Shalom, That was an awesome real life story Golani Zionist. Thank G-d, you got saved from Hezbollah fire.
What is the specific difference between Golani and Givati brigades?
I have read about Arab soldiers in IDF known as Abu Gosh commandos? How do Arabs serve with Jews in IDF? Can they be trusted?
What about women soldiers? Will they be sent out of Israel's borders to fight in the event of a war?
Thanks!
CZ
Shalom CZ!
Yes Baruch Hashem Toda La El that I was saved that night. Anything could of happend, we were very deep into south Lebanon in an area that was known at the time and certanly now as "Hezbollah land". The South Lebanese Army that were our supposed allies in the region, had no doubtly sold us out and set up the ambush that Hezbollah managed to pull off on us that night! 3 good Jewish fighters died that night, may Hashem avenge their deaths!
To answer your questions...
Givati and Golani are both infantry brigades in the I.D.F. Golani is 1st infantry foot soldiers, and Givati are better trained for marine invasions, like charging in from the sea. But in what we did in Lebanon and also in Judea and Samaria, the only real difference is the different areas the 2 brigades patrol and hold down. Golani has a longer history as well, and is the most decorated infantry brigade in the I.D.F's history! There are some really remarkable stories of heroic Golani soldiers that sacrificed their own lives to save the lives of their comrades, and stories of intense battles that they won while capturing the Golan Heights from Syria. In Israel theres a place called The Golani Juncture where theirs an actual museum dedicated to the history of the Golani Brigade.
Yes there are arab soldiers in the I.D.F. The majority of them are Bedouin trackers. They are used primarlily to track infiltrators from Egypt or Lebanon along the border. In Lebanon they would usually track for Hezbollah tracks along our roads looking for bombs.
Whats good is that they dont usually mix the arab units with the rest of the I.D.F., meaning they will do basic training and their active duty with their own kind. However Druze soldiers are common in the I.D.F, and I served with some in Golani. They arent really Arabs but do speak Arabic. Regardless, Druze are loyal to the state and are by and large good soldiers. The muslim/bedouin arab soldiers i'm not so sure about, and NO I personally wouldnt trust them.
Women soldiers I do believe would be sent out if they are part of a unit that is called up for battle. I dont know much about this though to be honest with you, all i do know is that when I was in the army, women were only allowed to teach us men how to use certain weapons and so on, they were great teachers that knew their tools of war very well, and i'm sure they could kick butt if need be. Mind you i'm not so sure I agree with putting our women in battle, but better they know how to fight then not know.