I think you are asking when the ARM model, which has a bipod and carry handle, got rid of the carry handle. The IDF actually never officially “removed” the carry handle or the bipod from the IDF issued Galil ARM. Think it was done more by the individual soldiers. The ARM handguards got bounced around a lot, especially with the carry handle. Yanking on the carry handle could cause the rear handguard retainer to move back and forth and damage the wood panels. The wood pegs that fit into the rear retainer could break and cause the handguard to pop out of place. It was not a good design, the FAL carry handle mounting was more secure. They did do away with it on the later “export” ARM’s with the plastic panels, like on the South African R4. That’s a great IDF photo, it’s hardly ever seen. It appeared in a 1983 book, Battlefield, the weapons of modern warfare, by Christopher Foss and Ian Hogg. The soldier is wearing the early/first version of the Israeli EPHOD, web gear, with the “shoelaces” attaching the belt to the shoulder straps. Your photo was in a 1983 book, so I would guess it was taken around 1982, Beirut.