During basic training, every IDF soldier studies and analyzes the code of ethics together with their commanders. It is customary for a framed copy of the code to be hung in every commanders office as a constant reminder of the IDF's values and guidelines.
(1) Human Life
The IDF serviceman will, above all, preserve human
life, in the recognition of its supreme value and will place himself
or others at risk solely to the extent required to carry out his mission.
The sanctity of life in the eyes of the IDF servicemen
will find expression in all of their actions, in deliberate and meticulous
planning, in safe and intelligent training and in proper execution of
their mission. In evaluating the risk to self and others, they will
use the appropriate standards and will exercise constant care to limit
injury to life to the extent required to accomplish the mission.
(2) Purity of Arms
The IDF serviceman will use force of arms only for
the purpose of subduing the enemy to the necessary extent and will limit
his use of force so as to prevent unnecessary harm to human life and
limb, dignity and property.
The IDF servicemen's purity of arms is their self-control
in use of armed force. They will use their arms only for the purpose
of achieving their mission, without inflicting unnecessary injury to
human life or limb; dignity or property, of both soldiers and civilians,
with special consideration for the defenseless, whether in wartime,
or during routine security operations, or in the absence of combat,
or times of peace.
(3) Personal Example
The IDF serviceman will comport himself as is required
of him and will, himself, act as he demands of others, thoughtfully
and dedicatedly, aware of his ability and responsibility to serve as
a role model to those around him.
The personal example of the IDF servicemen is their
acting as is demanded of them and as they themselves demand of others,
their clear and convincing readiness to serve as an example to those
around them, in their actions and comportment, to create, uphold and
foster mutual identification and joint responsibility in properly carrying
out their tasks and accomplishing their missions in all areas of military
activity.
(4) Responsibility
The IDF serviceman will see himself as an active participant
in the defense of his country and its citizens. He will carry out his
duties decisively, resolutely and with vigor, within the limits of his
authority.
The responsibility of IDF servicemen is their active
partnership and their readiness to use their utmost abilities in the
defense of the State, its sovereignty, and the lives and safety of its
citizens, within the framework of authority granted them by the IDF.
They will carry out their duties fully, diligently, and with determination,
commitment and initiative, in clear awareness that they are answerable
for any consequences.
(5) Comradeship
The IDF serviceman will always go to the aid of his
comrades when they need his help or depend on him, despite any danger
or difficulty, even to the point of risking his life.
The fellowship of IDF servicemen is their bond as
comrades in arms. It is their unwavering commitment to each other, their
readiness to extend appropriate assistance, to go to the aid of a comrade,
and even risk their lives on his behalf. In all their actions they will
uphold and strengthen the solidarity of their unit in full cooperation
with other units, and in support of the overall goals of the IDF.
(6) Professionalism
The IDF serviceman will aspire to be familiar with
and understand the body of knowledge pertaining to his military position
and will master every skill necessary for carrying out his duties.
The professionalism of IDF servicemen is their ability
to correctly perform their military duties through striving to constantly
excel in and improve their unit's and their individual achievements.
They will do so by broadening their knowledge, and increasing proficiency,
based upon the lessons of experience and study of the heritage and by
expanding and deepening their understanding of the body of military
knowledge.
(7) Discipline
The IDF serviceman will execute completely and successfully
all that is required of him according to the letter and spirit of his
orders and within the framework of the law.
The discipline of IDF servicemen is their readiness
to act to the full extent of their abilities, to carry out what is demanded
of them completely, according to their understanding of the letter of
the orders they have received, and successfully, according to the spirit
of their orders. It is their readiness to obey orders amidst a constant
striving to execute them with understanding and dedication. They will
take care to issue only legal orders, and disavow manifestly illegal
orders.
(8) Loyalty and Representativeness
The IDF serviceman will act with complete dedication
in the defense of the State of Israel and its citizens, according to
IDF orders, within the framework of the laws of the State and democratic
principles.
The IDF serviceman will also constantly see himself as
a representative and an emissary of the IDF. As such he will act solely
on the basis of the authority he has been given and orders he has been
issued.
The loyalty of IDF servicemen is their dedication,
in all actions, to their homeland, the State of Israel, its citizens
and armed forces, and their constant readiness to fight and devote all
their power, even at the risk of their own lives, in the defense of
the sovereign State of Israel and the lives and the safety of its inhabitants,
according to the values and orders of the IDF, while following the laws
and the democratic principles of the State.
The representativeness of IDF servicemen is their
consciousness, expressed in all their actions, that the armed force
placed in their hands and the power to use it are given to them only
as members of the IDF and its authorized representatives, duly executing
their orders in accordance with the laws of the State of Israel and
is subject to its Government.
(9) Reliability and Trustworthiness
The IDF serviceman will strive in all his actions
to fulfill his duties correctly and at the highest professional level,
from exacting and thorough preparation to true, honest, complete and
precise reporting.
The trustworthiness of IDF servicemen is their reliability
in fully carrying out their charge, using their military skills, with
the sincere belief and conviction that they are acting professionally.
They are ready at all times to present things as they are, in planning,
executing and reporting truthfully, completely, courageously and honestly.
(10) Perseverance in Mission and Dedication to the Pursuit of Victory
The IDF serviceman will fight and conduct himself
with courage in the face of all dangers and obstacles; he will persevere
in his mission courageously, resolutely and thoughtfully even to the
point of endangering his own life.
The perseverance of IDF servicemen in their mission
is their capability and readiness to fight courageously in the face
of danger and in most challenging situations; to strive unremittingly
to achieve the military goal effectively, with full regard for the particular
circumstances, notwithstanding any difficulty, stress or adversity or
even mortal danger. They will do so with proper judgment and with due
regard for risks.
1. The IDF serviceman will, in all his actions and
conduct, express the basic values of the IDF:
Perseverance in the mission, comradeship, discipline,
respect for human life, loyalty, personal example, professionalism,
purity of arms, representativeness, responsibility, and trustworthiness,
as defined above and as appropriate to the specific circumstances.
2. The IDF serviceman, when acting in the framework
of his military role, will be ever cognizant that he bears responsibility
not only for the outcomes of his acts and omissions, but also for the
patterns of behavior which they help to create, whether by order or
personal example, by direct or indirect influence, whether intentionally
or unintentionally.
3. The IDF serviceman will view himself, in each of
his actions, as bearing full responsibility for the lives and safety
of the servicemen and all others who are dependent on his actions or
decisions.
4. The IDF serviceman will be ready to place his own
life at risk when confronting the enemy or to save human life to the
extent required, but he will preserve his own life and that of others
in all other military situations.
5. The IDF serviceman will take into account, in every
practical context, not only the proper concern for human life, but also
the influence his actions may have on the physical well-being and
spiritual integrity and dignity of others.
10. The IDF serviceman will maintain the tradition
of the IDF, will study the IDF's military heritage and will promote
esprit de corps.
11. The IDF serviceman will carry out his military
activities without obtruding his personal views in matters beyond his
sphere of responsibility, authority and professional expertise. He will
take special care not to inject his personal opinions on issues subject
to public controversy of a political, social or ideological nature.
12. The IDF serviceman will make use of his military
authority or status, whether command or professional, solely for the
benefit of the IDF. He will never use his military authority or status
improperly to advance a personal objective, or to go beyond the limits
of his authority and responsibility, in letter or spirit, within or
without the IDF.
13. The IDF serviceman will hold himself responsible
for the outcomes of his orders. He will support those who have acted
in accordance with those orders or as is proper, and will view himself
as responsible for the patterns of behavior which he imposed.
14. The IDF serviceman will support his unit and its
commanders in every way necessary to fulfill the unit's mission of building,
promoting and employing military force. The serviceman will obey his
commanders in accordance with the law and maintain respect for his commanders,
peers and subordinates.
15. The IDF servicemen will never conspire to conceal
any offense or mishap, and will not entertain any proposal to be party
to such a conspiracy. When confronted with an offense or mishap, the
serviceman will act as is reasonable and proper to correct the aberration.
16. The IDF serviceman who participates in a discussion
or dispute dealing with an activity in which the IDF is involved, whether
before, during or after its implementation, will express his views in
accordance with his professional knowledge and conviction, with honesty,
candor and courage.
17. The IDF serviceman will use the authority at his
disposal towards others only as is fair, self-controlled, reasonable
and professional. He will show due respect for the person and the privacy
of those with whom he interacts.
18. The IDF serviceman will view his appearance in
an IDF uniform as an expression of his loyalty to the values and basic
principles of the IDF.
19. The IDF serviceman will use the force at his disposal,
in all actr to correct the aberration.
16. The IDF serviceman who participates in a discussion
or dispute dealing with an activity in which the IDF is involved, whether
before, during or after its implementation, will express his views in
accordance with his professional knowledge and conviction, with honesty,
candor and courage.
17. The IDF serviceman will use the authority at his
disposal towards others only as is fair, self-controlled, reasonable
and professional. He will show due respect for the person and the privacy
of those with whom he interacts.
18. The IDF serviceman will view his appearance in
an IDF uniform as an expression of his loyalty to the values and basic
principles of the IDF.
19. The IDF serviceman will use the force at his disposal,
in all actions in the face of the enemy, manifesting perseverance in
his mission, courage and judgment, always ready to carry out his duties
despite danger to his life.
20. The IDF serviceman will be ready to do whatever
is required, and even to endanger his own life, to come to the aid of
his comrades or to recover wounded comrades from the battlefield.
21. The IDF serviceman will act, when confronting
the enemy, according to the letter and spirit of the laws of war. He
will adhere strictly to the principle of purity of arms and to the ethics
of combat.
22. The IDF serviceman will treat enemy troops and
civilians in areas controlled by the IDF in accordance with the letter
and spirit of the laws of war and will not exceed the limits of his
authority.
23. The IDF serviceman will act fairly with self-control,
reasonably, and professionally, in carrying out the responsibilities
of his position, in all his contacts with civilians in areas controlled
by the IDF, whether in the course of battle or afterward. He will show
respect towards the beliefs, values, sacred and historical sites of
all civilians and military personnel as they deem proper and to the
extent possible, in keeping with the values and basic principles of
the IDF and in accordance with military needs and the given circumstances.
24. The IDF serviceman will fight and exert himself
to the utmost, even placing his life at risk so as not to surrender
to the enemy but to overcome him. He will not surrender as long as he
has a chance of carrying out his mission. Even in the absence of such
a possibility, he will not surrender as long as he has contact with
his commander or the ability to extricate himself from his compromised
position.
25. The IDF serviceman who, despite all efforts, has
been taken prisoner will act according to IDF orders; responsibly, reasonably
and honorably.
26. The IDF serviceman will give preference to promoting
the IDF's goals, as is required of him, in accordance with regulations,
orders, values and basic principles, over the advancement of the goals
of any civilian body, in any instance of conflict of interests between
the IDF's goals and those of that body.
27. The IDF serviceman, in all official contact with
civilian bodies, will act professionally and without compromising the
IDF's values, basic principles or honor.
28. The IDF serviceman may be involved in the activities
of a commercial or civilian body only in accordance with the letter
and spirit of existing orders and procedures, and within the limits
of his position.
29. The IDF serviceman will refrain from receiving
personal benefits as a result of his position, rank, status or actions.
He will not request, nor will he agree to accept any favors from any
agent, inside or outside the IDF, directly or indirectly, for himself
or others, except in accordance with due orders and procedures.
30. The IDF serviceman will ensure that every public
appearance, especially in the mass media, has prior approval, expresses
outright and unreserved loyalty to the value and basic principles of
the IDF, reflects the IDF's policies and decisions, and contributes
to the public's confidence in the IDF.
31. The IDF serviceman will ensure that his behavior
even in private circumstances cannot be interpreted as compromising
the IDF's values or basic principles, does not detract from the public's
confidence in the IDF, and will not contribute to the creation of patters
and behavior that could harm the implementation of the IDF's values
and basic principles.
32. The IDF serviceman, during his reserve duty, will
act according to the same values and basic principles of the IDF as
those that apply to servicemen in regular service.
33. The discharged serviceman may make private use
of special or sensitive information which he gained or which came to
his attention during his service only after he has received the proper
authorization to make commercial media or other such use of such knowledge
outside of the IDF framework.
34. The discharged serviceman may make use of his
military status, including his reserve or retired rank, or may grant
permission to others to do so, only in civilian contexts that do not
compromise the IDF's values and basic principles, or its honor and the
trust which it enjoys in the public mind.
