The Duvdevan Unit
The Duvdevan Unit (Unit 217) is a special forces commando unit operating under the IDF’s Commando Brigade, AKA the Oz (“Courage”) Brigade. The unit was established in May 1986 under the Judea and Samaria Headquarters of the IDF’s Central Command.
During one of the discussions that preceded the establishment of the unit it was said that the goal was to “create an elite unit that will be the ‘cherry on top’”. Therefore, the Commanding Officer of the Central Command at the time, MG Ehud Barak, named the unit Duvdevan (“Cherry”).The unit’s symbol is the biblical double edged sword of Ehud Ben Gera and symbolizes the unit’s motto: “By wise counsel thou shalt make thy war.”
Every one of the unit’s active-duty soldiers and veterans maintain a sense of one big family, both throughout their service and in their lives as graduates. The unit’s association is highly influential, organizing social and professional events for the graduates and the community, ensuring the preservation of a warm and loving sense of belonging, and assisting unit graduates in integrating into society and the job market through the unit’s alumni.
The unit’s active duty soldiers and veterans are family to one another, both throughout their service and in civilian life. The foundation is very active and continuously holds social and professional events for the unit’s veterans and the Duvdevan Unit’s community. We make sure to preserve every soldier’s unique sense of belonging and assist recently released soldiers to join society and the workforce with the help of senior members of the foundation.
The unit has been continuously conducting counterterrorism operational activity in the Judea and Samaria region with the goal of thwarting terrorist infrastructure and activities in the area. The unit conducts crucial arrests which assist in studying terrorist infrastructure in the region and directly prevent attacks targeting Israeli civilians.
In 2014 the unit played a central role in Operation Brother’s Keeper and later on in Operation Protective Edge.
2003-2011: “Ebb and Flow”
During this period the unit carried out a long series of operational activities, leading to the apprehension of many wanted individuals. The unit’s operations during this time can be divided into four stages:
- Stage A: Handling mass riots particularly in the Judea and Samaria region
- Stage B: Conducting special operations in Area B and initiating operational activities in Area A.
- Stage C: Conducting combat and frequent special operations in Area A.
- Stage D: Operation Defensive Shield – Taking control of areas where terrorists gather, plan and launch terrorist attacks. The unit received the Chief of the General Staff Commendation for its operations in Stage D. In February 2002 the Commander of the Duvdevan Unit, LTC Eyal Weiss was killed due to a collapsing wall during an operation in Judea and Samaria.
The “Duvdevan” unit was established in May 1986 as a regional undercover commando combat team under the IDF Central Command. The decision to establish the unit stemmed from a need for a precise combat method to counter Palestinian terrorist organizations and militias operating within densely populated civilian areas.
In December 1987, a wave of violent riots and attacks broke out, which became known as the Intifada. The intifada targeted both Israeli soldiers and civilians and included terrorist activities ranging from stabbing attacks to suicide bombings. Due to the complex security situation, the unit adapted its training and operations to be able to face a wider range of threats and quickly became the IDF’s leading counterterrorism force.
