Israeli Central Command
Encyclopedia
The Israel
i Central Command , often abbreviated to Pakmaz (פקמ"ז), is a regional command
of the Israel Defense Forces
. It is responsible for the units and brigade
s located in the West Bank
(under the West Bank Division
), Jerusalem, the Sharon
, Gush Dan
, and the Shephelah
.
The commander (Aluf
) of the central command is the one who is authorized to declare new cities in the Judea and Samaria Area.
, the Central Command was in-charge of the war efforts against Jordan
, particularly on the road to Jerusalem, occupying the "Small Triangle" (east Sharon
), Lod
, and Ramla
. During the Six-Day War
, the Command led the occupation of the West Bank
from Jordan. As of the First Intifada
, the Command primarily engages in security and counter-terrorism
activities, as well as more conventional military measures, in the West Bank.
Towards the end of 2010 the deployment of IDF troops in and around the West Bank reached a new quantitative low with only six infantry battalions serving where "dozens" were required during the first Intefada.
It is currently headed by Aluf
Avi Mizrahi
.
(Major General
).
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i Central Command , often abbreviated to Pakmaz (פקמ"ז), is a regional command
Command (military formation)
A command in military terminology is an organisational unit that the individual in Military command has responsibility for. A Commander will normally be specifically appointed into the role in order to provide a legal framework for the authority bestowed...
of the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
. It is responsible for the units and brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
s located in the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
(under the West Bank Division
West Bank Division
The Israel Defense Forces Judea and Samaria Division is a regional division in the Israeli Central Command responsible for Israeli military activity in Judea and Samaria....
), Jerusalem, the Sharon
Sharon, Israel
The Sharon Plain is the northern half of the coastal plain of Israel. Its largest city is Netanya.The Plain lies between the Mediterranean Sea to the west and the Samarian Hills, to the east. It stretches from Haifa and Mount Carmel in the north to the Yarkon River in the south, at the edge of...
, Gush Dan
Gush Dan
The Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area , or Gush Dan , is a metropolitan area including areas from both the Tel Aviv and the Central Districts of Israel. The area is closely linked to the city of Tel Aviv through social, economic, and cultural ties. It is located along the Israeli Mediterranean coastline...
, and the Shephelah
Shephelah
The Shephelah is a designation usually applied to the region in south-central Israel of 10-15 km of low hills between the central Mount Hebron and the coastal plains of Philistia within the area of the Judea, at an altitude of 120-450 metres above sea level. The area is fertile, and a temperate...
.
The commander (Aluf
Aluf
Aluf is the term used for General and Admiral in the Israel Defense Forces . In addition to the Aluf rank itself, there are four other ranks which are derivatives of the word...
) of the central command is the one who is authorized to declare new cities in the Judea and Samaria Area.
History
During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
, the Central Command was in-charge of the war efforts against Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, particularly on the road to Jerusalem, occupying the "Small Triangle" (east Sharon
Sharon, Israel
The Sharon Plain is the northern half of the coastal plain of Israel. Its largest city is Netanya.The Plain lies between the Mediterranean Sea to the west and the Samarian Hills, to the east. It stretches from Haifa and Mount Carmel in the north to the Yarkon River in the south, at the edge of...
), Lod
Lod
Lod is a city located on the Sharon Plain southeast of Tel Aviv in the Center District of Israel. At the end of 2010, it had a population of 70,000, roughly 75 percent Jewish and 25 percent Arab.The name is derived from the Biblical city of Lod...
, and Ramla
Ramla
Ramla , is a city in central Israel. The city is predominantly Jewish with a significant Arab minority. Ramla was founded circa 705–715 AD by the Umayyad Caliph Suleiman ibn Abed al-Malik after the Arab conquest of the region...
. During the Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
, the Command led the occupation of the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
from Jordan. As of the First Intifada
First Intifada
The First Intifada was a Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories. The uprising began in the Jabalia refugee camp and quickly spread throughout Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem....
, the Command primarily engages in security and counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
activities, as well as more conventional military measures, in the West Bank.
Towards the end of 2010 the deployment of IDF troops in and around the West Bank reached a new quantitative low with only six infantry battalions serving where "dozens" were required during the first Intefada.
Units
Aluf
Aluf is the term used for General and Admiral in the Israel Defense Forces . In addition to the Aluf rank itself, there are four other ranks which are derivatives of the word...
Avi Mizrahi
Avi Mizrahi
Aluf Avi Mizrahi is a general in the Israel Defense Forces and the current Head of Israeli Central Command .-Military career:...
.
- Central Corps HQ
- 162nd "Ha-Plada"/"The Steel" Armor Division (Regular)
- 401st "I'kvot Ha-Barzel"/"Iron Trails" Armor Brigade
- 933rd "Nahal" Infantry Brigade
- 900th "Kfir"/"Young Lion" Infantry Brigade (Battalions are operatively attached to the regional brigades in the West Bank DivisionWest Bank DivisionThe Israel Defense Forces Judea and Samaria Division is a regional division in the Israeli Central Command responsible for Israeli military activity in Judea and Samaria....
)
- 98th "Ha-Esh"/"The Fire" Paratroopers Division98th Paratroopers Division (IDF)thumb|right|280px|Structure 98th Paratroopers Division The Israel Defense Forces 98th Paratroopers Division, also known as the Fire Formation , is a reserve-service Infantry division in the IDF...
(Reserve)- 35th "Flying Serpent" Paratroopers Brigade Paratroopers Brigade (IDF)The Paratroopers Brigade , also known as the 35th Brigade, is a unit of paratroopers within the Israel Defense Forces , and forms a major part of the Infantry Corps....
(Regular) - 551st "Hetzei Ha-Esh"/"Arrows of Fire" Paratroopers Brigade (Reserve)
- 623rd "Hod Ha-Hanit"/"Head of the Spear" Paratroopers Brigade (Reserve)
- 35th "Flying Serpent" Paratroopers Brigade
- West Bank DivisionWest Bank DivisionThe Israel Defense Forces Judea and Samaria Division is a regional division in the Israeli Central Command responsible for Israeli military activity in Judea and Samaria....
(Territorial) - Two Reserve Armor Divisions, including 340th "Idan" Armored Division.
- 5004th "Central Command" Logistic Support Unit
- Central Command Signal Battalion
- Engineer & Construction Battalion
- "Nitzan"/"Bud" Field IntelligenceIsraeli Field Intelligence CorpsThe Israeli Field Intelligence Corps is the newest of the IDF GOC Army Headquarters' five corps, created in April 2000, and is tasked with collecting combat intelligence. It is responsible for intelligence units from the battalion level and up to the entire force. Accordingly, it is professionally...
Battalion - "Erez" Military Police Battalion
- "Ta’oz" Military Police Battalion
Commanders
All commanders of the Central Command were ranked AlufAluf
Aluf is the term used for General and Admiral in the Israel Defense Forces . In addition to the Aluf rank itself, there are four other ranks which are derivatives of the word...
(Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
).
- Zvi Ayalon (1948–1952)
- Yosef Avidar (1952–1953)
- Zvi Ayalon (1954–1956)
- Zvi Zur (1956–1958)
- Meir AmitMeir AmitMeir Amit was an Israeli politician and general. He served as Director of the Mossad from 1963 to 1968 before entering politics and holding two ministerial positions.-Biography:...
(1958–1959) - Yosef Geva (1960–1966)
- Uzi Narkis (1966–1968)
- Rehav'am Ze'evi (1968–1972)
- Yona Efrat (1973–1977)
- Moshe LeviMoshe LeviLeiutanant General Moshe Levy was the 12th Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces . He served in this position from 1983–1987...
(1977–1981) - Uri Or (1981–1983)
- Amnon Lipkin-ShahakAmnon Lipkin-ShahakAmnon Lipkin-Shahak is a former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Member of the Knesset andMinister of Transportation and Tourism.-Military service:Lipkin-Shahak started his military service as a teenager in the military boarding-school in Haifa...
(1983–1986) - Ehud BarakEhud BarakEhud Barak is an Israeli politician who served as Prime Minister from 1999 until 2001. He was leader of the Labor Party until January 2011 and holds the posts of Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister in Binyamin Netanyahu's government....
(1986–1987) - Amram MitznaAmram MitznaAmram Mitzna is an Israeli politician and former general. He is the acting mayor of Yeruham, the former mayor of Haifa and led the Labour Party from 2002 to 2003.-Youth, studies and military service:...
(1987–1989) - Yitzhak MordechaiYitzhak MordechaiYitzhak Mordechai is an Israeli former general and politician. He served as a member of the Knesset between 1996 and 2001, and as Minister of Defense and Minister of Transport. He retired from political life after being indicted for sexual assaults during his military service and later...
(1989–1991) - Danny YatomDanny YatomDanny Yatom is a former Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Labour. Before that he was a Director of the Mossad security service.-Background:...
(1991–1993) - Nehemiah TamariNehemiah TamariNehemiah Tamari was an Israeli major general and head of Central Command in 1993–1994.He participated in Operation Entebbe as part of Sayeret Matkal, and went on to command the unit...
(1993–1994) - KIA - Danny Yatom (1994)
- Ilan Birn (1994–1995)
- Uzi DayanUzi DayanUzi Dayan is an Aluf in the Israel Defense Forces and an Israeli politician. He is the nephew of General Moshe Dayan.-Early life and career:...
(1996–1998) - Moshe Ya'alonMoshe Ya'alonMoshe "Bogie" Ya'alon is an Israeli politician and former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces. He currently serves as a member of the Knesset for Likud, as well as the country's Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Strategic Affairs.-Early life:...
(1998–2000) - Yitzhak Eitan (2000–2002)
- Moshe KaplinskyMoshe KaplinskyMaj. Gen. Moshe Kaplinsky , is the CEO of Better Place Israel. Most recently, he was Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces. He was previously head of the Israel Defense Force's Central Command, whose area of responsibility includes the West Bank...
(2002–2004) - Yair Nave (2004–2007)
- Gadi ShamniGadi ShamniAluf Gadi Shamni is a general in the Israel Defense Forces and current Israel's military attaché in the United States.In 1977 Shamni was drafted into the Paratroopers Brigade, which he stayed in for much of his early career. In 2001 he was promoted to Brigadier General and in 2005 to Major General...
(2007–2009) - Avi MizrahiAvi MizrahiAluf Avi Mizrahi is a general in the Israel Defense Forces and the current Head of Israeli Central Command .-Military career:...
(2009–date)