IDF

The Israel Defense Forces, commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal (צה״ל‎), are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force, and navy. An order from Defense Minister David Ben-Gurion on May 26, 1948 officially set up the Israel Defense Forces. This happened only a few days after the state was founded.

For I will gather all the nations to Yerushalayim for war: The city shall be captured, the houses plundered, and the women violated; and a part of the city shall go into exile. But the rest of the population shall not be uprooted from the city. Zechariah 14:2

The IDF has served in all of Israel’s major military operations—some including the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, 1956 Sinai War, 1967 Six-Day War, 1973 Yom Kippur War, 1976 Operation Entebbe, 1982 Lebanon War and 2006 Lebanon War.

The number of wars and border conflicts in which the IDF has been involved in its short history makes it one of the most battle-trained armed forces in the world.

Conscription to the force is mandatory for all Israeli citizens, male and female, who have reached the age of 18.

The IDF is one of Israeli society’s most prominent institutions, influencing the country’s economy, culture and political scene. It uses several technologies developed in Israel, many of them made specifically to match the IDF’s needs, such as the Iron Dome missile defense system specially designed to protect against a range of incoming short-range threats. 

For Your enemies rage, Your foes assert themselves. They plot craftily against Your people, take counsel against Your treasured ones. They say, “Let us wipe them out as a nation; Yisrael‘s name will be mentioned no more.” Psalms 83:3-5