Israel is making big changes in how its intelligence officers are trained. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has now made it mandatory for military intelligence to study Islam and learn Arabic.
This new plan comes after a major intelligence failure on October 7, 2023, which caught the country off guard. According to the Jerusalem Post, the IDF wants to make sure nothing like that ever happens again.
What’s Changing in Israel’s Intelligence Wing
From next year, every officer and soldier in Israel’s AMAN, the military intelligence directorate, will be trained in Islamic studies. Also, half of them will learn Arabic, including special dialects like those spoken by Houthis in Yemen and Iraqi groups.
Why This Step Was Taken
The decision was made by AMAN chief Major General Shlomi Binder. Intelligence teams had trouble understanding Houthi messages, partly because of strong dialects and also because people in Yemen chew a plant called qat, which makes their speech unclear.
A senior officer said on Army Radio,
“We haven’t been good enough with culture, language, and Islam. We must do better.”
He also added that they can’t make soldiers grow up as Arabs, but with language and culture training, they can teach them how to observe deeply and think sharply.
Arabic and Islam Education Gets a Boost
To support this move, a new department for Arabic and Islamic education will be created inside the IDF. Also, the TELEM program, which was earlier closed due to money issues, will be restarted. TELEM is a school-level program that promotes Arabic and Middle Eastern studies.
In recent years, fewer students were learning Arabic. This move aims to fix that by building interest from school level itself.
A Smarter, Stronger Israel
Israel is sending a clear message: knowing your enemy’s language, culture, and mindset is not soft—it’s smart. After October 7, there is no room for error. This step shows the country wants to be ready, alert, and sharp.
This is not just about learning a language or religion. It’s about understanding the people across the border. It’s about knowing what they say and why they say it. And it’s about staying one step ahead.
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