Givati Brigade | |
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Brigade flag
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Active | 1947–1948, 1982–present |
Country | Israel |
Branch | Israel Defense Forces |
Type | Marines |
Role | Infantry |
Part of |
366th Armor Division, Israeli Southern Command |
Motto(s) | "With me to Givati", "Any Place, Any Time, Any Mission", "The most combatant, Givati" |
Colors | Purple berets, purple and white flag |
March | "Mi She-Halam Givati" ("Those who dreamt Givati") |
Mascot(s) | Fox |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Current commander |
Colonel Yaron Finkelman |
Notable commanders |
Effi Eitam, Imad Fares, Amos Yarkoni |
The Givati Brigade (Hebrew: חֲטִיבַת גִּבְעָתִי, literally "Hill Brigade" or "Highland Brigade") is an Israel Defense Forces infantry brigade, and serves as its amphibious force. Givati soldiers are designated by purple berets. The Brigade's symbol is the fox, alluding to Shualei Shimshon (שועלי שמשון, lit. "Samson's Foxes"), a unit in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.
Givati was formed in December 1947 and placed under the command of Shimon Avidan. At the start of the 1948 Palestine war, the brigade was charged with operations in the central region of Israel, participating in operations Hametz, Barak and Pleshet. As the war entered its second stage, Givati became the 5th Brigade, was moved to the south, and concentrated mainly around Gedera, Gan Yavne and Be'er Tuvia. One battalion fought on the Jerusalem front, participating in Operation Nachshon and the Battles of Latrun.
When Israel declared independence, Givati consisted of 5 battalions, with notable commanders such as Jehuda Wallach (51st Battalion), Ya'akov Pri (52nd Battalion), Yitzhak Pundak (53rd Battalion), Tzvi Tzur (54th Battalion) and Eitan Livni (55th Battalion). A sixth battalion (the 57th) was founded on May 30, 1948 from Irgun veterans, in preparation for Operation Pleshet. The brigade or parts thereof subsequently participated in the Battle of Nitzanim, Operation An-Far, Operation Yoav, etc. It was converted into a reserve brigade in 1956 and its 51st "HaBokim HaRishonim" infantry battalion transferred to the Golani Brigade.