Nahal is a Hebrew acronym for Noar Halutzi Lohem (Fighting Pioneer Youth) and refers to a scheme for Israeli youth that combines active military service with "civilian" service, the latter usually in a new agricultural settlement. The Nahal includes also an Israel Defence Forces infantry brigade, and latly even a special unit called Karakal קרקל opened for both man and weman worriors (the first unit in the IDF to do that).
Note: the term "Settlers" might be confused with the nickname for the 200,000 Israelis who live in towns and settlements in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In this article the term "settlers" referes to people who builds new settlements, without considering where they do it (i.e. settlers build settlements also within the pre-1967 borders of Israel).
The Nahal has 4 service programs:
- Regular infantry - training and service in the Nahal brigate or in the Karakal, like in any other infantry brigade soldier in the IDF.
- Nahal Haredi - this is a special infantry unit for Ultra orthodox Jews. The unit is open only to them and the IDF makes sure they will be able to keep all the Jewish commandments and laws (mitzvot).
- Gariney Nahal גרעיני נח"ל - in the history, they combined their military service with the establishment of new agricultural settlements (called Nahal settlments) and the development of older settlements and towns (settlers). Today some of them still do that, but a large part of them are doing community service in poor neighbourhoods and help the needy instead of erecting new settlements. Many of Israel's kibbutzim and villages were founded by Nahal settlers, who also protected them.
- The Nahal band - a famous military band known for its canonical Eretz Israel songs which have become classics.
