page_title: Golani Brigade
section_title: Insignia
hierarchical_section_title: Golani Brigade / Insignia
caption_attribution_description: English: IDF dress uniform of a Srg. First class, medic from the Golani Brigade. עברית: מדי א' של צה"ל. סמל ראשון, חובש קרבי מחטיבת גולני בעל צל"ש (אלוף פיקוד) ואות מלחמת לבנון השניה
context_page_description: The 1st "Golani" Brigade is an Israeli military infantry brigade that is subordinated to the 36th Division and traditionally associated with the Northern Command. It is one of the five infantry brigades of the Israel Defense Forces. Its symbol is a green olive tree against a yellow background, with its soldiers wearing a brown beret. It is one of the most highly decorated infantry units in the IDF. The brigade consists of five battalions, including two which it kept from its inception, one transferred from the Givati Brigade.
  The brigade was formed on February 22, 1948 during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, when the Levanoni Brigade in the Galilee split into the 1st Golani Brigade and the 2nd Carmeli Brigade. It has since participated in all of Israel's major wars and nearly all major operations, including the Suez Crisis, the Six-Day War, the War of Attrition, the Yom Kippur War, Operation Entebbe, the 1978 South Lebanon conflict, the 1982 and 2006 Lebanon Wars, and various operations during the Palestinian intifadas.
  Three of its commanders, Mordechai Gur, Gabi Ashkenazi and Gadi Eizenkot have become IDF Chiefs of Staff with many more reaching the rank of aluf.
context_section_description: The symbol of the brigade is a green olive tree with its roots on a yellow background. It was drawn by the 12th Battalion's intelligence officer, who came from kibbutz Beit Keshet, home to numerous olive trees. However, other sources claim it's an oak located in Yavne'el. The colors green and yellow symbolize the green hills of the Galilee, where the brigade was stationed at the time of its creation while the olive tree is known for its strong roots that penetrate and firmly hold the land, reflecting the brigade's connection with the State of Israel's heritage. The yellow background on which the tree stands reflects the brigade's role in the south of the country in the war of 1948, when it captured Umm-Rashrash, now Eilat, Israel's southernmost city.
  Early Golani soldiers were farmers and new immigrants, so the strong connection to the land (earth) was important to honor. For this reason, Golani's soldiers are designated by brown berets; the brown color symbolizing the brigade's connection with the soil of the Land of Israel.
  The Golani Brigade's official song was written by Amos Ettinger, composed by Efi Netzer and popularly performed by Yehoram Gaon. The song mentions the brigade's many battles, including references to Rafah in the Sinai War, Tel Faher in the Six-Day War, and Mount Hermon in the Yom Kippur War.
caption: Golani Brigade soldier, in service dress (an S.F.C, medic, with the Second Lebanon war ribbon & citation)
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