Campaign ribbons and service badges |
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The "Law of Decorations in the Israel Defense Forces"
of 1970 entitles the minister of Defense to award campaign ribbons to
soldiers, policemen, prison personnel and other members of the security
forces, for service during war, campaign or armed conflict. Seven campaign
ribbons exist, the most recently (2007) instituted is the ribbon for the
Second Lebanon War Ribbon. No medals are connected to these ribbons! |
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War of Independence Ribbon | |||||||
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Awarded to:
In case the eligible person died, a member of his
family (widow, widower, parent, brother, sister, child) may request to
receive the ribbon or replacement of lost or worn ribbon.
Click here
for the list of towns and villages entitled to the ribbon. See also
Clasps on this ribbon. |
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Sinai Campaign Ribbon |
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Awarded to: a) all IDF personnel on continuous active duty during at least 72 hours between 26 October 1956 and 6 November 1956. b) all IDF personnel who were killed during the Sinai Campaign c) commanders of the civil defense, serving as in a) d) civilians serving at IDF and civilians volunteering as drivers of mobilized vehicles, serving as in a) In 1958
the minister of Defense decided to extend the eligibility to personnel of
police, security forces and military industry.
In case the eligible person died, a member of his
family (widow, widower, parent, brother, sister, child) may
request to receive the ribbon or replacement of lost or worn ribbon. |
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Six Day War Ribbon | |||||||
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Awarded to: In case the eligible person died, a member of his family (widow, widower, parent, brother, sister, child) may request to receive the ribbon or replacement of lost or worn ribbon. Presentation of the ribbon started in 1967. See pictures of the ceremony Look here for a sample of an award certificate. |
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War of Attrition Ribbon | |||||||
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Awarded to: In case the eligible person died, a member of his
family (widow, widower, parent, brother, sister, child) may
request to receive the ribbon or replacement of lost or worn ribbon. |
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Yom Kippur War Ribbon |
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Awarded to: In case the eligible person died, a member of his family (widow, widower, parent, brother, sister, child) may request to receive the ribbon or replacement of lost or worn ribbon. Presentation of the ribbon started in 1974. Look here for the award document. |
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"Peace For Galilee" War Ribbon | |||||||
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Awarded to: In case the eligible person died, a member of his family (widow, widower, parent, brother, sister, child) may request to receive the ribbon or replacement of lost or worn ribbon. Presentation of the ribbon started in 1983. Look here for the award document. |
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Campaign ribbon for service in the Security Zone in Lebanon | |||||||
Minister of Defense Gantz approved the recommendation of chief of Staff Cochavi to award a campaign ribbon to IDF fighters who served in Lebanon between September 30, 1982 (the end of the First Lebanon War) and May 24, 2000, the day IDF left the security zone. Criteria for this campaign ribbon will be determined soon. On March 1, 2021 final approval by the government was given. The ribbon will be awarded to IDF soldiers as well as to soldiers of the South Lebanon Army which fought alongside IDF soldiers during Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon from September 1982 to May 2000. | ||||||||
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Second Lebanon War Ribbon | |||||||
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Awarded to: a) every soldier who was on active duty during at least 3 continuous days, between 12 July and 14 August 2006, as well as to citizens as specified hereafter. b) any IDF soldier who served between the above dates, less than 3 days, but was missed in action and has not been recovered since, who was killed, taken prisoner of war, was injured, got ill or his illness deteriorated, during and as a result of his service. c) civilian security personnel like the police and prison service who served or worked voluntarily for at least 3 continuous days during the period defined as in a) d) civilians, who provided assistance during at least 8 continuous days to the front units or the civilian population, in one of the following bodies: - government offices except for the Ministry of
Defense In case the eligible person died, a member of his family (widow, widower, parent, brother, sister, child) may request to receive the ribbon or replacement of lost or worn ribbon. Presentation of the ribbon started on September 2, when the ribbon was awarded to those who also earned a decoration for acts during this war. From October 2007 till March 2008 the ribbon will be presented or sent by mail to others entitled. This ribbon is made in enamel version only! Some variations - this campaign ribbon together with citation of:
Look here for pictures of the presentation of the ribbon and pictures of soldiers wearing the ribbon. Look here for the award document. |
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Look here for cloth version of the Second Lebanon War Ribbon | ||||||||
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Operation Protective Edge Ribbon | |||||||
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On January 4, 2015 the government approved
issuing campaign ribbons to soldiers who took part in Operation
Protective Edge (in Hebrew called Miv'tza Tzuk Eitan, lit. "Operation
Strong Cliff"), the military operation in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip
during the period 8 July 2014 – 26 August 2014.
The ribbon will be the eighth since the state was
founded. The ribbon will also be given to members of the Shin Bet,
Mossad, Israel Police, and Israel Prisons Service. Members of the Gaza
border communities and kibbutz security officers, Magen David Adom
paramedics, firefighters and civilians working for the IDF on behalf of
the government in the West Bank and Gaza Strip will also be eligible for
campaign ribbons pending a vote in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and
Defense Committee. The other organizations whose activities were related
to the operation will receive commendations as a group, which also
requires the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee's approval. According to IDF announcement of 1/7/2015 the ribbon will be awarded to:
a) IDF personnel on active duty during at least 5
continuous days between 7 July and 26 August 2014 |
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Look here for more pictures of the ribbon and for the award document. | ||||||||
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IDF Service badges and clasps | ||||||||
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Decoration of State Warriors
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This is one of the clasps that was fixed on the War of Independence Ribbon. More on these clasps. |
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Lieutenant - General Elazar. The most left ribbon has the clasp mounted on it. |
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Operational Service badge awarded to: a) those who served in a combat unit for a period of at least 18 months. b) those who served at least 4 consecutive months in combat. Officially worn on the right uniform chest pocket, but often seen on the left side, below the ribbons. The badge is made of nickel, height 22 mm, width about 15 mm. |
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Samples |
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Click to enlarge © Yissachar Ruas Photography www.yruas.com |
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Army Chief Rabbi General Gad Navon, one of
the few who gained all the IDF campaign ribbons till 1982 (Government Press Office, Sa'ar Ya'acov) |
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Lieutenant -
General Mofaz notice the variety of ranks, ribbons and badges of the 3 generals |
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Lieutenant -
General Mofaz |
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