ABSTRACT
Interest groups in Israel are both part of the ruling state apparatus and independent actors; they are often identical to competing political parties or their factions. By far the largest and the most influential Israeli interest group is the Histadrut in Eretz Israel. The Histadrut is important not only as a labor federation; it is also Israel's largest social organization, its largest single economic entrepreneur and employer, and a major influence on cultural and educational life. In terms of the quality of its military personnel, weapon effectiveness, infrastructure and logistics, and organizational quality, the IDF is among the best security forces in the world. It is equipped with state-of-the-art technological weapons including jet fighter planes, helicopters, missiles, tanks, gunboats, and submarines. The security establishment is a major economic force that employs thousands of people in the arms industry; it sells its products to the IDF and exports products to other countries.
