New directive: Israel makes Arabic, Islam studies compulsory for all intelligence officials; here’s why

In a major shift, Israeli military has announced sweeping reforms to its intelligence training, making Arabic language and Islamic cultural studies compulsory for all intelligence personnel, reports Jerusalem Post. The move comes in response to the intelligence lapses that preceded the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.The Israel defence forces (IDF) confirmed that the changes are being led by major general Shlomi Binder, head of the IDF intelligence directorate, also known as Aman. For the first time, soldiers in technological and cyber roles will undergo training in Arabic and Islamic studies.The goal is to ensure that future commanders are fluent in Arabic and get familiar with Islamic culture.All Aman soldiers will be trained in Islamic studies by the end of next year, and half will receive Arabic language instruction, according to Jewish News Syndicate (JNS). These figures represent a significant jump from previous years.“This is part of a fundamental cultural shift within Israeli intelligence,” Israeli army radio’s Doron Kadosh reported. He said a new department will soon be created within Aman to teach Arabic and Islamic studies. Special focus will also be given to regional dialects, including those spoken in Iraq and by the Houthis in Yemen.One challenge the IDF has faced is understanding Houthi communications. According to sources cited by the Jerusalem Post, the use of qat, a mild narcotic commonly chewed in Yemen, has made speech unclear and difficult to decode. In June, an Israeli strike on a Houthi leader reportedly failed because he was attending a qat-chewing gathering.To address such issues, Aman is introducing targeted courses to train language analysts in region-specific dialects. Instructors from relevant communities have been recruited to help provide more authentic instruction.The reforms will also see the reopening of TELEM, a department that once promoted Arabic and Middle Eastern studies in Israeli schools. TELEM was shut down six years ago due to budget cuts, which led to a decline in Arabic education among students.“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 intelligence officers and soldiers into Arab kids who grew up in a village, but through language and cultural studies, we can instil in them doubt and deep observation.”