Ministry of Defense (Israel)


The Ministry of Defense of the government of Israel, is the governmental department responsible for defending the State of Israel from internal and external military threats. Its political head is the defense minister of Israel, and its offices are located in HaKirya, Tel Aviv.
The Ministry of Defense oversees most of the Israeli security forces, including the Israel Defense Forces, Israel Military Industries, and Israel Aerospace Industries.
The ministry was established when the British Mandate of Palestine ended, and the British Army departed Palestine and the State of Israel was formed. This ended the rag-tag militia units during British rule and gave way to the formal defense of the Jewish state.

Minister of Defense

The defense minister of Israel heads the ministry. The post is considered to be the second most important position in the Israeli cabinet, and usually has a deputy minister. The defense minister is also a permanent member of the Security Cabinet.
Due to the great importance of the defense portfolio, prime ministers have often held the position in addition to their prime ministerial duties; eight of the twenty defense ministers to date were also serving prime ministers. Six of them are also former Chiefs of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.
Amongst the duties of the post, defense ministers can request administrative detention. Because of the intensive work and the tension between the political echelon to the military echelon, frequently disagreements and difference of opinion are created between the defense minister and the chief of staff.

List of ministers

Deputy ministers

Directors General

#Director GeneralTerm startTerm end
1Levi Eshkol19481948
2Eliezer Peri19481949
3Pinchas Sapir19491951
419511952
5Shimon Peres19521959
6Asher Ben-Natan19591965
719651970
819701972
919721975
1019751978
1119781981
1219811982
1319821983
1419831986
15David Ivry19861996
1619961999
17Amos Yaron19992005
1820052006
19Gabi Ashkenazi20062007
2020072010
21Ehud Shani20102013
22Dan Harel20132016
23Udi Adam20162020
24Amir Eshel20202023
25Eyal Zamir20232025
–Itamar Graff 20252025
26Amir Baram2025present

Structure

  • Home Front Defense Ministry, headed by the deputy defense minister
  • Israeli National Emergency Authority, Rahel
  • Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure, Maf'at
  • Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Matpash
  • Director of Security of the Defense Establishment, Malmab
  • Defense Establishment Comptroller Unit
  • Defense Political Branch, Abtam
  • International Defense Cooperation Directorate, Sibat
  • Computer and Management information systems, Malam – Data Processing Center
  • Logistics Operations and properties Branch, Emun
  • Defense Social branch
  • Department of Defense Export Control, Api
  • Tank program Directorate
  • Procurement and Production Directorate, Manhar
  • Emergency management, Melakh
  • Ombudsman for soldiers, Nakhal
  • Fund and Unit for Discharged Soldiers
  • Department of Families and Remembrance
  • Disabled Rehabilitation Division