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Israel
THE ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES
Command Structure
The IDF had no commander in chief designated as such. The Basic
Law: The Army, 1976, vested command in the government. In fact,
the minister of defense acted as the highest authority over the
IDF and was its link to civilian political authorities. The minister
of defense was a civilian (although usually a retired military
officer). The cabinet was required to give prior approval to major
military policies and operations. Under normal circumstances,
the standing Foreign Affairs and Security Committee of the cabinet
exercised this responsibility. The invasion of Lebanon in 1982
demonstrated, however, that a domineering minister of defense
could, by misleading the cabinet or withholding information, act
contrary to the government's wishes. Periodic reports on the status
of the military were provided to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset,
through its Foreign Affairs and National Security Committee and
on budgetary matters through the Finance Committee.
The highest ranking IDF officer, the only officer to hold the
rank of lieutenant general, was the chief of staff, who was chairman
of the general staff and was responsible to the minister of defense.
The general staff was in charge of "professional" matters, such
as organization, training, and the planning and execution of military
operations. The chief of staff in late 1988, Lieutenant General
Dan Shomron, had held the position since April 1987. He was appointed
by the minister of defense for a term that was nominally three
years but that could be shortened or extended. Within the Ministry
of Defense, the senior civilian officer beneath the minister was
the director general, who supervised defense production, infrastructure,
the budget, and other administrative and technical matters. As
the supreme commander of the IDF, however, the minister of defense
could intervene in all IDF matters.
The general staff had as its members the chief of general staff
branch (operations), the chiefs of manpower, logistics, and intelligence;
the three area commanders; and the commanding officers of the
air force, navy, and ground corps. The ground corps commander
was responsible for training, doctrine, and development of equipment
for the four combat corps of paratroop/infantry, armor, artillery,
and engineers. Operational control of the ground forces went through
a separate chain of command from the chief of staff directly to
the three area commanders--Northern (forces facing Syria and Lebanon);
Central (forces facing Jordan); and Southern (forces facing Egypt)--who
in turn exercised command over divisions and brigades.
The navy and air force were not, nor had ever been, designated
as separate services. Officially known as the Sea Corps (Hel Yam)
and the Air Corps (Hel Avir), the navy and air force, however,
enjoyed more autonomy within the IDF structure than their official
designations would suggest. Their commanders had the status of
senior advisers to the chief of staff. Along with the ground force
area commanders, the commanders of the air force and navy held
two-star rank.
Data as of December 1988
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