A growing chorus of voices in Israel is calling for the people's army model of the Israel Defense Forces to be replaced with a professional military.
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Before delving into the question of whether such calls are warranted or not, it's important to point out that the concept of a people's army, which relies on conscripts and reserves for its fighting force, was firmly ensconced by Israel's first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion.
In re-examining this model today, it is important to take into account Israel's environment, its current threats, and the nature of its existence before deciding whether the people's army "glove" still fits the Israeli hand.
Those who call for a professional army often point to the fact that Western militaries, from the United States to Germany and many others, rely on career soldiers and wonder why Israel does not do the same.
The fact of the matter is that this comparison is, in and of itself, a colossal error. Comparing Israel to other Western countries fails basic logic since Israel, from a security perspective, is completely different from typical Western countries. No other country in the West faces a persistent and severe threat that has been and could once again pose an existential threat.
It is impossible to ignore the stated intentions of the Iranian leadership. Neither can one ignore the unique circumstances faced by Israel, such as the fact that at any given moment, it can be the target of missiles or a mass-casualty terror attack.
Israel is the only country in the world that is publicly and routinely threatened with destruction. Iran's ideology is committed to wiping the Zionist state off the map. Those who confidently declare that Iran's Supreme Leader would never follow through on such threats ignore the fact that the Islamic Republic is working studiously to further that objective.
Israel is the only country in the world that faces continuous projectile attacks on its cities and is the only state that faces daily threats from terrorists.
It is the only state in the West whose borders are still in dispute and where the homes of millions of residents are claimed by adversaries as their own.
Under these circumstances, not only does Israel have to have a quality military, but this military must be filled with motivated personnel who understand that there is a possibility that they will need to defend the country with their lives. The military's soldiers must understand that there is a real possibility that the state could have to go to war tomorrow, that they could be wounded or killed in arenas from the north to the south, and that despite Israel's power, this would, ultimately, be a war for national survival.
While Israel is today considered a regional superpower, that does not change the tangible possibility of Hezbollah making a miscalculation tomorrow that could lead to war or receiving Iranian orders to retaliate for, say, the assassination of an Iranian leader.
In a regional conflict, 2,500 rockets could rain down on Israel every day for an extended period, with tons of explosives landing in the north of the country. That is not an existential threat, but a scenario that involves large numbers of casualties and living under wartime conditions for the duration of the conflict.
Unlike militaries that are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the IDF faces multiple adversaries on its borders. Israel does not send its soldiers overseas as part of international coalitions. It must prepare to fight wars within immediate proximity of Israeli cities, towns, and villages.
Even within Israel itself, some citizens have a difficult time internalizing this reality, particularly during security escalations that mostly involve the Israeli south only. In Tel Aviv, they have grown accustomed to the idea that the danger is "in the south," even though in reality the south is just tens of kilometers away.
Israel must have a substantial military with motivated soldiers who understand that their duty is not theoretical and that there will come a time when they will find themselves at war. This is an entirely different reality from professional soldiers who may or may not end up being flown to Somalia or Afghanistan and whose home cities are not under enemy fire.
The IDF is made up mostly of conscripts and reserve soldiers performing mandatory service for minimal pay.
This is an old model, based on universal conscription, which itself is designed to generate unity and equality among those recruited to the armed forces and to utilize their potential.
The military acts as an Israeli melting pot, reflecting the diversity of Israeli society. It is based on a national ethos that emphasizes the individual's contribution to the collective and the concept that the main way to make that contribution is in the field of security by defending others with your body.
The military brings together all sections of society, creating a collective experience and common identity, acting as a central unifier in a country that absorbs multi-ethnic, multicultural Jewish immigration from around the world.
Those who wish to build an alternative model must first analyze the question of whether it would stand up under these conditions. Would the professional military be willing, in an emergency, to defend the collective? Or would it cast away all of the advantages that Israel has built to this day, breaking down ethnic "ghettos" and sectors to create a collective entity?
Would a professional military create the same level of motivation?
The calls for a professional military result mainly from economic considerations, and they should act as a wake-up call for the IDF to further optimize its streamlining efforts.
However, the idea that a professional military would replace a more motivated fighting force is without basis and fundamentally ill-suited to Israel's unique circumstances.
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