NAHAL

NAHAL: translation

Derived from theHebrewwordsNoar Halutzi Lohaim, meaning "Fighting Pioneering Youth"; a formation within theIsrael Defense Forces(IDF) that combines military training and operations with pioneeringsettlementandagriculturaltraining. After completing basic training, Nahal groups are allocated to settlements for a period of combined agriculture and military training. The Na-hal program derived from the security needs of the pioneering agricultural settlements that developed from the immigration (seeALIYA) toPalestinestarting in the latter part of the 19th century.

The hostile environment and security situation in Palestine helped to dictate the requirement for self-defense against armed attack. The Nahal program was formalized in the summer of 1948 byPrime Minister David Ben-Gurionfor the specific purpose of encouraging the flow of people into the agricultural settlements and maintaining the pioneering spirit. The Nahal was the natural continuation of the pioneering traditions of the waves of immigration to Israel. Since its establishment, Nahal has created new settlements and assisted in the establishment of others. It has opened up undeveloped areas and created a presence at sensitive border points. Originally a unit withinGadna, it was separated from it in September 1949. On 1 August 1998, Nahal officially disappeared as a separate branch of the IDF and became a part of theeducationand Gadna branch.