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Officially called Israel defense forces, the Israeli army is at the same time the shield of a Jewish State surrounded by enemies, the melting pot of the newborn nation and the backbone of the Israeli society. Strong of 160000 soldiers and 425000 reservists, 2600 tanks, 400 fighter jets, 200 helicopters, an operational nuclear weapons capability, never officially acknowledged, it is today the strongest army in the Middle East, and on the technological field, one of the most advanced in the world. In real time intelligence gathering and analysis, in cyber war and telecommunication, it has very few equivalents. Due to the high reputation of its special forces units, it has also become an exporter of military and security knowhow mainly in the Third World. Since dozens of years, it has built a very close security relationship with the USA in research and development and their joint effort has contributed to improvements among others on the F-15, and some breakthrough on the high energy laser weapons and the Arrow system of anti-missile considered as more effective than the US made Patriot. Based on the principle of conscription of men and women since its creation, it plays a prominent role in the Israeli society due to its influence, namely on the political and economic scene. Four of the 15 prime ministers who headed the government since the birth of the State in 1948 were former generals. But, because of this very important role it must also share the failing or drifting of the Israeli society, namely its sliding towards the right, the unpunished violence against the Palestinians because of the growing influence of the ultra-nationalist settlers and religious extremists.