Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Jul 26: In a major overhaul following the intelligence failures surrounding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, the Israeli military has announced sweeping reforms in its intelligence training programs, reports the Jerusalem Post.

For the first time, Arabic language and Islamic cultural studies will be made compulsory for all personnel in the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) Intelligence Directorate, known as Aman. The reforms are being spearheaded by Major General Shlomi Binder, head of Aman.

According to the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), by the end of next year, all Aman soldiers will receive Islamic studies training, while half of them will undergo Arabic language instruction. Even soldiers in cyber and tech roles will now receive this cultural and linguistic training—an unprecedented move.

“This is part of a fundamental cultural shift within Israeli intelligence,” said Doron Kadosh of Israeli Army Radio. A new department within Aman will focus on Arabic and Islamic studies, with emphasis on regional dialects spoken in Iraq and Yemen, particularly by the Houthis.

One challenge cited by Israeli intelligence has been decoding Houthi communications. Sources noted that qat, a mild narcotic chewed in Yemen, often makes speech slurred and difficult to interpret. In one instance, a June Israeli strike on a Houthi leader failed because the target was at a qat-chewing gathering.

To address such gaps, Aman will introduce specialized training courses and recruit instructors from relevant linguistic and cultural communities.

The reforms also include the revival of TELEM—a department that once promoted Arabic and Middle Eastern studies in Israeli schools but was shut down six years ago due to budget cuts.

“Until now, we haven’t been good enough in the areas of culture, language, and Islam,” a senior Aman officer told Army Radio. “We won’t turn our officers into native Arabic speakers, but we can train them to observe with depth and discernment.”