Israel’s First Special Ops Unit

This video deals with a tense topic, fraught with controversy and passionate perspectives: how should governments respond to terrorism? Israelis have been fighting terrorism since well before the establishment of the State and certainly before Israel’s sweeping victory in 1967. In 1953, just five years into statehood, Israel needed to respond to terrorist attacks from outside its borders, and Israel formed Unit 101, its first special operations team, yet it disbanded quickly after it began its operations. Using this video and educator guide, students will learn why the unit was formed, why it disbanded only months after its creation, and the impact it left on the nascent state. How can a country like Israel balance its obligations to protect her citizens and also engage in warfare with the moral and ethical high ground intact? Can both be accomplished?

video Transcript