IDF unit — Duvdevan (דובדבן, Unit 217, Commando Brigade): undercover counter-terror in Judea & Samaria, Gibush Yachatiot, profile, training, Arabic, olim
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duvdevan_Unit; https://garinmahal.com/gibushim-tryouts; https://draftidf.co.il/units/ · 2026-09
What it is
Duvdevan is the IDF’s undercover counter-terrorism unit for Judea and Samaria, founded in 1986 and since 2015 part of the 89th “Oz” Commando Brigade (with Maglan, Egoz and Rimon). Operators work as mista’arvim — dressed and behaving as local Palestinians — to conduct arrests, raids and targeted operations in dense urban areas, and are trained for hostage rescue and CT. The Netflix series Fauda is loosely modelled on it (co-creator Lior Raz served in the unit).
Requirements
- Medical profile: 97 as a rule (82 occasionally admitted).
- Kaba / DAPAR: high; psychological screening is significant because of the undercover role.
- Hebrew: high. Arabic is not required — it is taught in the unit; native Arabic speakers (e.g. olim from Arabic-speaking backgrounds) are an asset.
- Gibush: Gibush Yachatiot (about 3 days; several times a year). Candidates reach it after Yom Sayerot or by direct invitation based on Tzav Rishon scores. Duvdevan is among the most requested units at this gibush.
- Gender: men only.
Training
About 15–16 months: infantry basic and advanced training with the Paratroopers Brigade, parachuting, then Duvdevan’s own course — urban CT, close-quarters combat, Krav Maga at an advanced level, driving, disguise and Arabic, arrest procedures, marksmanship — ending with a beret march. Operators wear the Paratroopers’ red beret with the Commando Brigade tag.
Service length
32 months conscription; unlike Matkal/Shayetet/Shaldag/669, Duvdevan and the other Commando Brigade units do not generally require signing extra keva for the basic operator track (command tracks add time). Confirm at the gibush.
For olim
- More reachable than the Yom Sayerot units because the entry point is Gibush Yachatiot, which also invites strong candidates without a 7+ Hebrew score, and because no multi-year keva is required.
- Olim who speak Arabic (from France, North Africa, Latin America with Lebanese/Syrian roots, etc.) should say so at the Tzav Rishon interview — it is directly relevant to this unit.
- Hebrew still needs to be strong; undercover work and split-second radio traffic are in Hebrew. Michve Alon graduates are rarely invited but can ask the placement officer about Gibush Yachatiot.
- NBN’s Lone Soldiers Program can submit a screening request for Gibush Yachatiot (army@nbn.org.il).
The Commando Brigade at a glance
| Unit | Specialty |
|---|---|
| Duvdevan (217) | Undercover CT, urban Judea & Samaria |
| Maglan (212) | Deep operations behind lines, advanced weapons |
| Egoz (621) | Guerrilla / anti-guerrilla warfare, dense terrain, north |
| Rimon | Desert and Gaza-envelope counter-terror |
All four enter via Gibush Yachatiot and train with the Paratroopers.
Contacts
- Meitav: 1111 · Mitgaisim: mitgaisim.idf.il
- NBN Lone Soldiers Program: army@nbn.org.il, 02-659-5800