The Home Front Command’s Golden Triangle

The IDF Home Front Command is responsible for the safety and security of all civilians within Israel. They have a foundational concept called the Golden Triangle which ensures that every civilian knows exactly how to respond and react in the most efficient manner in the face of life-threatening situations.

The golden triangle consists of three pillars: Explanation and education, alarming and alerting and shielding and protecting. When it comes to a state of emergency, one of the greatest contributors to saving lives is the civilians themselves. There are soldiers whose position it is to travel to different schools, hospitals and other institutions to instruct civilians with the necessary response to any potential crisis.

In addition to knowing how to react, it is vital that every civilian is notified of a state of emergency. Along with the siren sounding in areas affected by danger, there is also an active Home Front Command application and portal that alerts civilians of any threat or emergency. Since Operation Breaking Dawn in August 2022, where over 1,100 rockets were fired toward Israel, the Home Front Command’s application became the most downloaded application in Israel.

The Home Front Command developed the concept of Polygon––an alarm system that is placed in smaller areas around the country—so that more specific areas are notified. This prevents panic in civilians that do not need to be alerted, while improving the movement of the population in case of an emergency that spans multiple areas.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is the physical protection of civilians. The IDF has a plethora of protection means, most notably the Iron Dome Aerial Defense System. Most homes and buildings in Israel are equipped with shelters that protect civilians from rockets and chemical attacks.

Depending on the area, civilians are advised on ideal times to reach these shelters. Even without a shelter within one’s home or building, there are public bomb shelters throughout Israel as well.