Eng Newsletter - February 2011

8/7/2019 Eng Newsletter - February 2011

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Withtheadventof InternationalWomen'sDay,theIDFWomen's

Corpsis markingit'stenthanniversary. Inan interviewwith the

Chiefof Staff'sWomen'sAffairsAdvisor, we reviewthe updated

statusofwomeninactiveservice.READ MORE

Operations Room

Pictures of the Month

One on One

Challenges of the Moment

IDF Events

The integration of Women in the IDF

Fromthedaysofundergroundresistancetotoday'smodernIDF, therole ofTheWoman hasprovenan unfathomablesourceofinspiration.READ MORE

Inresponsetotheringofoverfortymortarshells,QassamrocketsandGradrocketsintoIsraelsincethebeginingof2011 - IAF attacked Gazan weapons smuggling tunnels.READ MORE

The rst two months of2011 saw an increase inattacks

includingMolotovcocktailsandIED's.TerroristscontinuedtolaunchrocketsfromtheGazaStrip.READ MORE

Ground Forces Commander Maj. Gen. Sami Turgemandiscussed IDF preparations for the modern battleeld,including recent improvements of technological equipmentandmanpowerquality.READ MORE

TheRazradarsystemisnowfullyoperationaltodetectrocketlaunchsitesandthreatlevels.READ MORE

Lt.Gen.BennyGantztookofficeafterbeingawardedranksfromthePrimeMinisterandMinisterofDefense.TheChiefofStaffpennantwaspassedfromLt.Gen.AshkenazitoLt.Gen.Gantzwhosaid"Iacceptwithgreat honor the command of the IDF. Today is anemotionaldayforthearmyandme". READ MORE

Chief Military Advocate General, Maj. Gen. AvichaiMandelblit, appearing at the Institute for NationalSecurity Studies, speaks of the IDF's challenges ofthe legal and media fronts in addition to the battlefield."Anyonewhodoesntunderstandthiswillnotbevictorious."READ MORE

StartingTuesday (Feb. 15), apples grown by IsraeliciviliansontheGolanHeightsweretobeexportedtoSyria,inaccordancewiththedirectivesoftheIsraeligovernmentandattherequestoftheInternationalRedCross(IRC).READ MORE

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February 2011
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In response to repeated rocket fre on civilian communities inSouthern Israel, another smuggling tunnel is struck and destroyedby the IAF

TheIAFstruckanddestroyedamajorsmugglingtunnelintheSouthernGazaStriponWednesday(Feb.2),ThesetunnelsserveascriticalsupplylinesforsmugglingweaponsandcarryingoutattacksagainstIsraelicitizens,astheIAFtargetsspecictunnelsusedsolelyforweaponssmuggling.

ThesitewastargetedinresponsetorecentrocketrefromtheGazaStrip.OverthepasttwodaystwoGradmissilesandamortarshellhittheSoutherntownsofOfakim,Netivot (landing nearby a wedding celebration) and the Eshkol Regional Council,respectively.

Fromthebeginningof2011,overthirtyGradmissiles,QassamrocketsandmortarshellshavelandedinIsraeliterritory.

TheIDFholdsHamasresponsibleforallterroristactivityemanatingfromtheGazaStripandwillcontinuetorespondharshlytoanyfurtherattemptstocarryoutterrorattacksagainsttheStateofIsrael.

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First two months of 2011: more than 83 total attacks

Despiteafewweeksofcalmintheregion,communitiesinsouthernIsraelwerehitwithGradmissilesandamortarshellonthelastnightofJanuary,Monday(Jan.31).OnemissilelandednearaweddingcelebrationinNetivot,damagingavehicleandcausingfourpeopletobetreatedforshock.AnothermissilefellinthetownofOfakimandamortarshelllandedinanopeneldintheEshkolRegionalCouncil.

Overall,inthepasttwomonthsthenumberofattackshasincreased,withmorethan

12explosivedevicesthatweredetectedlaidalongthesecurityfenceandatotalof83attacks.

TheincreasewasparticularlynoticeableintheJudeaandSamariaregion,butaslightincreasewasalsorecordedinJerusalem.DespiteadecreaseinattacksfromtheGazaStripincomparisontoDecember,thenumberofGazaStripattacksisstillhigherthanthatofNovemberandOctober.

DatafromthereportshowsthatthreesecuritypersonnelwereinjuredfromMolotovcocktailsinJudeaandinJerusalem.MostofJanuarysattacksintheJudeaandSamariaregionandinJerusalemconsistedofMolotovcocktails.Explosives,grenadesandlive

refromsmallarmswerealsousedin53oftheattacks.IntermsofregionssurroundingtheGazaStrip,theIDFhasrecordedthattheEshkolRegionalCouncil,hometoapproximately10,100residents,washitby14projectilesinJanuary.TheAshkelonShoreRegionalCouncil,hometoapproximately13,000,washitbyve.BoththeShaarHanegevregionalcouncil,hometo6,500residents,andtheSdotNegevRegionalCouncil,hometo8,000,sufferedapproximatelysixattacks.

The ISA reportedthat altogether,during the course ofJanuary,17rocketsand 26mortarshellswereredatIsrael,asopposedto15rocketsand38mortarshellsinDecember.

February 2011


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21st Century Women in the IDF

TheWomen's' AffairsAdvisor is responsible for the various aspects of Women'sserviceintheIDFfromboththepersonalandorganizationalpointofview.WomenareactiveinmostbranchesoftheIDFespecially in research, instruction,the representation of the IDF in themedia and other external bodies,educationtonameafew.Brig.Gen.GilaKali-AmirheadstheAdvisorforthepasttwoyears,havingprogressedalongthecommandchainintheIDF.Brig.Gen.Kaliwastherstwomanto successfully undergo the BrigadeCommandersCourseintheIDF.SheisoneofthreewomenBrig.Gen.ofwhichtheIDFisparticularlyproud.

"Thepastdecadehasseenmajorprogressintheserviceofwomen",saysBrig.Gen.Kali,"thelandmarkamongthesechangeshasbeentheamendmenttotheNational

ServiceLaw following the appeal to theHighCourt ofAliceMiller in1995 for theopeningupoftheIDFFlightAcademytowomen.ThisAppealbroughtaboutchangesatanumberoflevels.Theprinciplechangeaddressestheaccessofwomento"GenderLimitedZones".Todaywomenmayserveextendedperiodsbeyondthecompulsory24monthsinavarietyofrolessuchasightsupervisor,ITrelatedjobs,etc.Furthermore,afullarrayofcombatroleshasopenedupaswell"sheexplains.

The second major change is the recently passed Reserve Law.

"Thisamendmentallowsawomanwhohasservedinacriticalroleduringhercompulsory

service,tocontinueservinginthatroleinreserves(acost-effectivemeasure)anduntilherserviceisterminated,normallyduetopregnancy.Furthermore,womenservinginvoluntaryroleswhichcallsforextendedcompulsoryserviceperiods,areobligedtoserveinthereservewithoutexemptionduetomarriage".

Thismayallsoundidyllic,however,theenforcementofwomen'sreservedutyhasnotsatisfactorilybeenimplemented."Wearefacedwithaculturalbarrier,notjustinthearmy,butinthesocietyingeneral.Weseemunabletoacceptthefactthatwomenserve in reserve.Weconstantly face complaintsfromwomen reserveofcerswithregardtodiscriminationfromemployersandacademia,whenconcerningthereleaseofwomenfordutyasagainsttheacceptance that reservesisanintegralpartofa

man'sroutine"saysBrig.Gen.Kali.

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The new Title

TheIDFisconsciouslyadaptingtheservicethereintoincorporatewomenintosuitableprofessionswithout having to apply signicant behavioral changes.Brig.Gen. KaliclariesthattheIDFisstillessentiallyamasculineenvironment.

"The new plansallow for the creationof a suitable environment for women toperform their

assignedtasks,withallthattheseentail.Forexample,theprovisionofsuitablefoot-wearand

protectiveclothing,appropriatetrainingprograms,andevenasfarashealth-consciousnutrition.Atypicalexampleofthechangeinmindsetistheneedtoredesignthecontrolstickinaparticular

defenseringsystem,mostlycurrentlyoperatedbywomen.Thepresentsystemdoesnottake

intoconsiderationthephysicallimitationsofwomenasagainstmen,eventhoughwomenhave

provedthebetteroperators,thusfreeingmorementoactivecombatroles"saystheBrig.Gen.

"sincethechangerequiredisprincipallytobebornoutofawareness,timeisoftheessence".

ThemajorityoftheprofessionsintheIDF(90%)arenowopentowomen.

Womenenjoyequalopportunitytoreachcommandroles,withoutdetractingfromthefactthatthe

IDFrstandforemostaddressesthedefenseofthenationanditscitizens.

Thebestevidenceoftheaforesaidchangesliesinthegrowingnumberofhighrankingwomencommanderswhoreachedtheirkeypositionsthroughprofessionalexcellence.Brig.Gen.Ayala

Hakim,headofITandBrig.Gen.OrnaBarbibay,ChiefofStaffManpowerarebestexamples.

Enhancement of Women and the elimination of Draft Dodging

"Considerableeffortisbeinginvestedthrougheducationinparticular,fortheminimizingofrifts

betweenthegendersaswellas the incorporationofwomen into theservice.Servingwomen

undergo enrichment courses under theauspices of the Chief EducationOfcer, and regular

panelsareheldbetweenservingfemaleconscriptsandwomenabouttoentertheservice.Thesepanelshavebecomethesourceofgrowingmotivationemanatingfromtheencounterbetween

conscriptedcombatwomensoldiersandnewcandidates.Theascentofwomeninkeyrolesis

havingitseffectallthewaydowntheranks,forthebenetoftheIDFingeneral."SaysBrig.Gen.

Kali."WearealsowitnessingariseinvolunteersforWomen'sOfcerAcademywithoutany

hesitationtoextendservice."

Inreplytoaquestiononthepossibilityofextendingwomen'scompulsoryservice,theBrig.

Gen. feelsthatservicedurationshouldbea functionoftheparticularprofessionand its cost

effectiveness,ratherthanageneralapplication.

Thesemilestoneswererstplacedwiththeattentiongiventotherecruitmentofreligiousandminoritywomen,alongwiththeeradicationoffraudulentdeclarationsonthegroundofreligious

observance. "8-10% of religious declarations are fraudulent" says Brig.Gen Kali. " through

systematicandintenselobbyingandcallingforactiveserviceamongthereligioussector,aswell

asovercomingbiases,wereachthevastmajorityoftheconstituencyandtherecruitmentgures

areonasteadyrise.Wedoneedtomakecertainthatthesewomen'sservicehassubstanceand

providesatruefeelingofcontribution."

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Another issue that has occupied the front of the stageaddresses sexualharassment in

theworkplace.TheAdvisorofWomen'sAffairsintheIDFistheauthoritytodealwiththis

phenomenonandhandlessoldierswhohavebeenvictimsofsuch.Thisincludeslegaland

medicalassistance."WeviewthisfromtheaspectofHumanDignity,whichisavalueinthe

IDF,andtheresponsibilityofcommandingofcers."TheCommanderisresponsibleforthe

soldierfrombothPhysicalandMentalaspects.

"We are witnessing a growing numberofwomen feeling sufciently condent to report

harassment,whichinturnassistsusatreducingthisphenomenon."

AnewprojectoftheAdvisoriscurrentlybeinglaunchedtoaddressthehandlingandsupport

insingularcrisiscases.TheprojecthandlescrisessuchasSexualHarassment,Domestic

Violenceandinvoluntarypregnancies.Psychologicalserviceswillbeavailableonsite.Any

investigationwillbecloselymonitoredbyastaffofmilitary.Theprojectisprimarilyaimedat

twobranchesofthemilitary,andwillhopefullyaddresstheentireIDFbytheendofthisyear.

TheAdvisorplays important rolesin theupkeepofwomen'shealth,women's rights.The

awarenessprogramsarepartofaglobaltrendandtheIDFhasprovedveryadvancedin

theseeldsincomparisontooutsidebodies.

"One does not have to be a man to command men"

TheIDFhasmadeaninvaluablecontributiontothestatusofwomenbothwithintheIDFand

inthesocietyingeneralaswitnessedbyBrig.Gen.Kaliduringheryearsin theservice.

WhilsttheIDFhassoughttoaddressitsownneedsprimarily,ithassucceededinpromoting

thestatusofwomenwithfarreachingimplicationsthroughoutIsraelisociety.

February 2011


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We will link all the divisions with the same Digital Army Programsystem

In light of the changing character of conict, we denitely need fast and lethalmaneuverability.ThisbecameclearduringtheSecondLebanonWarandOperationCastLead.Afastandlethalmaneuvershortenswartimewhilemaintainingsecuritymovingtheactiontotheenemysterritoryasfastaspossible,saidCommanderoftheIDFArmyHeadquartersMaj.Gen.SamiTurgeman,inarecentlypublished

interviewwiththemilitarymagazineIsraelDefense.

Maj.Gen.Turgemandiscussed recent changes inthe preparationof theGroundForces.WearegettingstrongerwithnewplatformsofMerkavaMkIVtanksand"Namer"[anIsraeli-madeheavyarmoredpersonnelcarrierbasedontheMerkavaMkIVtank]forinfantryforces.Wewillbeequippedwithanewsetof"Gil"missilesinordertoincreasetheaccuracyofourstrikesaswellaswithadditionalsetsoftheaccurate"Keshet"mortarsystem,notedMaj.Gen.Turgeman.

The Raz radar system signifcantly improves our ability to pinpoint the enemy

TheGroundForcesCommanderrevealedintheinterviewthat,Therstmulti-branch

radariscurrentlybecomingoperationalinordertofaceanenemywhoregularlyresrocketsatourhomefront.WeneedasystemtopinpointtheenemyslocationandtheRazradarisdesignedspecicallyforthatpurpose.Accordingtohim,theRazradarsystemisexceptionalinitsaccuracy,reliabilityandtheintegrationofthepictureintothecommandandcontrolsystem.TheRazradarsignicantlyimprovesourabilitytopinpointtheenemyontherocketlaunchinggroundsinordertodecidewhetherornottoact,explainedMaj.Gen.Turgeman.

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Maj.Gen.TurgemanalsodiscussedtheintelligencecapabilitiesoftheGroundForces,intermsofintelligencegatheringandoperatingunmannedaerialvehicles.Today,20teamsoftacticalUAVsalreadyoperatewithinthenewSkyRiderunit,explainedTurgeman.Healsonotedthatalreadytoday,thebattalioncommandertakesaSkyRidercrewatnight,signalstheenemyheseesandresdirectly.

The system doesnt know the art of commanding

Alongwithintroducingimprovementstointelligencegathering,Maj.Gen.TurgemanmadeitclearthattheGroundForcesareimplementingandimprovingthecommandandcontrolsystems.OurchallengeistomakesurethattheTsayad("Hunter")DigitalArmyProgram(DAP)worksforthemandnotheotherwayaround.ThisyearwewillintroduceaportablecommandandcontrolsystemtotheinfantryunitscalledShachar,CommanderoftheGroundForcesnoted.

Moreover,theGeneralcontinued,wewillnishlinkingallthedivisionsintheIDFwiththenewversionofDAP,inordertohavetheentirearmybuiltonthesamestructureandnothavedifferentbrigadesworkingontheirown.Iwantconsistencywhichwillcreatea

commonandprofessionallanguage.Alongwithstrengtheningthecommandandcontrolsystem,Maj.Gen.TurgemanstressesthattheGroundForcesarestrivingtoeducatecommandersandtrainthemtounderstandthattheDAPisheretohelpthemwithcontroloperations,butnottoreplacethem.Evenwiththesystem,acommanderwillhavetogetafeelforit.Thesystemdoesntknowtheartofcommanding,itonlymakesthecommandersmoreeffective.

Beyondthetechnologyequipmentprocesses,theGroundForcesCommandernotedthatthemostimportantelementisinvestmentbytheGroundForcesinthequalityofcommandandtraining.ThequalityofourcommandersistheagshipoftheGroundForces,andwewillinvesteveryeffortinordertotakeitasfaraspossible,notedMaj.Gen.Turgeman.Thisyearwesignicantlyincreasedthelevelofdifcultyoftrainingexercisesforthereserveunitsincludinglivereexercisesforentirereservebrigades,trainingwhichwehaven'tseeninthelastdecade.

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February 2011


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New Raz Radar System Revolutionizes Rocket Defense

ThenewRazradarsystemwasusedforthersttimebytheArtilleryCorps,aspartofitscomprehensiveimplementationbytheRangingUnitoftheIDFNorthernCommand.AmodelofthesystembeganitstrialperiodduringOperationCastLead,duringwhichitsuccessfullypinpointedrocketlaunchingsitesandthelocationswheretherocketswouldland.

Recently,thesystemcompleteda comprehensiveroundoftrialsinsouthernIsrael,withtheradarsystemprovingtoevenmoreefcientandaccurate,andofmoreoperationalease,than

wasexpected.Withintheframeworkofthesetrials,ajointtestwasconductedwiththeIronDomedefensiveinterceptionsystemoftheIsraeliAirForce,andstrongcompatibilitybetweenthetwosystemswasdisplayed.

Thissystemhasthecapabilitiestotrackairplanesanddrones,whichwillprovidecomprehensivedefenseagainstlongandshortrangethreats,anofcialfromGOCHeadquarterssaid.TheRazradar,whichwillreplacetheNuriyotsystemcurrentlybeingused,isabletoidentifyrocketlaunches,determinetheirthreatlevelaccordingtotheammunitionred,anditcanthencalculatetheestimatedpathwayoftherockets,withalaunchingrangeof150kilometers.

Additionally,theradarcancopewithnumerouslaunchessimultaneously.TheRazthensendstheacquiredinformationtocommandandcontrolsystemsofGOCHeadquartersandtheIAF.Thus, the IDF wouldbeable toswiftlyacquire precise informationabout the rockets,andeffectivelyhalttheattacks.

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The integration of Women in the IDF

Fromthedaysofundergroundresistancetotoday'smodernIDF,theroleofTheWomanhasprovenanunfathomablesourceofinspiration.

Historical Background from the Resistance movements to combat pilots

Withtheintroductionofcompulsorymilitaryserviceforwomen,wehaveraisedthestatusofwomeninIsraeltothehighestlevelofequalityTheIsraeliwomanbearsthehighestofnationalresponsibilitiesthatoftheStatessecurity,handinhandwiththeservingmen

(DavidBenGurionIsraels1stPMaddressingtheclosingceremonyoftheWomenOfcersCourse,Sarafend,March1951,-UnityandUniquenessp.156)

Wellbeforethedeclarationofnationhood,womenassumedaleadingroleinthedefenseofthelandaswellasthewareffort.WomenoftenperformedkeytasksinthedevelopmentoftheJewishDefensemechanisminmandatoryPalestine,namely

thelandofIsrael.ManiaShochatwasoneofthefoundersofandkeyplayersintheHashomermovement,aswellasSarahAronson,oneoftheheadsoftheNiliorganization.

Women were part and parcel in the warring organizations, the Hagannah, theEtzelandtheLehitheoccupiedawidespectrumofroles,includingoperativecombatroles(combat,surveillanceandsabotage),rolesinservicesandassistance,(communications,Medicalcorps,driversandlogistics),trainingandinstructionroles,andevencommandingroles.Womenmadeup20%oftheforce.

With the establishment of the Palmach in May 1941, women joined the new

organization as well. The recruitment of women to the Palmach grew steadilyandreachedapeakin1944whenwomenmadeuponethirdoftheforcesinthePalmach.WomenPalmachmembersunderwentsimilartrainingdrillsasmen.Theywereassignedtoavarietyofunitsandparticipatedinactivecombat(forexamplethebombingofbridges),andinparticularinthestruggleoftheIllegalImmigrationaskingtoentertheland.

During the 1948 War of Independence, women served in most roles, includingcommandingrolesonthefrontandunderre.WiththeadventofIsraelasanation,thetrendchangedindistancingwomenfromcombatroles.

WiththeadventoftheIDFin1948,theWomensCorpswassetup,initiallyheadedbywomenwhoserved intheBritishArmy.TheWomensCorpsDecreecallsforwomentoserveinprotectingoutlyingsettlementsandvillages,inprofessionalroles,andadministration,aswellasassistanceroles,butNOTcombatroles.

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Withthepassingofthe1952NationalServiceLaw,3denedrolecategoriesandprofessionswerenominatedasforbiddentowomen;combatroles(toavoidwomenbecomingPOWs).Alsoforbiddenwereroleswhereserviceconditionswouldnotbesuitableforwomen,aswellasrolesrequiringextremephysicalendurance..

Asthe1973YomKippurWardrewtoaclose,whenthearmyneededtoreplenishitsmanpower,womenwerebeingdirectedtonewassignments,particularlyinInstructionandintheField.Howevertherewasstillarefrainingfromassigningthemtocombatroles.Therationalebehindthiswasthattherecruitingofwomenintheaforesaidroles,allowedtoassignmentotheCombatZone.

WiththeIDFsinitiativeinopeningnewpositionstobeoccupiedbywomen,changesintherelationtowomengenerally,tookplaceduringthe1980s.Womenassumedpositions in the various combat disciplines as Infantry Instructors, ArmouredCorpsInstructorsandSharpShooting(Sniper)Instruction.WomenalsoassumedcommandingrolessuchasCompanycommandersinBasicTrainingformationforsoldiersintendedforhomefrontservice,orInstructorsofsoldiersunderdetention.Womenalsoassumedpositionsin technicalrolesasElectriciansandMechanics.Finallyin1987,legislationwaspassedwherebytherewouldbenolongerspeciccallsforprofessionsassignedtoaparticulargender,thuseliminatingthelimitationsofassigningwomentospecicpositions.

ThechangesmadeintheIDFarepartofalong-termprocesstoimprovetheintegrationofwomenintothemilitary.Today,morethan90%ofallrolesareopentowomen,andtheymakeup34%ofallcompulsoryservicesoldiers.Womencomprise41.7%ofmandatoryserviceofcers,21%ofcareerofcersand12%ofNCOs.

Oneofthelandmarkeventsinthisprocess,wastheappealtotheHighCourtbyAliceMillerin1994.ThisappeallaythegroundforasubstantialchangeinthenatureofwomensserviceintheIDF.SincethisappealandthesubsequentopeningupoftheFlightAcademytowomen,theyhaveachievedimpressivegoalswithinthiscourse.ManywomenhavebeenadmittedtotheFlightAcademy,andtodate21womencadetshavesuccessfullyconcludedthecourse.OneofthesepresentlyservesasaSquadronDeputyCommander.

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RonnyZukermanbecametheIAFsrstcombatpilot,andtodaywomenserveascombatpilots,helicopterpilots,combatnavigatorsandahostofotherprestigiouspositions.

AdditionalmilitaryroleshavebeenopeneduptowomenfollowingaHighCourtrulingin1995,suchasNavalOfcers,KarakalBrigadecombatants,artilleryandaircraftdetectioncombatants,ABCCombatantswithintheEngineeringCorpsaswelltheMilitaryPolice.

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February 2011


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Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz appointed as IDF's 20th Chief of GeneralStaff

PrimeMinisterBenjaminNetanyahupraised the incoming Chief of Staffandimploredhimto"ProtecttheIDF,protect the troops and they willprotect us."And to [outgoingChief

of Staff] Ashkenazi, "Thank you forallthatyouhavedonetoensurethelasting safety of the country. Youworked to strengthen the IDF, theprofessionalism, its achievements,andthehighstandardoftraining.Afterall,youwerealwaysasoldier."

TotheincomingChiefofStaff,thePMsaidthat"heistakingthecommandoftheIDF.YouknowtheIDFwellanditknowsyou,youhaveallthenecessaryskillstosucceed,

andyouwillndyourownpathwhichwillintegrateyourquietdetermination,andreassuringcalmness.StabilityisimportanttodayandastherecentshakeupsintheArabworldremindusthatwearelivingintumultuoustimes.

Netanyahucontinued"wearepreparingforanyandallsituations,anditistheIDFthatgivesussolaceinthefactthatourexistencehereisagiven,anditprovidesuswithasteppingstonetoconvinceourneighborstomakepeace."

DefenseMinisterEhudBarakinbiddingfarewelltoLt.Gen.Ashkenazi,thankedhimforhiscontributiontotheIDFandsecurityoftheStateofIsrael.

TurningtotheincomingChiefofStaff,"Iwouldliketowishyou,Benny,thatyou'll

knowtoleadtheIDFthroughitsnewchallenges."TheoutgoingChiefofStaffAshkenazisaidduringtheceremonythatheis leavinghispositionknowingthathedideverything inhispowerto succeedand tomovethemilitary forward.Wehavefortiedthecountry'sdefensiveshield,whichmanybelievedtohavebeenweakened."Tohissuccessorhesaid:"Yourabilitieswillallowyoutobringthesoldierswithyou,wehavefaithinyougoodluck."

Lt.Gen.Gantzsaid"ItakewithgreathonorthecommandoftheIDF,itisknownthatalongwithourresilience,thesecuritychallengesarestillinexistence.TheIDFwilladapt,strengthen,andpreparetomeetthenewchallenges."

"Wehavegreatchallengesaheadofus,continuedterroractivityandtheincreasingpotentialforwar,andasacountryworkingforpeace,wemustmaintainastrong,preparedandreadyforanyandallmissions."

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"I told the Chief of Staff: Now the real war begins"

The annual conference of the Institute for NationalSecurityStudies(INSS)tookplaceonTuesday(Feb.1)discussingthethemeof"Securityinthe21stCentury:MoldingaNationalSecurityPolicy." IDFChiefMilitaryAdvocateGeneral,Maj.Gen.AvichaiMandelblit,spokeat the conference about the legal and constitutional

perspectivesinshapingnationalsecuritypolicies.

Maj.Gen.Mandelblitmentionedthatthe"mostsignicantandgrowingaspectI'vebeenexposedtoduringthepastfewyears,isthatwehavefoundourselves(Israel)inthecenter ofanextremelysophisticatedglobalworld-widelegalcampaign,runforthesolepurposeoftrulyinuencingthesecuritystatusoftheStateofIsrael,andmaybeevenitsexistence."

TheMilitaryAdvocateGeneralruledthatdealingwiththisnew front requires complicatedcopingmethods. "Thesecurityestablishmentisdealingwithalegalcampaigninan international arena, and today the issueathand isdistinguishingmilitary law andhumanrightslaw,forexampletheGoldstonereport.We'vebeendiscussingforyearsthatofamilitaryfrontservingapoliticalpurpose,andinthelastfewyearstwomoreessentialfrontswereadded themediafrontandthe legalfront.WiththecompletionofOperationCastLead,ItoldtheChiefoftheGeneralStaffnowtherealwarbegins.Ididnoteventhinkhowdifcultthisconictwasgoingtobe,"saidtheMilitaryAdvocateGeneral.

Ignored the terror preceding Operation Cast Lead

According to Maj. Gen. Mandelblit, the method for taking action against Israel duringOperationCastLeadwastodoubtthelegitimacyofusingcertainforce,forexample,theuseofphosphorusandthroughthat,todoubtthelegitimacyoftheIDFingeneral."TheyquestionhowwegottotheOperation,andwhywestartedghting,butnobodyremembersthateightyearsagorocketswereredatus.ThismayleadtothedangerouscycleofquestioningthelegitimacyoftheexistenceoftheStateofIsraelbythewayitiscurrentlybeingperceived.ThisaffectstheworldandespeciallytheWesternworld.TheconictsofWorldWarIdontexist anymore.Today's conictsare different and introduce adifcult challenge inmany

respects,"saystheMilitaryAdvocateGeneral.

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Maj.Gen.Mandelblitaddsthat,"Terrororganizationstakeadvantageofourcommitmenttotheinternationalcourtinordertobenet.Legalbodiesgrewimmenselyinpowerduringthepastfewyears,andthisisthereality."Accordingtohim,reportsfromhumanrightsorganizationsarebecomingmorerelevant,withthemostsignicantexamplebeingtheGoldstoneReport."Attheendoftheday,IneedtoprovidethelegaltoolstotheIDFcommanderinordertowinthewar,"notestheMilitaryAdvocateGeneral.

Explaining Ourselves Legally

RegardingtheGoldstoneReport,Maj.Gen.Mandelblitstatesthatinhisopinion,"Itwasverysneaky,ittookawhiletounderstand."Accordingtohim,"Mostofthereportrecountedevents.TheconclusiondrawnfromtheGoldstoneReport,converselytootherreports,wasthatthegoaloftheseniordefenseleadershipwasapolicyintendedtopunish,humiliate,instillterroramongciviliansinGaza,inordertocreatedeterrenceinJudeaandSamarianottolearnfromGazatoelectHamas."

TheMilitaryAdvocateGeneralconcludedthat,"Wemustworkonexplainingourselveslegally.Wemustexplainthatweareinasituationidenticaltothatofourallies.Wemustrevealthetruthbehindthesereports;showthattheyareindirectandfalse.Weareworkingtodaytoincrease

theimportanceofthemilitarylegalsystem."

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Apples to Syria

StartingTuesday(Feb.15),IsraelapplesgrownontheIsraeliGolanHeightsaretobeexportedtoSyriaaspartofyearlyhumanitariangestures.

Theappleswillbetransportedviathe"Quneitra"crossing,normallyusedforthecrossingof

UnitedNationspersonnel,lastingseveralweeks.IRCrepresentativesinIsraelandDamascuswillcoordinate theexportof theproduce, incooperationwithandundersupervisionofUNofcialsandtheIDF.TheIDFisresponsibleforescortingandsecuringthecrossingoftrucksovertheborderwithSyria..

30trucks,carrying12,000tonsofappleswillcrossintoSyriadailyduringthecomingweeks.2011marksthesixthconsecutiveyearinwhichIsrael-grownapplesareexportedtoSyria.

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February 2011

Eng Newsletter - February 2011

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