IDF_Spokesperson's_Unit Knowpia

IDF Spokesperson's Unit
IDF Spokesperson's Unit
דובר צה"ל
Active	1948–present
Country	Israel
Allegiance	Israel Defense Forces

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit (Hebrew: דובר צה"ל, Dover Tsahal, abbr. Dotz) is the unit in the IDF Operations Directorate, responsible for information policy and media relations. The unit is led by the IDF Spokesperson, a brigadier general and member of the General Staff, and by the Deputy Spokesperson, a colonel. The current Spokesperson is Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari.

Mission edit

IDF Spokesperson's Unit military photographer

The unit is also a key player in the public diplomacy efforts of the State of Israel.^[1] Indeed the 2015 IDF military doctrine highlights the strategic importance of using the power of the media. Economic, legal, media, and political aspects are considered as part of the military approach as much as military combat.^[2]^[3] Since 2008, the IDF has increasingly also invested in a strong presence on the most important social media platforms.^[4] In the meantime, the English-speaking Facebook page of the IDF is one of the most followed social media representations of armies worldwide.^[1]

Structure edit

The unit has become the largest spokesperson unit in Israel. It counts more than 400 officers, civilians and soldiers. Additionally, a reserve unit of almost 1,200 soldiers and officers exists.^[5]^[1]

The IDF Spokesperson holds the rank of Tat Aluf (Brigadier General) and is subordinate to the Chief of the Operations Branch, who holds the rank of Aluf (Major General), and is a member of the IDF General Staff Forum. The current IDF Spokesperson is Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari, who replaced former Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ran Kochav in 2023.^[6]

The International Media Branch is responsible for the administration of IDF communications with international media outlets, and for shaping the image of the IDF in the foreign public arena. Through the different desks – the News Desk; North American Desk; European Desk; Latin American and Asian Desk; Arabic Language Desk;^[7] and Russian Language Desk – the Foreign Press Branch fields requests and inquiries from foreign news media. In June 2009 a New Media Desk was set up in order to deal with the growing interest from bloggers and various social media networks. Since the desk's formation there has been a marked increase in the IDF Spokesperson Unit's online presence, through such venues as an official blog, a YouTube account, and a Twitter feed, with the goal of being more accessible and open to popular international audiences.^[8] The current head of the International Media Branch is Lt. Col. Richard Hecht.^[9] As of 2017, the branch has alone 15 staff members that are only responsible for taking care of the social media platforms used by the IDF to reach out to audiences abroad.^[10] As of 2015, the IDF is active on 30 different social media platforms.^[10]^[11]

Leaders edit

IDF Spokesperson since March 2023, Daniel Hagari

1948–1952: Lt. Col. Moshe Pearlman
1952–1953: Lt. Col. Aminadav Fry
1953–1955: Col. Nahman Karni
1955–1957: Col. Nehemiah Brosh
1957–1959: Lt. Col. Shaul Ramati
1959–1963: Lt. Col. Dov Sinai
1963–1967: Col. Aryeh Shalev
1967–1969: Col. Rafael Efrat
1969–1973: Col. Yossi Calev
1973–1974: Brig. Gen. Pinhas Lahav
1974–1975: Brig. Gen. Efraim Poran
1975–1976: Brig. Gen. Dov Sion
1976–1977: Brig. Gen. Yoel Ben Porat
1977–1979: Col. Yitzhak Golan
1979–1984: Brig. Gen. Ya'akov Even
1984–1989: Brig. Gen. Efraim Lapid
1989–1991: Brig. Gen. Nachman Shai
1991–1994: Brig. Gen. Eilan Tal
1994–1996: Brig. Gen. Amos Gilad
1996–1999: Brig. Gen. Oded Ben Ami
2000–2002: Brig. Gen. Ron Kitri
2002–2005: Brig. Gen. Ruth Yaron (First Woman to Lead Unit)
2005–2007: Brig. Gen. Miri Regev
2007–2011: Brig. Gen. Avi Benayahu
2011–2013: Brig. Gen. Yoav Mordechai^[12]
2013–2017: Brig. Gen. Moti Almoz
2017–2019: Brig. Gen. Ronen Manelis
2019–2021: Brig. Gen: Hidai Zilberman
2021–2023: Brig. Gen: Ran Kochav
2023–present: Brig. Gen: Daniel Hagari

References edit

^ ^a ^b ^c Hirschberger, Bernd. "External Communication in Social Media During Asymmetric Conflicts". transcript Verlag. p. 100. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
^ Hirschberger, Bernd. "External Communication in Social Media During Asymmetric Conflicts". transcript Verlag. p. 13. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
^ "Israeli Defense Forces' Defense Doctrine - English Translation". Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
^ Hirschberger, Bernd. "External Communication in Social Media During Asymmetric Conflicts". transcript Verlag. pp. 100–101. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
^ Gilboa, Eytan; Shai, Nachman (2011-01-01). "Rebuilding Public Diplomacy: The Case Of Israel". Trials of Engagement: 33–54. ISBN 9789047441755.
^ Fabian, Emanuel. "Entering role, new IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari looks to bolster trust in military". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
^ Zitun, Yoav. "Brig.-Gen. Almoz assumes duties as new IDF spokesman". Ynet News. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
^ Morris, Don. IDF PR is on the move, "Doc's Talk", June 20, 2010.
^ Frazer, Jenni. "Explaining the IDF's moves to the world's media – in a strong Scottish accent". www.jewishnews.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
^ ^a ^b Hirschberger, Bernd. "External Communication in Social Media During Asymmetric Conflicts". transcript Verlag. p. 101. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
^ "British Army unveils 'Twitter troops' for social media fight". Channel 4 News. 2015-01-31. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
^ "IDF Spokesperson's Unit". Retrieved 16 January 2014.