PHOTO ESSAY: IDF Beduin Reconnaissance Unit on the Gaza border

 

Composed of mostly Beduin soldiers, IDF’s Desert Reconnaissance Battalion uses unique tracking skills not utilized by any other army, specializing on infiltrations from Gaza but able to deal with any threat that may arise.

By SETH J. FRANTZMAN

 

The Desert Reconnaissance Battalion is tasked with patrolling along the Gaza Strip helping to Israeli communities.

Composed of mostly Beduin soldiers, they use unique tracking skills to prevent infiltration from Gaza and deal with other threats that arise.

An IDF Beduin tracker on patrol. Unlike other minorities that serve in the army, for Beduin, service is on a volunteer basis. – Photo: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT

 

Today, setting off from Kissufim, we will be seeing how they carry out their daily mission and speaking with the volunteer soldiers and commanders as well as understanding the threats and innovations used to counter them.

"no other country can defend as well as we do; there is no country in the world that does what we do" - Shibli

“no other country can defend as well as we do; there is no country in the world that does what we do” – Shibli

 

 

This unit 585 of mostly #bedouin #Muslim #IDF soldiers serves along #Gaza strip border defending #Israel communities

This unit 585 of mostly #bedouin #Muslim #IDF soldiers serves along #Gaza strip border defending #Israel communities

 

"after 12 years I don't regret 1 second that I came to this unit; the army is the key to #Israel society" - Hussein - Photo: SETH J. FRANTZMAN

“after 12 years I don’t regret 1 second that I came to this unit; the army is the key to #Israel society” – Hussein – Photo: SETH J. FRANTZMAN

 

 

Unit 585 patrols the border with #Gaza and defends against threats and infiltration; #Israel

Unit 585 patrols the border with #Gaza and defends against threats and infiltration; #Israel

 

“Our #IDF unit is made up of volunteers from Bedouin, #Christian #Circassian #Muslim communities in #Israel” – Photo: SETH J. FRANTZMAN

 

View original The Jerusalem Post publication at:
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Meet-the-IDF-Beduin-patrol-unit-protecting-the-Gaza-border-468084