Israeli Security Forces
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Israeli Security Forces is an ambiguous term given to a group of government organizations which are charged with the preservation of the nation and people of Israel. The organizations are independent but cooperate with each other. The list includes military, government agencies, law enforcement organizations and public officials as well as voluntary first aid organization, operated by civilians, and assisted by the state of Israel.
Israeli citizens upon reaching age 18 are required to serve three years if they are male, and two years if they are females, in the military service. Religious girls often do an alternative service (Sheirut Leumi)[citation needed]. Many religious boys enter the Hesder program, allowing them to continue in their Torah studies - serving 1 1/2 years in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on active duty, and learning for 2 1/2 years in a yeshiva[citation needed]. Others study at a pre-army Mechina, delaying their service by one year. Israeli Arabs are not required to serve in the military, though Israeli Druze and Circassian males are drafted, and some groups of Bedouins and other Arabs also volunteer for service.
The Israeli military is thought by some to be nuclear capable, and to have up to 400 nuclear warheads. (Which, if true, would make Israel's nuclear arsenal 4th in the world.) The questionable nature of the information supporting or denying the true nuclear capabilities of Israel make it the subject of debate and speculation. As of late, no Israeli officials have officially confirmed or denied the existence of an Israeli nuclear arsenal.[citation needed]
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[edit] Israel Police
A civilian force. As with most other police forces in the world, their duties include crime fighting, traffic control and maintaining public safety.
- Border Police ("MAGAV"): the combat arm of the Israeli Police. Border Police troops are trained by the IDF in high infantry level but serve under the police. They are deployed in the West Bank and in the countryside. They are also deployed on the borders of Israel.
- Yamam (Special Police Unit) and Yassam (Special Patrol Unit): elite counter terrorism units.
- Civil Guard: a volunteer organization of citizens which assists in daily police work. Members are trained to provide the initial response to a security situation until the police arrive. Civil Guard volunteers are armed with M4 Carbine and personal handguns. The Civil Guard also have special units, but their members require additional training and a higher level of commitment.
[edit] Intelligence Community
- Shabak (Israel Internal Security Service): Shabak's duties are to protect ministers and high public officials (such as the president or the head of police), to prevent violent insurrection, to gather intelligence, and to pinpoint terrorist cells and prevent them from causing damage. Shin-Bet activities are classified.
- Mossad. Ha-Mossad le-Modiin ule-Tafkidim Meyuhadim (Hebrew: המוסד למודיעין ולתפקידים מיוחדים, "The Institute for Intelligence and for Special Tasks"): the Mossad is an Israeli intelligence agency. It is responsible for intelligence collection, covert action (including paramilitary activities and assassinations) and counter-terrorism. Its focus is on Arab nations and organizations throughout the world.
- Directorate of Military Intelligence (Aman): Aman collects information for the IDF.
[edit] Emergency services
- Magen David Adom: Israeli first aid organization responsible for emergency medical, disaster, ambulance and blood bank services. The name means "Red Star of David."
- Firefighting And Rescue Service: Israeli Fire fighting. They are responsible for extinguishing fires and extracting people trapped in structures (ranging from stuck elevators to collapsed buildings).
- Home Front Command: part of the IDF. A military rescue team which handles large-scale civilian disasters such as earthquakes, collapsed buildings and missile attacks on cities.
- ZAKA - Hessed Shel Emet ("True Grace"): a volunteer organization mostly comprised of Haredi Jews who assume the duty of collecting human remains following a disaster, to provide those remains a proper Jewish burial. ZAKA has gained much positive publicity for its efforts in handling remains of victims of suicide bombings. Their founder, Yehuda Meshi Zahav, was honored by being asked to light a beacon during the celebration of Israel's Independence Day. In addition to recovering body parts, ZAKA also provides first aid services and assists in searching for missing people.
- Unit 669: the Israeli Air Force heliborne medevac extraction unit.
- Local Rescue teams on each of the Galilee, the Golan Heights and the Negev.
[edit] Other Organizations
- Israel Prison Service: the Israel Prison Service is responsible for guarding Israeli prisons and making sure that the prisoners do not escape. The Israel Prison Service elite unit is called "Metzada" and is specialized for hostage situations inside prisons.
- Knesset Guard: An organization that secure the Israeli parliament, but also has a ceremonial role. The Serjeant-at-Arms ("katzin ha-Knesset") is the commander of the Knesset Guard.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Israeli Weapons (unofficial website)
- isayeret.com - Israeli Special Forces Database (pay site for non-Israeli visitors)
- Israeli Intelligence Legacy Center (Hebrew)
- Shin Bet (FAS)
