Notable Sayeret Matkal figures
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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".[SUP]
[1][/SUP] It is directly subordinate to the IDF's
Directorate of Military Intelligence. It is known in the IDF as "the Unit"
§
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 while trying to overtake the terrorists aboard American Airlines Flight 11, Lewin was the first victim of the September 11 attacks.