By Dr. Douglas F. Levesque, Founder of The Levesque Institute
“So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.” Ezekiel 37:10
The promises God made regarding a miraculous rebirth of Israel as a nation also have specific and implied promises of an equally amazing army. An army with muscle. An army on the move. An army with a divine mandate. The modern Israeli Defense Force or IDF is an impressive military force by any standards, winning every conventional battle since its inception. Ezekiel’s army has risen.
The IDF is a comprehensive organization. It costs 10% of total national GDP not including American funding. It is the only military in the world that has obligatory service for both men and women. It has minimal separation of services, meaning it includes and integrates army, navy and aviation units. In national emergency it takes precedent over every other branch of government, and Israel is almost always in a state of emergency.
Most of Israel’s past political leaders have had major roles in the IDF. Dayan, Begin, Rabin, Sharon and Barak were all military men. The nation’s civilian technical prowess comes from the training of scientists, engineers, software and robotic technicians in the service of military needs. Though small in numbers, the IDF retains technological superiority of the air, sea, land and space in order to maximize the use of force when necessary.
Because the land mass of Israel is so small and vulnerable it’s military and political doctrine combine to justify the concept of a “pre-emptive strike”. It’s alliances with America also give it an ‘aura’ of teeth that can bite with immunity. In case of a catastrophic attack, the well known ‘Samson Doctrine’ would ensure a nuclear or equally devastating response, bringing the house down upon Israel’s enemies.
Army Profile:
40,000 professional officers
125,000 full time soldiers
600,000 part time reservists
4000 “Merkava” (Chariot) Main Battle Tanks
11,000 Armored Vehicles
Navy Profile:
14,000 full time sailors
300 full time commandos
3 “Tekumah” (Revival) submarines
3 Missile Corvettes
50 patrol & attack boats
2 amphibious landers
Air Force Profile:
25,000 full time airmen
35,000 part time reservists
100 F15i “Ra’am” (Thunder) Fighter aircraft
320 F16 Fighter/bomber aircraft
120 attack helicopters
Technology Profile:
Ofek-6 Surveillance/communication Satellite
1500 “Mossad” (the Institution) Intelligence agents
200 Nuclear warheads
Jericho 2 missile (2500 mile range)
First missile stopping Laser weapon
War Fighting Profile:
1948-49 War of Independence
1956 Sinai War
1967 Six Day War
1973 Yom Kippur War
1978 First Lebanese Incursion
1981 Iraq nuclear reactor strike
1982-2000 South Lebanon Occupation
1987-93 Palestinian uprising
1991 Iraq Scud attacks
2000-05 Al-Aqsa uprising
2006 Second Lebanese Incursion
While Israel has not officially acknowledged it’s possession of nuclear weapons, it is generally held that they do possess these weapons. It is to be understood therefore, that an Iranian nuclear strike against Israel would initiate the very first nuclear retaliation or exchange. Such a truly “nuclear war” is unimaginable for the IDF prompting a pre-emptive strategy. Although the U.S. has not given a green light for such action, the IDF has shown it is ready to go it alone if necessary. However, the ultimate hope for Israel’s defense cannot be in the IDF, but in the builder of Ezekiel’s army.
“And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.” -Ezekiel 37:14
*for further information go online to BibleNation.org to read “Wielding the Nuclear Sword” from the October 2007 edition of the magazine.