Ex-security chiefs cast doubt on Iran strategy

Comments about Iran made by former Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin last Friday have shaken up the Israeli political establishment.

In recent months, a number of security officials have expressed doubts in the ability of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Ehud Barak to lead Israel in any potential military showdown with Iran.

Mr Diskin said he had no trust in them, calling th

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IDF soldiers come to aid of Palestinian baby

Israeli soldiers have rescued a 12-day old Palestinian baby in a potentially life-threatening condition.

The infant's panicked mother took her to an IDF post in the Binyamin region of the West Bank on Sunday evening, concerned by the girl's poor breathing.

"She was suffering from severe breathing difficulty and was simultaneously vomiting," said battalion doctor, Captain Michael Findler.

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Gilad Shalit formally released from IDF service

Gilad Shalit has been formally released from IDF service.

The former soldier was freed in October after more than five years as a prisoner of terrorist group Hamas.

He was captured as a 19 year old during his mandatory army service, in a raid at the Gaza border.

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Israeli officer suspended over protest violence

The Israeli president and prime minister have publicly condemned an officer who was filmed striking an unarmed protester.

The senior officer has been suspended by the Israeli military pending an investigation. Lt. Col. Shalom Eisner was captured on film hitting with his rifle a Danish activist who was demonstrating against Israeli government policies in the West Bank.

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April Fools Day joke drama for Israeli Navy

The Israeli military is investigating after an April Fools Day joke went awry.

Israeli Navy Major General Ram Rothberg decided to wind his officers up on Sunday by asking them to prepare for a ten day mission. His intention was to tell them at the last minute that a drill, which he said would be conducted in the Mediterranean with the Italian navy, was not actually going to go ahead.

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Journalists 'linked with IDF'

Claims by Libyan militia linking two captive British journalists to the Israeli Defence Forces is "media manipulation", say human rights experts.

Faraj Swehli, commander of the Libyan militia, said the two Press TV journalists detained in Misrata were being held for "possible espionage" after IDF equipment was apparently found in the men's belonging.

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Anger at IDF ruling

The Charedi leadership is refusing to consider any form of compromise over a court ruling that ended the exemption of yeshivah students from IDF service.

Following the ruling of the High Court last week that the exemption was unconstitutional, rabbis and strictly-Orthodox politicians have laid down a clear marker that they are not prepared to allow their students to join the IDF.

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Resistance fighter who inspired Defiance meets Israeli soldiers

A Holocaust hero whose resistance efforts were immortalised in the film Defiance has praised the IDF for its exemplary conduct.

Aharon Bielski is the youngest of the four brothers who led a resistance effort against the Nazis in the forests of modern-day Belarus between 1942 and 1944.

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Budget cuts put IDF 'in crisis mode'

Israel's generals have warned the government that if the IDF does not receive an urgent supplement to its budget, it will be forced to ground part of the air force, cancel regular exercises and freeze most of its procurement plans.

In a blatant media campaign, the IDF's top brass leaked this week that, due to defence projects forced upon it by the government, the army has a NIS 3.6 billion (£6

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Hacker turns cyber soldier for the IDF

The Israel Defence Force is employing a former hacker to improve the security of its computer systems.

Known only as "Daniel", the new addition to the IDF is serving in a cyber-warfare unit in the Israeli Air Force, according to an IDF announcement on its website.

The 27-year-old has been writing code since the age of 12 and is now responsible for investigating security breaches.

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MKs helped settlers defy IDF

Knesset members have been supplying the settlers with information on military operations to help them prevent the IDF and police from demolishing illegal outposts in the West Bank.

Five settlers were indicted on Sunday with running an intelligence-gathering team that collected details on the army's movements.

The headquarters of the team in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Kiryat Moshe was rai

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