The wider public is not very familiar with life in Yamam, the Israel Police's renowned counterterrorism unit.
But as someone who rose through its ranks in a variety of positions over the years, I know that terms such as "Zionism" and "honor" are not shallow words in the unit, but hallowed principles.
In general, Yamam is above all an elite outfit of experienced, mature people who, before volunteering for the unit, were already highly accomplished fighters in the Israel Defense Forces. The unit contains people who care immensely for what is happening in the country. These are distinguished warriors who could have opted for civilian life to earn a far better living. Yet they still chose to volunteer, to undergo the grueling course in which they are often pitted against one another, and to take part in extremely demanding training exercises. This is a decision to willingly enter into a world far harsher than any they previously knew. Fighting terrorism is a way of life in Yamam. In this respect, there is no other unit like it in Israel.
Beyond this, Yamam is unique in two respects. The first is its esprit de corps: These are warriors who live together 24 hours a day, for years on end, and can communicate and understand each other without speaking.
The second aspect is its extraordinary professionalism. In 2014, we were in a firefight in Jenin, very near the site of the operation on Wednesday. Then, too, we had two wounded and another fighter who was shot in his bullet-proof vest at point-blank range. It must be understood that this area, in the heart of the city's refugee camp, is extremely difficult to reach. The soldiers had to fight just to get to the target. To withdraw from such a place with minimum casualties and damage, they had to call Yamam. This is a dangerous reality with virtually no margin for error, and requires a different level of skills. The same professionalism was on display earlier that year too, when I commanded the exceedingly tough operation in Hebron where we fought the two terrorists who had abducted and murdered the three teenage boys.
I always hear political leaders say we can reach any terrorist wherever he may be. That is well and good. At the end of the day, after all the intelligence has been gathered, you need the tip of the spear to carry it out, and that is Yamam.
At the same time, humility is the most important aspect of the unit's character. This is because everything must be scrutinized, even the most successful operations. I am certain that on Thursday morning, all the fighters who took part in the Jenin operation the previous night participated in a debriefing session to learn lessons for the next mission. I remember that once, after a dry run before an operation, the unit commander posed some challenging questions. It was a new fighter in the unit who spoke up and offered a suggestion that negated the risk of friendly fire. No one, not even the most senior commanders, has a monopoly on wisdom.
The unit does not attract new fighters through media public relations, but through the stories passed on by word of mouth to candidates. At heart, Yamam is much more than a typical military unit. It is a family.
