66 years ago, in the lead-up to the 1948 War of
Independence, the leadership of the Haganah formed the Golani Infantry
Brigade. Three months later, the State of Israel was established.
Golani’s soldiers were called on to defend the fledgling state from what
seemed like almost certain destruction. This week, a new generation of
Golani soldiers graduated from their basic training. Their mission: to
continue Golani’s proud tradition of protecting Israel.
The Golani Infantry Brigade was founded as part of six regional
brigades, established a full three months before the establishment of
the State of Israel. Since then, the Golani Brigade has fought in all
major wars and nearly all major operations throughout Israel’s history.
Golani was called to action for the first time after May 15th, 1948,
when Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Transjordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and
the Arab Liberation Army (volunteers from various Arab countries)
attacked Israel on the night of its Declaration of Independence.
The brigade’s soldiers successfully repelled the Syrian Army in the
Battle of the Kinarot Valley and Iraqi forces in the Battle of Gesher.
After pushing back the Arab Liberation Army and capturing a number of
villages in the Jordan Valley, the force was largely transferred to the
south to fight the Egyptian Army. In the war’s final act, Golani was
tasked with capturing Umm-Rashrash, now known as Eilat.
On October 6, 1973 – Yom Kippur,
the holiest day of the Jewish calendar – the militaries of Syria and
Egypt launched a surprise assault on IDF forces in the Golan Heights and
the Sinai Peninsula, respectively. IDF forces suffered heavy losses but
ultimately overcame the combined attack. The Golani Brigade fought
valiantly in the Golan Heights during the war, playing an important role
in the IDF’s victory.
During the war, the IDF decided to take back the Hermon post and conquer the Syrian Hermon. The operation was lead by the Golani and Paratroopers
Brigades. In an intense battle that lasted through the night, they
liberated the Hermon post. Israel now controlled the entirety of the
Syrian part of Mt. Hermon. Despite the high number of casualties, the
operation was a success.
The brigade also participated in the 1976 Operation Entebbe,
when Israeli special forces rescued over 100 civilians from a plane
that was hijacked and taken to Entebbe, Uganda by German and Palestinian
terrorists.
The Golani Infantry Brigade is lead today by Col. Ghassan
Alian, a Druze Israeli, who is the first officer of Druze origin to
command the brigade.
When the brigade is not engaged in battle, it is tasked
primarily with counter-terrorism operations, and has dealt effectively
with hundreds of threats. Much of that responsibility falls on the
Golani Infantry Brigade Reconnaissance Battalion, who graduated their
newest soldiers this week. Their mission will be to continue the proud
tradition Golani soldiers have fulfilled since 1948: to fight valiantly
for Israel.
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