IDF to update intelligence reservists monthly

Reservists to be called up once a month for intel briefings.

By YAAKOV KATZ
In an effort to be better prepared for a future war, following the second Lebanon war, the IDF Military Intelligence has decided to call up the branch's reservists for monthly intelligence updates which will keep them "in the loop" and enable to them to immediately enlist if need be, The Jerusalem Post has learned. According to the plan, the brainchild of Chief Intelligence Officer Brig.-Gen. Yuval Halamish and launched a few months ago as one of MI's first lessons since the war, reservists will be called up for one day of duty on a monthly basis during which they will hear lectures from senior officers on the latest intelligence gathered by Israel on its enemies. One reservist, who during his military service served in MI's research department and worked on the "Syrian Desk", said that the initiative was meant to enable reservists to immediately enlist during a time of war and serve in their old units. During the war, MI was overwhelmed with its missions and called up reservists for service. The reservists however were not effective since they needed to spend most of their time catching up on the intelligence information gathered since they had completed their mandatory military service. Another conclusion following the war was announced last week by Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz who said that the 2007 defense budget would include a major increase for MI with an emphasis on field intelligence. Defense officials and politicians accused MI of failing to predict the outbreak of violence this past summer and for failing to adequately penetrate the Hizbullah command, as was demonstrated by the IDF's failure to assassinate any of the guerrilla group's top leaders or destroy its main nerve centers. The IDF Spokesperson's Office released a statement: "Military Intelligence, as part of its efforts to be competent and prepared, invites reservists for training sessions with the aim of keeping them updated so they can perform their duties during a time of emergency."