The Role of Israel’s Ground Forces in Israel’s Wars

Since its declaration of independence, Israel has experienced constant low-intensity warfare punctuated by brief periods of medium to high-intensity warfare. Politically and strategically, these variations in the intensity of fighting are connected and the results of one have often led directly to the other. Israeli ground forces have borne the brunt of this fighting. This chapter provides a synopsis of the evolution of those forces, from Israel’s war for independence until today. The chapter includes five sections, of which the first three provide a background on the origins of the Israeli ground forces, Israel’s threat perceptions, and the role of the ground forces in its strategy for dealing with those threats. The core of the chapter will trace the changing doctrines and organization as they were adapted to the acquisition of new capabilities, lessons derived from combat, and the changing political and strategic situation within which they fought.