Sayeret Matkal

Sayeret Matkal
Active	1957 – Present
Country	Israel
Branch	Israeli Army
Type	Special Forces
Role	Reconnaissance Direct Action, Raids Hostage rescue Counter-Terrorism
Size	Classified
Garrison/HQ	Sirkin Camp
Nickname	The Unit
Motto	Who Dares Wins
Engagements	War of Attrition Yom Kippur War 1982 Lebanon War First Intifada Second Intifada 2006 Lebanon War
Commanders
Current commander	Classified
Notable commanders	Ehud Barak Yonatan Netanyahu Nehemiah Tamari Uzi Dayan Moshe Yaalon

Sayeret Matkal (Hebrew: סיירת מטכ"ל‎, General Staff Reconnaissance Unit) is a special forces unit of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), which is subordinated to the intelligence directorate Aman. First and foremost a field intelligence-gathering unit, conducting deep reconnaissance behind enemy lines to obtain strategic intelligence, Sayeret Matkal is also tasked with counter-terrorism and hostage rescue beyond Israel's borders. The unit is modeled after the British Army's Special Air Service, taking the unit's motto "Who Dares Wins".^[1] It is directly subordinate to the IDF's Directorate of Military Intelligence. It is known in the IDF as "the Unit".

The unit is best known for Operation Thunderbolt, commonly known as Operation Entebbe, in which it rescued more than 100 Air France passengers hijacked and flown to Uganda by PFLP-EO militants,^[2] killing 52 enemy combatants while losing only the assault element commander, Yonatan Netanyahu, and three hostages.^[3]

History

In 1954 Israel's first special operations unit - Unit 101 - was disbanded following the outcry provoked by the Qibya massacre. This left the IDF without a dedicated special-forces unit other than the Navy's Shayetet 13, a naval commando unit which could not fully replace Unit 101. In 1957 Avraham Arnan (né Herling), a former yeshiva student and Palmach fighter, petitioned the IDF General Staff to create a unit that could be dispatched to enemy held territory to carry out top secret intelligence-gathering missions. Arnan's idea (backed by David Ben-Gurion and Yitzhak Rabin) was to create a unit that would recruit only the best and the brightest of Israeli youth. Prospective fighters were to be hand-picked, being physically and intellectually the best soldiers available. Originally part of Aman's Unit 157, Sayeret Matkal began to operate independently a year later as the General Staff's special operations force,^[4] modeled after the British Special Air Service. Members of the unit were trained by Bedouin trackers in order to obtain a better understanding of their adversaries.^[5] Established a year after the formation of Israel's first helicopter squadron, the close co-operation between the two units allowed Sayeret Matkal to deploy longer and deeper inside Arab territory than its predecessor. Arnan's vision for Sayeret Matkal (of which he was the first commander) was of a unit that would carry out strategic intelligence-gathering and other operations; as such it would receive its missions only from the General Staff. Sayeret Matkal would also evaluate new weapons and doctrines that could influence the entire IDF.

Due to the extensive training, planning and preparation that had to be undertaken before its missions, Sayeret Matkal ended up not seeing any action during the Six-Day War. It was however engaged extensively in the following War of Attrition. After 1967, with the rise of Palestinian terrorism perpetrated by groups such as the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Sayeret Matkal began developing the first hostage-rescue and counter-terrorism techniques in the world. Beginning with Operation Isotope, the unit carried out several high-profile operations that thrust it into the limelight as an "elite paratroopers" unit (Sayeret Matkal's existence was classified at the time). In 1972, before the Munich massacre, Sayeret Matkal's operatives were sent to West Germany to cooperate with German authorities and, if necessary, perform the hostage-rescue themselves. Their advice though, was not heeded. In the subsequent Operation Wrath of God, Sayeret Matkal struck the PLO in Beirut.

The Yom Kippur War in 1973 brought a profound change to the unit. With Israel fighting on two fronts and the General Staff busy with managing the war, Sayeret Matkal found itself without missions to perform. Sayeret Matkal officers then split into two camps: those who believed that the unit should be kept in reserve and not be lightly sent to missions where it could endure heavy casualties, and those that wanted to go into action, even if that meant missions with little planning and more akin to a commando force than to the strategic-oriented Sayeret Matkal. The latter prevailed and Sayeret Matkal was tasked with operations on both fronts. After the war, Sayeret Matkal began developing plans for wartime in advance, so that when war came, the unit could go into action immediately, without waiting for the General Staff's orders and missions. A reserve company of Sayeret Matkal was also designated specifically for cooperation with the Israeli Air Force, shown by the war to be lacking. This would later evolve into Shaldag Unit.

In 1974 Sayeret Matkal suffered a heavy blow when a failed rescue attempt resulted in the Ma'alot massacre. The debacle led to the creation of the Yamam to deal with domestic counter-terrorism/hostage-rescue missions, while Sayeret Matkal would focus on foreign counter-terrorism/hostage-rescue. Two years later came the most famous mission of the unit when it spearheaded Operation Entebbe to rescue hostages held in Uganda. The mission was a resounding success, although there were 4 hostages killed as well as the commander of the Unit, Lieutenant Colonel Yonatan Netanyahu.

The Sayeret has seen extensive service since. It has been mentioned in relation to several recent operations, including Operation Orchard, but these have not been confirmed by the IDF.

Although a top-secret unit, Sayeret Matkal had tremendous influence on the IDF. It was the original developer of helicopter infiltration techniques in Israel. In addition, their extensive use of the Uzi led them to convince Israel Military Industries to produce an Uzi with a folding stock for increased accuracy while maintaining its small frame.

Recruitment and training

The unit was kept top-secret during its initial years. Fighters and commanders were selectively hand-picked, based on personal acquaintances. Since the 1970s, while still secretive, the unit opened to voluntary recruits. Twice a year it holds a notoriously grueling selection camp (Gibbush) for potential recruits lasting several sleepless days. The recruits are constantly monitored by doctors and psychologists. Those who make it through with a passing grade are admitted. During the 1990s, this selection practice was picked up by other IDF special forces (Sayeret). Former IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz planned to unify all such camps to prevent recruit burn-outs and medical injury by over-enthusiastic youths.

Once admitted to the unit, recruits train for 28–29 months, with heavy emphasis on small arms, martial arts, navigation, camouflage, reconnaissance and other skills required for survival behind enemy lines. They must also complete the 150-kilometre (93 mi) Beret March to receive their red beret. The training regime consists of the following:

• Four months of basic infantry training, held in the Paratroopers basic training base; it is part of the regular Paratroopers basic training routine.
• Two months advanced infantry training, within the unit.
• Three weeks parachuting course in the IDF Parachuting School.
• Five weeks counter-terror (CT) course in the IDF Counter-Terror Warfare School, followed by more inner-unit CT training.
• The rest of the training is dedicated to long-range reconnaissance patrol training, and especially to navigation/orienteering, which is of vast importance in the unit. While most of the orienteering training is done in pairs for safety reasons, as in every other unit in the IDF, Sayeret Matkal is one of the handful of IDF units which conducts long-range solo navigation exercises.

Although Sayeret Matkal has its own insignia, it is also one of the few units in the IDF whose soldiers are not allowed to wear it in public due to its classified nature. Ironically, this lack of insignia often leads to Sayeret Matkal operators being recognized as such, as the fact that Matkal troopers don't wear insignia is well-known.

Notable Sayeret Matkal figures

Despite being a clandestine and relatively small army unit, former Sayeret Matkal veterans have a disproportionate influence on the army and public service. This may partly be because rigorous screening and training ensures that only the most capable and motivated Israeli youths are accepted by the unit as fighters. Sayeret Matkal operatives have gone on to achieve high positions in Israel's military and political echelons, and several have become IDF Generals and members of the Knesset. Ehud Barak's career is an example: a draftee in 1959, he later succeeded Unit 101 commando Lt. Meir Har-Zion in becoming Israel's most decorated soldier. While with Sayeret Matkal, Ehud Barak participated in many operations, eventually leading operations Isotope in 1972 and Spring of Youth in 1973. He later advanced in his military career to become the IDF Chief of Staff between 1991 and 1995. In 1999 Ehud Barak became the 10th Prime Minister of Israel. Other notable members include:

• Uzi Yairi – Unit Commander, formerly head of the IDF Paratroopers Brigade, killed in action while off-duty during Savoy Operation.
• Nechemya Cohen – The Unit's and the IDF's most decorated soldier (with Barak). Killed in action. Beit Nechemiah was built in his memory by "the Unit".
• Benjamin Netanyahu – unit team leader, MIT graduate, current (also former) Israeli Prime Minister
• Iddo Netanyahu – writer and radiologist. Benjamin Netanyahu's younger brother.
• Yonatan Netanyahu – unit commander, killed in Operation Thunderbolt (Entebbe, Uganda). Benjamin Netanyahu's older brother.
• Shaul Mofaz – unit deputy commander, later IDF Chief of Staff and Israeli Defense Minister.
• Moshe Yaalon – unit commander, later IDF Chief of Staff, current Strategic Affairs Minister of Israel.
• Danny Yatom – unit deputy commander, later a General, head of Mossad and a Knesset member
• Avi Dichter – unit fighter, later head of Israel's General Security Service (Shin Bet), later the minister of internal security
• Daniel M. Lewin – cofounder of Akamai Technologies, killed aboard American Airlines Flight 11 during the September 11 attacks.

There is a widely held misconception that former Israeli Major General and former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon also served in Sayeret Matkal, though as a Major Sharon had founded the IDF's first special-forces unit (Unit 101) in 1953. When Unit 101 was merged into the Paratroopers Brigade in 1954, Sharon became brigade commander, and never served in Sayeret Matkal.

Known operations

Until recently the Israeli army had an official policy of denying the existence of this unit. Operations were generally attributed to "elite paratroopers". Sayeret Matkal operations are still kept classified to this day. However, due to the unit's successes, it soon became a widely-known secret.

• 1963 – Operation Halutz – first heliborne commando operation using Sikorsky H-34 helicopters in the Sinai desert. This was reconnaissance for Operation ShrakRak to follow. The operation was prompted by information that Egypt had moved an armored division and three infantry brigades into the Sinai desert.^{[citation needed]}
• 1964 – Operation Shrakrak – the operation for which Halutz was a preparation, very likely the planting of listening or warning devices. This operation was credited with aiding greatly in the victory of the Six-Day War. Ehud Barak commanded Sayeret Matkal forces in the field in Operations Halutz and Shrakrak.^{[citation needed]}
• 1968 – Operation Shock – sabotage of power plant and Nile bridges in Egypt (jointly with Israeli Air Force).^{[citation needed]}
• 1968 – Operation Gift – sabotage of 14 Arab airliners in Beirut International Airport, Lebanon.^{[citation needed]}
• 1969 – Operations Orchard 22, Orchard 37 - assaults on high voltage wires and a control antenna in Egypt.^{[citation needed]}
• 1969 – Operation Bulmus 6 – assault on fortified Green Island, Egypt (jointly with Shayetet 13).^{[citation needed]}
• 1969 – Operation Rooster 53 – seizing an entire Egyptian radar installation (jointly with Israeli Air Force).^{[citation needed]}
• 1972 – Operation Isotope – foiling the hijacking of Sabena Flight 571 in Tel Aviv, Israel (hostages rescue).^{[citation needed]}
• 1972 – Operation Crate 3 – kidnapping 5 Syrian intelligence officers.^{[citation needed]}
• 1973 – Operation Spring of Youth – killing Black September terrorist leaders in Beirut, Lebanon (jointly with Shayetet 13).^{[citation needed]}
• 1973 – Yom Kippur War – recapture of Mount Hermon from Syrian commandos (jointly with Golani Brigade); deep interdiction ambushes in Egypt and Syria.^{[citation needed]}
• 1974 – Ma'alot massacre – school hostages rescue.^{[citation needed]}
• 1975 – Savoy Operation – hotel hostages rescue.^{[citation needed]}
• 1976 – Operation Thunderbolt (Operation Jonathan) – hostage rescue follwong Air France aircraft hijacking to Entebbe, Uganda.^{[citation needed]}
• 1978 – Coastal Road Massacre – bus hostages rescue^{[citation needed]}.
• 1980 – Misgav Am hostage crisis – Kibbutz nursery hostages rescue.^{[citation needed]}
• 1982 - 1982 Lebanon War - deep reconnaissance ahead of Israeli forces (snipers managed to target Yasser Arafat although they were not allowed to fire)^[6]
• 1984 – Kav 300 affair – bus hostages rescue, see the Shabak's years of crisis.^{[citation needed]}
• 1988 – Tunis Raid – assassination of Abu Jihad, in Tunis, Tunisia (not acknowledged).^{[citation needed]}
• 1989 – Kidnapping of Sheik Abdul-Karim Obeid, Lebanon (see Ron Arad).^{[citation needed]}
• 1990 – Overcame terrorists who arrived in a boat to Nitzanim (Nadav Padan was decorated for this operation).^{[citation needed]}
• 1992 – Operation Bramble Bush – plan to assassinate Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.^{[citation needed]}
• 1994 – Mustafa Dirani kidnapping, Lebanon (see Ron Arad).^{[citation needed]}
• 1994 – Nachshon Wachsman – failed hostage rescue.^{[citation needed]}
• 2006 – Second Lebanon War: Operation Sharp and Smooth – disrupt weapons smuggling (jointly with the Shaldag Unit); other operations to disrupt weapons smuggling (in one of them the force was discovered and Lieutenant Colonel Emmanuel Moreno was killed and two others were wounded in the ensuing gun battle).^{[citation needed]}
• 2007 – Collecting soil samples in Syria prior to Operation Orchard, the bombing of an alleged Syrian nuclear reactor.^[7][8]

The 2003 dissidents

Further information: Refusal to serve in the Israeli military

On December 21, 2003 thirteen Sayeret Matkal reservists—the most senior being an officer at the rank of Rav Seren (Major)—presented the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem a letter declaring their refusal to perform military service in the Occupied Territories:^[9]

"We have come to tell you, Mr. Prime Minister, that we will no longer be accomplices to the reign of oppression in the Territories and the denial of the most elementary human rights of millions of Palestinians, nor shall we be the shield of settlements erected on confiscated land".

The letter aroused strong controversy due to Sayeret Matkal's prestige in Israeli society. It was strongly denounced by mainstream political figures who had their origin in the ranks of the unit, such as former Prime Ministers Ehud Barak and Binyamin Netanyahu.

None of the signatories were tried, but all were expelled from the ranks of the Sayeret. In what was described as "an effort to stem the tide", the unit's commander circulated among his soldiers and officers a letter condemning the refusers for having "abused their membership in Sayeret Matkal for political aims".^{[citation needed]}

See also

Israeli special forces:

• Kidon
• Sayeret
• Shayetet 13
• Sayeret Shaldag
• Sayeret Duvdevan
• Sayeret Yahalom (formerly Sayeret Yael)
• Unit 669
• YAMAM

Israeli security forces:

• Border Police
• Israeli police
• Israeli Defence Forces
• Shabak (Shin Bet)

Similar foreign special forces units:

• List of special forces units

References

1. ^ "Sayeret Matkal – Israeli Special Operations". http://www.shadowspear.com/israel-special-operations/sayeret-matkal.html. Retrieved 2008-07-27. 
2. ^ Berg, Raffi (3 July 2006). "Recollections of Entebbe, 30 years on". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5101412.stm. Retrieved 2 February 2010. 
3. ^ Special: Entebbe's unsung hero – Israel News, Ynetnews
4. ^ "The secret remains - Haaretz - Israel News". Haaretz. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1019894.html. Retrieved 2010-03-09. 
5. ^ "Sayeret Mat'kal". Specwarnet.net. http://www.specwarnet.net/world/matkal.htm. Retrieved 2010-03-09. 
6. ^ Muki Betser's "Secret Soldier"
7. ^ http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=1&cid=1220526712951&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
8. ^ http://www.zionism-israel.com/dic/Sayret_Matkal.htm
9. ^ "New Wave of Refusers from Elite Reserve Unit" By Amos Harel and Mazal Mualem, Haaretz, Haaretz, December 22, 2003

Further reading

• Betser, Muki (July 1996) Secret Soldier ISBN 0684816830

Links

• IDF Official Site