These codes of military conduct and their specific definitions generally follow those of other lands, adjusted for Israeli conditions. They provide the basis for conduct for twenty-first century warfare. They reflect broad international consensus. Rabbinic sources have been specifically excluded to avoid the internal religious conflicts of modern Israel .
This code provides a basis for proper conduct in practical field situations. It is intended for all Israeli soldiers no matter what their religious inclinations. Some will view it through the lens of the halakhah. Others may want to go further in the spirit of the ancient prophets. Still others will see it as a secular document of their society. It represents a voice of modern variegated Judaism
This code moves in the appropriate direction and fills a vacuum in the traditional halakhah. The standards set by the IDF are based on general assumptions and fit into the Jewish frame-work. They are practical, enforceable and represent standards which parallel those of many other nations. The major distinction is the that they continue to be tested on the battlefield as the Israeli Defense Forces have been more or less in continuous combat for seven decades. The standards may not reach the highest ideals, but they are adequate and as all standards need vigilant enforcement. We may well feel that they need modification and that will undoubtedly occur as new conditions are faced and as experience teaches, but they represent a good faith beginning.
The Israeli legislation and policies of the occupation and the numerous issues surrounding the West Bank lie beyond the scope of this paper.
The IDF represents a practical expression of Israeli defense policy. We would not expect it to provide a broader, general philosophy of war and peace. Such considerations involve the ultimate aims of all wars, the limits of defense, the conditions of preemptive war, and related matters. Each of these and related matters are basic to an understanding of war in an Israeli Jewish context.
The state of continual warfare and the need for defense as well as constant vigilance has muted discussions of the broader issues of