Unit 101: Israel’s First Special Ops Unit

This informative clip (6:25) introduces Israel’s first special operations commando unit, Unit 101, established in 1953. Led by IDF commander Ariel Sharon and made up of hand-picked soldiers (by invitation only), Unit 101 was tasked with responding to fedayeen terror – Palestinian guerrilla attacks on the fledgling State of Israel – that were especially rampant between 1948 and 1956. The unit was controversial from its inception and some of its operations, like Operation Black Arrow in 1955, were met with strong backlash from the international community. Today, the Black Arrow Memorial some 900 meters from the Gaza border commemorates the retaliatory operations of the 1950s and the losses incurred as a result. Nearby, the KKL-JNF has developed a beautiful picnic and recreation area, attracting more visitors to the scenic site.