Osprey Elite 18 : Israeli Elite Units since 1948

When the Allied situation in the Middle East during World War 2 deteriorated the Haganah [Israel's 'pre-statehood' underground army] and the British formed a special guerrilla-type force to operate behind German lines should they invade Palestine. In May 1941 the Pal'mach [Hebrew abbreviation for 'Strike Companies'] was formed under the command of Yitzhak Sadeh. They were trained as guerrillas to launch sharp attacks in small units; and they became expert at demolitions and intelligence-gathering. British officers were so impressed by the élite 'Arab Platoon' of the Pal'mach that officers were quoted as saying that 'every man equals a battalion'. An acknowledged expert on the Israeli Defence Forces, Samuel M. Katz presents an overview of IDF élite units from the Pal'mach of the Second World War to the mysterious Sayret Egoz Israeli Defence Forces, a highly classified élite unit whose exploits include the 1972 raid on a hijacked Belgian Sabena Boeing 707, and the audacious Operation 'Argaz Bet'. Accompanied by illustrations by Ron Volstad.

Contents

• The First Military Elite
• The Pal'Mach
• The Paratroops
• The Golani Infantry Brigade
• The Naval Commandos
• Territorial and Other Reconnaissance Units
• The Plates