The Israel Security Forces (ISF) are several organizations collectively responsible for Israel's security. The organization are independent but cooperate with each other.

Each Israeli at the age of 18 is required to serve three years in one of the organizations.

These security organizations are:

  • Israeli Defence Forces: the military.
  • MAGAV (the Border Guard): the combat arm of the Israeli Police. MAGAV troops are trained by the IDF in high infantry level but serve under the police. They are deployed in the disputed territories and in the countryside. They are also deployed in the borders of Israel.
  • Israeli police: a civilian force. Their duties include crime fighting, traffic control and keeping the cities safe.
  • Shin Bet (Israel Internal Security Service): Shin-Bet's duties are to protect ministers and high public officials (such as the president or the head of police), to prevent rebellion against the state, to gather intelligence, to pinpoint terrorist cells and prevent them from causing damage. Shin-Bet activity is classified.
  • MASHAZ (Civilian Guard): a volunteer organization of citizens which assists in daily police work. They are trained to provide the initial response to a situation until the police arrive. MASHAZ volunteers are armed with M1 Carbine semi-automatic rifles and bullet-proof vests. The MASHAZ also have special units, but they require higher training and commitment.
  • KABATs (Security Officers): public officials who are trained in combat and are able to handle terrorist threats. The KABATs, beside supplying a initial response to threats, are experts in security issues. When they are deployed in small town or villages - they are responsible for that settlement's defense.

General Remarks

The ISF have a worldwide reputation as one of the best in their fields, especially in counter-terrorism. Many security experts in the world and inventors of security technology are Israelis who were trained in the ISF and served there a lot of years. The ISF are working in low-budget limits but still making incredible achievements. The ISF known as creative and innovating for finding solutions to handle almost impossible situations. Some Israeli SF units such as Sayeret Matkal, Shayetet 13 (naval commando) and the YAMAM are considered to be among the best in the field (along with the British SAS and the US Delta Force).