Israel's military roots in its national identity
According to the book The Culture of Combat in Israel by Gil Mihaely, the Israeli nation is fundamentally shaped by its military. The culture of combat has influenced the character and imagination of Israeli society and continues to affect its internal tensions and divisions.Early repression of Jewish defense forces
In the night of October 4 to 5, 1939, British authorities in Palestine arrested 43 members of the Haganah, the Jewish defense force. The Jewish community in Palestine, known as the Yishuv, had been facing attacks and even pogroms from Arab neighbors, with tensions reaching a peak in the 1936 Arab revolt.Allied collaboration and military training
On February 17, 1941, the Haganah detainees were released and trained to work with the SOE, a British organization created to support resistance movements. One of them, Moshe Dayan, was injured during an Allied operation in Syria and Lebanon in 1941. Dayan later became a key military and political figure in Israel.Zionist strategy and military involvement
Between 1939 and 1945, around 30,000 people from the Yishuv served in Allied forces. This large-scale involvement was part of a strategic plan by Zionist leaders to gain military training and experience, which they saw as essential for future statehood.Military as the core of Israeli identity
Mihaely contrasts the French model of state-building with Israel’s, where the military is central to national identity. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) hold a prominent place in the nation’s narrative, symbolizing a transformation from victims of persecution to a powerful force.Unlikely origins of the IDF
The book highlights the improbable journey of the IDF, from a peasant militia to a modern military. This transformation involved many risks, failures, and unconventional strategies, including the 1956 Suez campaign where Ariel Sharon defied orders and caused a diplomatic crisis.Influence of an English Zionist
Captain Orde Charles Wingate, an English evangelical and Zionist, played a significant role in shaping Israeli military tactics. He introduced concepts like nighttime mobility and ambushes, which became central to Israeli military doctrine. Sharon later praised his influence on Israeli military thinking.Military culture shaped by diverse influences
Mihaely explains that the Israeli military spirit draws from various sources, including the egalitarian traditions of Jewish shtetls and the revolutionary ideals of the Red Army. These influences helped shape the collective mindset of the Israeli military.Military as a site of societal divisions
From the beginning, the Israeli military has reflected the country's internal divisions. Different interpretations of Zionism—such as the universalist vision of Ben Gourion versus the religious messianism of Jabotinsky—have shaped contrasting views on warfare and ethics.Shifting political and military ideologies
Since the 1977 Labour Party defeat, liberal ideas have gradually lost influence to a more messianic right wing. This shift has affected the military, where elite units are increasingly associated with right-wing ideologies. After recent events, many Israelis feel that survival requires a more aggressive stance, though the moral cost remains a challenge.
