The IDF, or, Israel Defense Forces, is the national military force of the State of Israel and consists of the Israeli Ground Force, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy.
The IDF is headed by the Chief of Staff, who holds the rank of Lieutenant General and is the only active officer who does so. The current chief of staff is Herzi Halevi.
The IDF was formally established in May 1948 after the creation of the Jewish State, and it encompassed the three paramilitary groups that existed prior to the state - the Hagana, the Irgun, and the Stern Gang (Lehi).
Since the formation of the IDF, it has participated in six major wars including the War of Independence, the Six Day War, the Sinai War, the Yom Kippur War, and the first and second Lebanon Wars. Other operations include Operation Cast Lead, Operation Pillar of Defense, Operation Protective Edge, Operation Guardian of the Walls, and Operation Swords of Iron.
Conscription to the IDF is mandatory for both men and women over the age of 18, with women in non-combat positions serving for two years, and women in combat positions, and men, regardless of position, have a mandatory service of two years and eight months.
In addition to regular military duties and activities, the IDF responds to national emergencies or crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and provides personnel to carry out work alongside the civilian population.
UNGA expected to upgrade Palestinian status • Mount Meron Lag Ba'Omer pilgrimage cancelled • Eden Golan advances to Eurovision Final
The application, "Memory Paths," allows individuals to navigate to graves in military cemeteries, giving users information about the fallen buried there.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people head to Mount Meron to mark Lag Ba'Omer.
On Sunday evening, May 12, The Jerusalem Post, the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem, and the IDFWO will hold a ceremony marking Remembrance Day for members of Israel’s English-speaking community.
The report showed that of the 760 soldiers who lost their lives this year, 711 were killed since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
The working meeting was the first of its kind to be held, the ministry said, adding that it occurred symbolically during the week of Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Guided by intelligence information, Israel Air Force jets struck some 25 terror targets, among which were observation posts, military buildings, tunnels, and sniper posts.
Defense sources say final invasion decisions will be made in the coming days; Kerem Shalom Crossing's status is unclear.
Earlier in the day, the IAF struck 20 Hezbollah targets, which included ammunition depots and terror infrastructure, in a span of a few minutes in southern Lebanon.
Ch.-Insp. Yitav Halevi was hospitalized at the Rabin Medical Center for four days before his death.
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