Israeli joke refers to civiliansas soldiers on 11-month furlough.

Although still available to be called up in times of crisis, most Israeli men, and virtually all women, donot actually perform reserve service in any given year. Units do not always call up all of their reservistsevery year, and a variety of exemptions are available if called for regular reserve service. Virtually noexemptions exist for reservists called up in a time of crisis, but experience has shown that in such cases(most recently, Operation Defensive Shield in 2002) exemptions are rarely requested or exercised; unitsgenerally achieve recruitment rates above those considered fully-manned.

Recently, legislation has been proposed for reform in the reserve service, lowering the maximum serviceage to 40, designating it as a purely emergency force, as well as many other changes to the currentstructure (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. Thelegislation is set out to take effect by 13 March 2008.

Border Guard Service

Some IDF soldiers will serve their mandatory military service in the Mishmar HaGvul (abbreviated toMagav) or Border Guard. Once the soldiers complete their IDF combat training they undergo additionalcounter-terror and Border Guard training. They are then assigned to any one of the Border Guard unitsaround the country.

The Border Guard units fight side by side with the regular IDF combat units. They also are responsiblefor security in heavy urban areas such as the City of Jerusalem.

Many officers in the Border Guard come from the IDF combat units. While the Border Guard doesretain their own command structure, on the ground they are almost indistinguishable from the regularIDF units.

Minorities in the IDF

Druze Arabs and Circassians, like Israeli Jews, serve mandatory service in the IDF. In recent years,some Druze officers have reached positions in the IDF as high as Major General and many havereceived orders of distinction.

Service is not mandatory for all other Israeli minorities (notably Israeli Arabs but also Black Hebrewsand others). However, a large number of Bedouin, as well as some Christian Arabs and even a fewMuslim Arabs volunteer. Six Israeli Arabs have received orders of distinction as a part of their militaryservice; of them the most famous is a Bedouin officer, Lieutenant Colonel Abd El-Amin Hajer (alsoknown as Amos Yarkoni), who received the Order of Distinction. Recently, a Bedouin officer waspromoted to the rank of Colonel.

No direct social benefits are tied to completion of military service, but doing so is sometimes requiredfor attaining security clearance and serving in some types of government positions (in most cases,security-related), as well as some indirect benefits. Israeli Arabs claim that this puts them at adisadvantage vs. non-Arab Israeli citizens - although any Israeli Arab has the opportunity to do militaryservice, if he or she wants to. The Israeli government claims that this arrangement provides equalopportunity for the Arab population. On the other hand, non-Arab Israelis could argue that themandatory three-year (20 months for women) military service puts them at a disadvantage, as theyeffectively lose three years of their life through their service in the IDF, while the Arab Israelis are ableto start right into their jobs after school, or study at a university. According to the 2004 U.S. StateDepartment Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for Israel and the occupied territories, "IsraeliArabs were not required to perform mandatory military service and, in practice, only a small percentageof Israeli Arabs served in the military. Those who did not serve in the army had less access than othercitizens to social and economic benefits for which military service was a prerequisite or an advantage,such as housing, new-household subsidies, and employment, especially government or security-relatedindustrial employment. Regarding the latter, for security reasons, Israeli Arabs generally were restrictedfrom working in companies with defense contracts or in security-related fields." In recent years, therehave been several initiatives to enable Israeli Arabs to volunteer for civilian National Service instead ofto the IDF, completion of which would grant the same privileges as those granted to IDF veterans.However, this plan has gained strong resistance from Arab members of the parliament, and as a result,has not been implemented yet.

Since 1993, homosexuals have been allowed to openly serve in the military, including special units.

Women in the IDF

Israel has female conscription, but about a third of female conscripts (more than double the figure formen) are exempted, mainly for religious and nuptial reasons.

Following their active service, women, like men, are in theory required to serve up to one monthannually in reserve duty. However, in practice only some women in combat roles get called for activereserve duty, and only for a few years following their active service, with many exit points (e.g.,pregnancy).

Apart from the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, when manpower shortages saw many of them taking active partin battles on the ground, women were historically barred from battle in the IDF, serving in a variety oftechnical and administrative support roles. During this period however, the IDF reputedly favouredfemale instructors for training male soldiers in certain roles, particularly tank crews. This was on thebasis that female instructors of similar age to the young conscripts were more likely to receive the fullattention of their students. But after a landmark 1994 High Court appeal by Alice Miller, a Jewishimmigrant from South Africa, the Air Force was instructed to open its pilots course to women (severalserved as transport pilots during the first Arab-Israeli War in 1948 and "Operation Kadesh" in 1956, butthe Air Force later closed its ranks to women fliers). Miller failed the entrance exams, but since herinitiative, many additional combat roles were opened. As of 2005, women are allowed to serve in 83%of all positions in the military, including Shipboard Navy Service (except submarines), and Artillery.Combat roles are voluntary for women.

As of 2002, 33% of lower rank Officers are women, 21% of Captains and Majors, but only 3% of themost senior ranks.

450 women currently serve in combat units of Israel's security forces, primarily in the Border Police.The first female fighter pilot received her wings in 2001. In a controversial move, the IDF abolished its"Women's Corps" command in 2004, with a view that it has become an anachronism and a stumblingblock towards integration of women in the army as regular soldiers with no special status. However,after pressures from feminist lobbies, The Chief of Staff was persuaded to keep an "advisor for women'saffairs".

Expenditures and alliances

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

In 1983, the United States and Israel established a Joint Political Military Group, which convenes twicea year. Both the U.S. and Israel participate in joint military planning and combined exercises, and havecollaborated on military research and weapons development. Additionally the U.S. military maintainstwo classified, pre-positioned War Reserve Stocks in Israel valued at $493 million. Israel has the officialdistinction of being an American Major non-NATO ally. As a result of this, America shares the vastmajority of its security and military technology with Israel.

Israel has received US$1.8 billion in military aid annually from the United States since 1973. Thisamount has increased in recent years as non-military economic aid has been shifted to military aid. Thisaid is earmarked for use in the U.S. defence contractor market.

High command (General Staff)

All branches of the IDF are subordinate to a single General Staff. The Chief of the General Staff(Hebrew acronym: ל"כטמר, pronounced: Ramatkal) is the only serving officer having the rank ofLieutenant General (in Hebrew: ףולא בר, pronounced: "Rav Aluf"). He reports directly to the DefenseMinister and indirectly to the Prime Minister of Israel and the cabinet. Chiefs of Staff are formallyappointed by the cabinet, based on the Defense Minister's recommendation, for three years, but thegovernment can vote to extend their service to four (and in rare occasions even five) years. The currentchief of staff is (Lieutenant) General (Rav-Aluf) Dan Halutz, who replaced Moshe Ya'alon, on June 1st,2005.

Military structure

The IDF is comprised of the following bodies (those whose respective heads are members of the GeneralStaff are in bold):

Arms

Ground Forces Command

Infantry Corps Armor Corps Engineering Corps Artillery Corps Field Intelligence Corps Adjutant Corps Ordnance Corps Logistics Corps C4I Corps

Air and Space Arm

Air Force

Air Defense Network

Sea Arm

Sea Corps

Branches

Human ResourcesDirectorate

Military Police Education and Youth Corps General Corps Military Rabbinate Womens' Affairs advisor

Planning Directorate Computer Service

Directorate Technological and Logistics

Directorate

Medical Corps

Regional commands

Northern Command Central Command Southern Command Home Front Command

Other bodies

General Staff

Operations Directorate

IDF Spokesperson

Intelligence Directorate

Intelligence Corps Military Censor

Military Advocate General Military Court of Appeals Financial Advisor to the Chief of

Staff Coordinator of Government

Activities in the Territories Military Academies Chief Reserve Officer Military Secretary of the Prime

Minister

Related bodies

The following bodies work closely with the IDF, but do not (or only partially) belong to its formalstructure (those whose respective heads are members of the General Staff are in bold).

Security forces

Intelligence Community

Shabak Mossad National Security Council

Israeli police

Border Police

Prison Service Knesset Guard

Development

Israel Military Industries Israel Aircraft Industries RAFAEL Armament Development

Authority Administration for the

Development of Weapons and theTechnological Industry

Oversight

Defense EstablishmentComptroller

Director-general of the Ministry ofDefense

Israeli military technology

The IDF is considered to be one of the most high-tech armies in the world, possessing top-of-the-lineweapons and computer systems, Some of it American-made or indigenously modified (such as theM4A1 assault rifle, F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon jets and Apache helicopter). Israel receivesmore than US$2 billion per year in military aid from the United States, and much of it requires thatAmerican equipment be purchased with it. In spite of this however, Israel also has developed its ownindependent weapons industry. Weapons such as the Merkava battle tank, Kfir jet series, and varioussmall arms such as the Galil assault rifle and Uzi submachine gun have all proven to be very successful.

The IDF also has several large internal research and development departments, and it purchases manytechnologies produced by the Israeli security industries including IAI, IMI, Elbit, El-Op, Rafael, Soltamand dozens of smaller firms. Many of these developments have been battle-tested in Israel's numerousmilitary engagements, making the relationship mutually beneficial, the IDF getting tailor-made solutionsand the industries a very high repute.

Main Israeli developments

An Israeli Merkava main battle tank.

Israel's military technology is most famous for its guns, armored fighting vehicles (tanks, tank-convertedAPCs, armoured bulldozers etc) and rocketry (missiles and rockets). Israel also designs and in somecases it has manufactured aircraft (Kfir, Lavi; both discontinued) and naval systems (patrol and missileships). 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). So are many of its precision-guided munitions.

Israel and the United States are the only countries in the world with an anti-ballistic missile defensesystem ("Hetz", Arrow, or Patriot (U.S.) developed with funding and technology from the UnitedStates), though an operational system is in place protecting the Moscow area. Israel is also working withthe U.S. on development of a tactical high energy laser system against medium range rockets (calledNautilus THEL).

Israel has the independent capability of launching reconnaissance satellites into orbit (a capability whichonly Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the People's Republic of China, India andJapan hold). Both the satellites (Ofeq) and the launchers (Shavit) were developed by the Israeli securityindustries.

Israel is also said to have developed an indigenous nuclear capability, although no official details oracknowledgements have ever been publicized. On the issue of this nuclear weapons program, Israelchooses to follow a policy of deliberate ambiguity.

Specific weapon systems

Small Armso Tavor TAR-21 bullpup

assault rifle "Refaim" advance

rifle grenadeo Galil assault rifleo Uzi submachine gun

Micro Uzi Para Micro Uzi Mini Uzi Uzi pistol

o IMI Negev light machine guno Jericho 941 "Baby Eagle"

handguno T.C.I. M89-SR semi-auto

bullpup sniper rifle (based ona M-36 Sardius rifle)

o SR-99 semi-auto sniper rifleo RCWS - remote control

weapon stationo OWS - overhead weapon

station (also known as "MagRefael")

o Corner Shot (Joint U.S-Israeli)

Armoured Fighting Vehicleso Merkava - Main battle tank

Mk 1 Mk 2 Mk 3 Mk 3 Baz (improved

armour and firecontrol system)

Mk 3 LIC (modifiedfor low intensitywarfare, i.e. urbanwarfare).

Mk 4 Nammer ARV -

Merkava armoured

Rockets and Missileso Gil/Spike - ATGM (anti-tank

guided missile)o Shifon - ATGMo Jericho missile - ballistic

missileo Shavit - satellite launch

missile, based on Jerichoo Rafael Python 4 and Rafael

Python 5 - advance air-to-airmissiles

o Popeye (AGM-142) -advance guided air-to-groundmissile

o Gabriel anti-ship missileo Hetz (Arrow missile) - part of

a ballistic missile defensesystem, able to shoot downballistic missiles

Electronics and High-Techo Oren Yarok (Green Pine) -

radar system used by theArrow system

o Phalcon - intelligencegathering systems installedon large airplane

o Satellites Ofeq - reconnaissance

satellite Amos -

communicationssatellite (civilian,used by the IDF)

o Katbam - unmanned navalvehicle

o LITENING targeting pod -enhance fighter jets offensivecapabilities

o McDonnell Douglas F-4Phantom, McDonnell

recovery vehicleo Magah (upgraded M60

Patton) - Main battle tanko Multi purpose tank-chassis

based IFVs/CEVs Puma - Combat

engineering armouredvehicle

Achzarit - APC(armored personalcarrier)

NagmaShot - an APCbased on theCenturion tank

Nagmachon Nakpadon

o Caterpillar D9 up-armoredbulldozer military version

o Machbet - self propelled antiaircraft system

o Self-propelled artillerysystems

All-terrain vehicles and otherwheeled vehicles

o Abiro Sufao Desert Raider

Douglas F-15 Eagle andGeneral Dynamics F-16Fighting Falcon fighter jetelectronic systems

o Barak Zoher - advance tankfiring system, installed onMerkava tanks

o Dolphin class submarineelectronic and warfaresystems

Aircraft platformso Nesher fighter jet (upgraded

Mirage V)o Kfir fighter jet (upgraded and

improved Mirage V)o Nammer fighter jet (Mirage

III)o Lavi fighter jet (original

design, prototype flown butproject cancelled due to cost)

o Arava STOL mediumtransport aircraft

o Mazlat (UAV) - unmannedsmall aerial vehicle

Naval platformso Dabur/Dvora/Tsir'a/Yatush

patrol crafto Sa'ar-class missile boat

Saar 2 class missileboats

Saar 3 class missileboats

Saar 4 class missileboats

Saar 4.5 class missileboats

Saar 5 class missileboats

Nuclear capability

It is generally believed that Israel has nuclear weapons. The weapons are thought to have beendeveloped at the Negev Nuclear Research Center's nuclear reactor since the 1960's. The first two nuclearbombs were probably operational before the Six-Day War and Prime Minister Levi Eshkol ordered them

armed in Israel's first nuclear alert during that war. It is also believed that, fearing defeat in the October1973 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 variousestimates and reports. FAS estimates that Israel probably has 100-200 nuclear warheads, which can bedelivered by airplanes (A-4 Skyhawk or converted F-4 Phantom II), or ballistic missiles (Lance, Jerichoor Jericho II missiles). The Jericho II is reported to have a range between 1,500 and 4,000 km, meaningthat it can target sites as far away as central Russia, Iran and Libya.

It has also been speculated that the Israeli Navy's three Dolphin class submarines may be capable ofcarrying nuclear-armed specially-modified Popeye Turbo cruise missiles. These missiles are purportedto have a 1,500 km range and are supposedly fired out of what are suspected to be unusually-sizedadditional torpedo tubes that were allegedly installed on the Dolphin submarine and are otherwise largerthan what is required to accommodate any currently known western torpedo design in existence. A testof such a missile is alleged to have taken place off the coast of Sri Lanka in May 2000. Nevertheless,some military analysts have labeled such rumors to be highly unlikely and impossible given the logisticsof the submarines. Furthermore, there is no factual basis for the origins of the alleged test firing.

The Israeli government has neither acknowledged nor denied that it possesses nuclear weapons, anofficial policy referred to as "ambiguity". However, details of Israel's nuclear program were revealed in1986 to the British press by Mordechai Vanunu, a former nuclear technician. Following theserevelations, Mordechai Vanunu was abducted by the Mossad and convicted of treason in his country.Released in 2004 under specific conditions, he lives today under surveillance in Israel.

Ranks and insignia

The Israel Defense Forces has four enlisted ranks:

3 Supreme or General Officers: Rav Aluf (Ramatkal), Alúf, Tat alúf 3 Field or Senior Officers: Alúf mishné, Sgan alúf, Rav séren 3 Company Grade or Junior Officers: Séren, Ségen and Ségen mishné (Sagam) 2 academic officers: Katsín akademái bakhír, Katsín miktsói akademái 5 non-commissioned officer ranks: Rav nagád, Rav samál bakhír, Rav samál

mitkadém, Rav samál rishón, Rav samál

Non-officer enlisted ranks include: Samál rishón, Samál, Rav turái (Rabat), Turái rishón, Turái

Unlike most world armies, these ranks are common for all corps in the IDF, including the air force andnavy.

Enlisted personnel sew their ranks to their sleeves, while officers and NCOs wear them on theirshoulders.

Code of Conduct

In 1992, the IDF drafted a Code of Conduct that is a combination of international law, Israeli law,Jewish heritage and the IDF's own traditional ethical code - Ruach Tzahal ל"הצ חור ("The Spirit of theIDF").

The Values of the IDF

Tenacity of Purpose in Performing Missions and Drive to Victory - "The IDF servicemen and womenwill fight and conduct themselves with courage in the face of all dangers and obstacles; They willpersevere in their missions resolutely and thoughtfully even to the point of endangering their lives."

Responsibility - "The IDF serviceman or woman will see themselves as active participants in the defenseof 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, whileprepared to bear responsibility for their conduct."

Credibility - "The IDF servicemen and women shall present things objectively, completely andprecisely, in planning, performing and reporting. They will act in such a manner that their peers andcommanders can rely upon them in performing their tasks."

Personal Example - "The IDF servicemen and women will comport themselves as required of them, andwill demand of themselves as they demand of others, out of recognition of their ability andresponsibility 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 themselvesand their comrades only to the extent required to carry out their mission."

Purity of Arms - "The IDF servicemen and women will use their weapons and force only for the purposeof their mission, only to the necessary extent and will maintain their humanity even during combat. IDFsoldiers will not use their weapons and force to harm human beings who are not combatants or prisonersof war, and will do all in their power to avoid causing harm to their lives, bodies, dignity and property."(see also Qana Shelling)

Professionalism - "The IDF servicemen and women will acquire the professional knowledge and skillsrequired to perform their tasks, and will implement them while striving continuously to perfect theirpersonal and collective achievements."

Discipline - "The IDF servicemen and women will strive to the best of their ability to fully andsuccessfully complete all that is required of them according to orders and their spirit. IDF soldiers willbe 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 theircomrades, and will always go to their assistance when they need their help or depend on them, despiteany 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 togive their all in order to defend the state, its citizens and residents. This is due to the fact that they arerepresentatives of the IDF who act on the basis and in the framework of the authority given to them inaccordance with IDF orders."

Code of Conduct against terrorists

Recently, a team of professors, commanders and former judges, led by Tel Aviv University the holder ofthe Ethics chair, Professor Assa Kasher, developed a code of conduct which emphasizes the rightbehavior in low intensity warfare against terrorists, where soldiers must operate within a civilianpopulation. Reserve units and regular units alike are taught the following eleven rules of conduct, whichare 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 andvehicles.

11. Soldiers must report all violations of this code.

Critics, including B'Tselem and Amnesty International accuse Israel of frequently violating their ownPurity of Arms and code of ethics, and protecting soldiers who do.

Counterterrorism tactics

Owing to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the tactics of the IDF have been adapted for lowintensity warfare primarily against Palestinian militants operating from within densely-populated Israelioccupied territory.

Targeted killing

The IDF employs a controversial strategy of "focused foiling" (in Hebrew: דקוממ לוכיס sikul memukad)of presumed Palestinian terrorist leaders, aimed at preventing future acts of violence by killing a personrelated to anticipated future violence (such as terrorist at the stages of planning or executing a terroristattack).

Among prominent figures assassinated by Israel are Abu Jihad, Abbas_al-Musawi, and Sheikh AhmedYassin.

House demolitions

The IDF has historically used a strategy of demolishing houses of family members of suicide bombers,originally claiming that this was a very effective prevention tactic: Would-be bombers' familiessometimes prevent the bomber, sometimes even going as far as informing to the IDF, in the hope ofpreventing their family-member's death as well as their house being demolished. Some would-bebombers even relented at the last moment, fearing their parent's home would be demolished. Critics,including human right organizations [5], contend that effectiveness does not legitimize excessive force.They also contend that the demolitions carried out by the IDF disproportionately affect civilians.However, many Israelis accept this tactic as necessary.

During the recent conflict, the number of houses demolished has increased significantly, both as theresult of an increase in the number of suicide bombers, as well as due to more lenient criteria for housedemolition. The IDF now routinely demolishes houses from which shots were fired at nearby traffic orsettlements, houses harboring concealed Smuggling tunnel entrances in the Gaza strip, and for othersecurity reasons.

Another main source for house demolition is in the course of fighting. After several IDF soldiers werekilled early in the conflict while searching houses containing militants, the IDF started employing atactic of surrounding such houses, calling on the occupants (civilian and militant) to exit, anddemolishing the house on top of the militants within in case they do not surrender. This tactic is nowused whenever feasible (i.e., non multi-rise building that's separated from other houses). Palestiniansclaim several cases in which houses were demolished on top of incapacitated or deaf civilian occupants.However, the IDF claims that in the vast majority of cases the occupants were militants.

In some heavy fighting incidents, esp. in the Battle of Jenin 2002 and Operation Rainbow in Rafah 2004,heavily-armored IDF Caterpillar D9 bulldozers were used to demolish houses to widen alleyways or tosecure locations for IDF troops.

Palestinians and some international organizations claim the use of bulldozers by the IDF is illegal. Inone well-known incident, International Solidarity Movement activist Rachel Corrie was killed whiletrying to stop a bulldozer in Rafah.

In summer 2005, after numerous houses had been destroyed, the Israeli army itself came to theconclusion that these demolitions do not contribute to Israel's security and announced putting an end tothis policy. This does however not mean that, as part of its "low intensity warfare", the IDF would notdestroy civilian homes during combat.

The house demolition policy was never applied to Jews who killed Arabs, such as Baruch Goldstein whokilled 29 Muslim worshippers and wounded 125 in a 1994 shooting attack in the Cave of the Patriarchsin Hebron, West Bank.