The Central Command

The Central Command is one of the IDF’s four regional commands and is responsible for about a third of Israel’s territory. 

The command’s headquarters are located in Jerusalem, and its commanding officer is MG Yehuda Fox.

IDF forces under the Central Command operate 24/7, conducting counterterrorism activities to thwart terrorist infrastructure, locate weapons, and apprehend wanted suspects who take part in terrorist activity. The forces in the region are always vigilant, ready to effectively thwart terrorist attacks against the area’s residents. 

The Judea and Samaria Division reports to the Central Command together with the six regional brigades under it: the Menashe Brigade, the Shomron Brigade, the Ephraim Brigade, the Benyamin Brigade, the Etzion Brigade and the Judea Brigade. An additional regional brigade under the command is the Valley Brigade, which is located along the border between Israel and Jordan. The brigade includes two battalions: the 41st Lions of the Jordan Valley Battalion and the 47th Lionets of the Valley Battalion.

The Fire Formation Division and the Lachish Command Training Center are also under the Central Command. The Fire Formation Division includes two active duty ‘organic’ brigades: the Paratroopers Brigade and the Commando Brigade, as well as five reserve brigades. The Lachish Command Training Center is where all forces that begin operational activity in the Judea and Samaria and Jordan Valley areas train in accordance with the challenges they are expected to face in the area of the command. 

There are 9 departments in the Central Command, each led by an officer ranking Colonel: intelligence, engineering, technology and maintenance, logistics, human resources, operations, medicine, communication, and “Keshet Tzvaim." The departments and their soldiers oversee the ongoing activities in the region and are always working to draw and implement lessons and initiate new projects.

The wars and operations the Central Command took part in:

The War of Independence, the Six-Day War, the War of Attrition, Operation Defensive Shield, the First Intifada. Since the First Intifada, the command has focused mainly on routine security in its region.