The Israel Defense Forces changed its official insignia this week, adding an additional letter to its name, allegedly without cabinet approval.
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The military published a photograph of the new emblem on its website on Sunday evening, updating the original 1948 insignia. The new piece consists of the same Star of David, which symbolizes Jewish tradition, an olive branch (yearning for peace), a sword (combat), and the banner bearing the words Israel Defense Forces in Hebrew.
However, in addition to the visual modifications, a change was also made to the inscription on the banner, which said Tzva Hahaganah leYisrael, adding the "hey hayedia" prefix – which functions like the letter "the" in English – before the word haganah (defense).
Officials claimed that the change was done without approval, and might even be illegal.
Shimshon Hoffman, who for many years served on the IDF's editorial staff, has long tried to get the character added to the insignia. The Academy of the Hebrew Language has also ruled that adding the extra character would be grammatically more correct, as the name refers to "one particular and known army."
"According to grammar rules created by the Academy of the Hebrew Language, the correct name for the IDF is 'Tzva Hahaganah leYisrael," the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said in a statement. "When the state was established in 1948, when David Ben-Gurion signed Basic Law: The Military, calling it Tzva Haganah leYisrael, without the prefix.
"From then until 1993, the IDF's name appeared as such to preserve its symbolism. In 1993, the name was revised in all publications, in accordance with the rules of the Hebrew language. From that day forward, the official name of the IDF is Tzva Hahaganah leYisrael," it said.
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