IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot may still be new to his position, but the decision he made Monday to form a new cyber military branch is one of the most significant decisions he will make while in office. In military terms, this was nothing short of a revolution. Understanding that cyberspace is a warfare theater as important as the traditional land, sea, and air theaters illustrates that Eizenkot has adapted his thought process to the new world we live in, and now he seeks to ensure the IDF adapts as well. In this new world, a soldier sitting at a keyboard is as important as an entire infantry brigade -- sometimes even more so, and an anonymous operation allows the military to gather intelligence, undermine enemy operations, and neutralize threats, regardless of geographical, physical, and psychological hurdles. Israel is one of the world's leading nations in cybertechnology, a field dominated by the U.S., China and Russia. It is enough to read foreign media reports of Israel's alleged cyberspace exploits to understand the potential power it may wield. So far, the military has handled cyberwarfare challenges as they presented themselves, with Military Intelligence overseeing the offensive aspects and the C4I Corps overseeing the defensive aspects. Still, in a world where cyberthreats grow at a rate faster than the opportunities to thwart them, and cyberwarfare has become a key component of every military operation, the IDF needs more. Eizenkot made the right decision, despite fierce opposition from Military Intelligence, which fears the loss of hegemony and resources, and rightfully so. By thinking ahead, Eizenkot has afforded the military the time it needs to properly formulate and induct the new service branch. The decision to form the cyber branch, however, does not mean its creation will be hassle-free. The new branch is likely either to absorb or replace the Teleprocessing Branch, and it will undoubtedly see its fair share of organizational battles over resources and jurisdiction. The military will require a multiyear budget to fully realize this ambitions plan, but Eizenkot and the IDF should not be deterred by the obstacles. This was the right decision, and alongside other structural changes, it will prepare the IDF for future challenges.
