Unit 217, frequently called Duvdevan (), is a ''mistaʽaravim'' unit in the Commando Brigade of the

Israel Defense Forces The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the State of Israel. It consists of three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and ...

. It is notable for its undercover operations in urban areas, during which its operators often wear civilian clothing to disguise themselves among the local

Arab Arabs (, , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...

populace. The unit is also known to have highly trained members in both human and mechanical

counter-surveillance Countersurveillance refers to measures that are usually undertaken by the public to prevent surveillance, including covert surveillance. Countersurveillance may include electronic methods such as technical surveillance counter-measures, which is ...

. Unit 217 performs many high-risk and complicated operations, including

targeted killings Targeted killing is a form of assassination carried out by governments outside a judicial procedure or a battlefield. Since the late 20th century, the legal status of targeted killing has become a subject of contention within and between variou ...

of militants and a range of other undercover operations in Arab regions, many of which are classified.

History

According to the

(IDF), Unit 217 was established in June 1986 to deal with "security events" in the

West Bank The West Bank is located on the western bank of the Jordan River and is the larger of the two Palestinian territories (the other being the Gaza Strip) that make up the State of Palestine. A landlocked territory near the coast of the Mediter ...

, especially in its densely populated civilian areas. During the 2015–2016 violence wave, the unit was involved in the arrests of the killers of Eitam and Naʽama Henkin, Hafna Meir, and

rabbi A rabbi (; ) is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi—known as ''semikha''—following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of t ...

Yaʽakov Littman (sometimes spelled Litman) and his son. For its work during this period, Unit 217 received the Israeli Chief of Staff citation. Roni Numa was a commander of the Duvdevan Unit before being promoted to ''

aluf ( or "first/leader of a group" in Biblical Hebrew) is a senior military rank in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) for officers who in other countries would have the rank of general, air marshal, or admiral. In addition to the ''aluf'' rank, fo ...

'' (major general). Upon joining the Commando Brigade, Unit 217 expanded its operational activities.

Organization and mission

The unit is part of the "Oz" 89th Commando Brigade (a brigade dedicated solely to special operations), but ''Duvdevan'' operators undergo basic training in the Paratroopers Brigade. Unit 217 is most similar to the Yamas unit of the Israel Border Police.

In fiction

The

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

television series '' Fauda'' focuses on a fictional Israeli elite unit modeled after Duvdevan.Netanya Stein
Fauda: The true story behind the chaos
''Jewish Unpacked'' (June 15, 2023). The series was co-created by Lior Raz and

Avi Issacharoff Avi Issacharoff (; born 1973) is an Israeli journalist, known for his focus on Palestinian affairs. He is a Middle East commentator for '' The Times of Israel'' and its sister news outlet Walla!, and the Palestinian and Arab Affairs Corresponden ...

; Raz formerly served in the unit.David M. Halbfinger
'Fauda,' an Israeli TV Hit, Lets Viewers Escape — Into the Conflict
''New York Times'' (May 22, 2018).

Equipment

* Jericho 941 semi-automatic pistol * M89SR sniper rifle *

M24 Sniper Weapon System The M24 Sniper Weapon System (SWS) or M24 is the military and police version of the Remington Model 700 rifle, ''M24'' being the model name assigned by the United States Army after adoption as their standard sniper rifle in 1988. The M24 is ref ...

– sniper system *

M4 carbine The M4 carbine (officially Carbine, Caliber 5.56 mm, M4) is a 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle developed in the United States during the 1980s. It is a shortened version of the M16A2 assault rifle. The M4 is extensively used by the US mi ...

with 10" barrel * Remington 870 combat shotgun * Para Micro-Uzi submachine gun * IMI Negev machine gun * Shipon multi-purpose rocket-launcher * Mk 47 Striker automatic grenade launcher * Glock 17/19C * combat knife

Gallery

File:Duvdevan_September_2020,_IX.jpg, Duvdevan Unit, September 2020 File:Duvdevan_Unit,_March_2022_III.jpg, Duvdevan Unit, March 2022 File:Iron_Swords-Duvdevan_unit-006.jpg, Duvdevan soldiers in the West Bank, 2024 File:Iron Swords-Duvdevan unit-002.jpg, Duvdevan soldiers in

Khan Yunis Khan Yunis (), also spelled Khan Younis or Khan Yunus, is a city in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestine, and serves as the capital of the Khan Yunis Governorate. It has been largely destroyed during the Gaza war. Before the 14th century, Khan Y ...

during the

Gaza war The Gaza war is an armed conflict in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel fought since 7 October 2023. A part of the unresolved Israeli–Palestinian conflict, Israeli–Palestinian and Gaza–Israel conflict, Gaza–Israel conflicts dating ...

File:Joint_exercise_of_the_Duvdevan_Unit_and_the_601st_Special_Forces_Group_of_the_Czech_army,_August_2017._III.jpg, Joint exercise of the Duvdevan Unit and the 601st Special Forces Group of the Czech Army

References

External links

Garret Machine
{{Authority control Special forces of Israel Military counterterrorist organizations Military units and formations established in 1986