An IDF soldier standing guard at a military base in the Golan Heights. Photo: wiki commons.

Instability in Egypt and Syria has led the Israel Defense Forces to call up 6 additional battalions for emergency duty, with 16 others available if needed.

Israel’s Parliament, the Knesset, received a request from the IDF to call up the reservists and granted that request based on a 2008 law known as the Reserve Duty Law.

“IDF reserve forces are a key component in the IDF’s operation strength, during both routine and emergency situations. Following security assessments, a number of battalions were called up for military service for the second time in a three year period,” the IDF said in a statement to The Algemeiner.

Maariv and Russia Today first reported on this story.

“Following the August attack along the Sinai border, the area around Route 12 was divided into two distinct military zones, creating the need for additional manpower,” the IDF said.

Israel has walked a delicate line with Egypt as the Arab nation moves towards a Presidential election that has seen more than 10 candidates disqualified.  In early April Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the Sinai – the area controlled by Egypt that shares a border with Israel – is becoming a serious security concern.

As the international community attempts to negotiate an end to the violence in Syria that has led to thousands of deaths, and calls intensify for President Bashar al-Assad to step down from power, Israel has remained relatively quiet about it’s neighbor to the north.  Recently however, Israeli leaders have been more outspoken about their concerns over Syria and their desire to see Assad go.

“We know our place. It’s not for us to give advice,” a spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry said regarding Syria. “We’re not doing anything to make him go. We’re not getting involved or even thinking of any interference.”

To watch a video report from Tel Aviv, click below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=b4IE7bKPhz0