Duvdevan Unit Duvdevan ( ; " lit . " cherry ) is an elite special forces unit within the Israel Defense Forces , directly subordinate to the West Bank Division and the Paratroopers Brigade . Duvdevan are particularly noted for conducting undercover operation s against militant s in urban areas . During these operations , Duvdevan soldiers typically wear Arab civilian clothes as a disguise . They are also known to be trained in human and mechanical countersurveillance . Duvdevan is one of the most prestigious counter - terrorist units of the IDF , and thus recruitment to it is highly desired among recruitment - aged youths in Israel . The Duvdevan unit motto : ( ) " For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war " ( Proverbs 24 : 6 ) . History . The unit prides itself on being the spearhead of Israeli counter terror operations . In 2002 the unit was awarded as such by the prime minister for having the most significant effect on the war on terror . The Duvdevan unit is regarded as one of the world ' s most successful counter - terror units . In January 2008 , the unit assassinated a major Islamic Jihad commander in the West Bank . In April 2008 , the unit tracked down and killed Hani Ka ’ abi after surrounding his house in the Balata neighborhood of Nablus . He headed a cell belonging to the Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades , linked to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas ’ s Fatah . He was the mastermind of a plot to carry out an attack by slipping a slow - acting poison powder , virtually undetectable , into the food of diners at the “ Grill Express ” restaurant in Ramat Gan , where he had recruited two Arab kitchen workers as operatives . Hosni Tzalag , Ka ’ abi ’ s deputy , and another terrorist were arrested during the operation . The soldiers recovered two rifles , ammunition magazines , and bulletproof vests at the home . In March 2012 , a Duvdevan unit in civilian clothing entered Rammun , a Palestinian town in the eastern West Bank , reportedly on a night - time training exercise were mistaken for burglars by three brothers from the Shawakhah family . All three brothers were shot multiple times in the confrontation that followed that also involved uniformed IDF soldiers , and Rashad Shawakhah died of his wounds several days later in hospital . Israeli Army Radio initially reported that terrorists had attacked an IDF soldier during a military operation . An IDF soldier who kicked one of the wounded handcuffed men after the shooting was reportedly dismissed shortly after the incident . B ' Tselem , who have stated that the undercover unit ' s operational method and rules of engagement violate international law , requested the army ' s Criminal Investigations Division to examine the incident . The military advocate general opened an investigation in May 2012 . Organization & Mission . The unit is actually recognized with only a unit identity number and Duvdevan is simply the nickname given to the unit . In the unit ' s short 20 year history it has stood above and beyond the traditional special units of the IDF and was thus nicknamed " Duvdevan , " or " cherry " in English , in reference to its elite status even among the other special units of the IDF . The unit is unique in several ways : it is the only IDF unit ( not including police units ) that has no wartime mission , just day - to - day hit and run operations . The unit , unlike other SF units , can operate in more than one place at once , and can operate independently . This means providing its own intelligence , backup , rescue , medical teams , extraction , snipers , demolitions , etc . . . The unit can perform high - risk arrests , raids , targeted killing , kidnappings and a range of other urban warfare operations . The unit falls under the command of the Judea and Samaria Division of the IDF . This means the unit is under an area command , not a manpower or brigade command like most other Israeli Army units . This allows the unit to operate anywhere in the country and nowhere specific , unlike other special units that are attached to brigades , like Egoz to the Golani Brigade , Maglan to the Paratroopers Brigade , or Oketz and Lotar to the Mitkan Adam base . Only Duvdevan and Sayeret Matkal are authorized to wear their uniforms without identifying shoulder tabs . The unit is most similar to the Yamam and Yamas police units . The unit underwent some major changes around 2002 . They are as follows :