The Israel Defense Forces is one of the most capable and technological armies in the world. It is among the world leaders in terms of equipment with electronic warfare, high-precision weapons and control systems.
The number of military personnel is over 170,000, and the military reserve is about 500,000.
With a population of 9 million, this is one of the highest military figures per 1,000 people in the world. With such an army reserve, Israel can effectively oppose not only one of the neighboring countries, but also their military coalitions. In fact, it is a well-armed militia under the motto “the people build the army, and the army builds the people.” Everyone serves in the army.
Several principles of the Israel Defense Forces are the basis of the socio-cultural development of Israeli society and deserve to be implemented in Ukrainian society:
• the sense of nationalism of the army is reinforced by the conscription of men and women, preference is given to ethnic Israelis to ensure high morale of the army;
• the army performs not only defensive functions, but also educates physically and psychologically healthy, intelligent patriots of the country through the use of the ideological paradigm of the existence of the State of Israel;
• a high moral level of interpersonal relations forms a high respect for the armed forces and increases the motivation of conscripts: complete absence of hazing in the army and criminal liability for it;
• strict liability for evading military service with criminal liability of up to 5 years in prison;
• selection of conscripts according to personal, mental, physical and mental criteria: psychological tests, personal interview with a military psychologist, assessment of the level of education;
• highly qualified reserve: servicemen in the reserve up to 40-49 years old, women: up to 38 years, officers: up to 42 years old;
• reimbursement to employers for 45-day military duty;
• the conversion of military technologies and knowledge into the development of innovations in the civilian sphere contributes to the development of the national economy: Israel is in the top ten arms exporters;
• an electronic control system for all material resources and logistics to ensure military consumers;
• the maximum military-patriotic training of conscripts, personnel officers and reservists, as well as the principle of training the military to conduct anti-terrorist operations in urban areas.
• a developed material and technical training base with various simulators for training tankers, gunners, pilots, and infantrymen;
• an important element of the system of defense and combating terrorism is the Special Operations Forces and various types of intelligence activities.
Israel’s national security doctrine is based on deterrence, early warning, deterrence, and defense through preventive weakening of the adversary and reduction of its capabilities. The country is increasing its regional status through cooperation with moderate forces and strategic cooperation with the US and other key countries.
Consequently, we may state that Ukraine and Israel have common challenges regarding the security of people and the protection of sovereignty. We are surrounded by aggressive neighbors with superior numbers of troops and a lifelong desire to destroy our statehood and seize territories. Therefore, the experience and principles of building the Israel Defense Forces are useful for the further protection of Ukraine from the military-political aggression of russia and its accomplices on our borders.
