For more than seven months, Israel's invasion of Gaza has dominated the news, with members of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) regularly explaining or defending the latest Israeli position — and facing fierce criticism along the way. The IDF is Israel's national military, made up of the Israeli ground forces, the Israeli air force and the Israeli navy. But the IDF is more than a military body. Since 1948, it's played a central role in the lives of countless Israelis and, in doing so, helped shape the country's national identity. "[The IDF] was the most important social institution in early...