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| Moshe Tamir
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| Brown beret
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The Golani Brigade חטיבת גולני (also known as Brigade No. 1) is an Israeli infantry brigade that was formed February 28, 1948 when the Levanoni Brigade in the upper Galilee was divided in two smaller brigades. It is one of the most highly decorated infantry units in the IDF.
After the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, the Golani Brigade participated in a number of reprisal raids in the first part of the 1950s. In 1951 against Syria. In October 1955 in a joint operation with the Paratroopers Brigade against Egypt.
The symbol of the brigade is a green olive tree with its roots on a yellow background. The colors green and yellow symbolize the green hills of the Galilee, where the brigade was stationed at the time of its creation and 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, thus this symbol was chosen. The yellow background on which the tree stands reflect's the Brigade's role in the south of the country in 1948, when it took Eilat, Israel's southernmost city. Early Golani soldiers were farmers and new immigrants, so the strong connection to the land (earth) was important to symbolize. For this reason, Golani's soldiers are designated by brown berets, which they earned from Sayeret Golani's role in the Entebbe Operation in 1976 in Uganda. The brown symbolizes the brigade's connection with the soil of the Land of Israel. This is in stark contrast to other Israeli infantry brigades, who display bright colors (purple, bright green, red) and snappy symbols.
In the upper Galilee located north of Haifa at the Golani Junction stands the Golani Brigade Museum commemorating the brigade and its heroes.
Golani is the most veteran IDF brigade and earned a reputation for its die-hard soldiers: who tend to be fearless, impulsive and warm. On the good side, these qualities are expressed in braveness, toughness and quick response - producing excellent warriors who can handle the hardest situation. Golani is known for its high "warrior comraderie" among the "regular regiment" troops and enjoy a very good reputation among Israeli public. On the bad side, these qualities are expressed in recklessness and lack of discipline. During the late 1990's, two Golani company-size units revolted against their officers, left their posts in the field, and went home. The reasons were complex, essentially due to the immaturity of both the junior officers who lacked leadership skills and their subordinates who felt very humiliated. The unique culture in Golani requires all soldiers address commanders by first name -- after the advanced exercise following basic -- not by rank or Sir, like in the rest of the IDF. Over 70 were jailed and both companies, one known as the "Mustangs" containing many former Sayeret Golani fighters, were disbanded.
Golani's recon company or Sayeret Golani is one of the most respected SF units in the IDF with one of the most difficult training regimens that begins in an area known as area 100 in the upper Galilee. This unit in conjunction with Sayeret Matkal re-took the Hermon position in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. This unit's soldiers are so dedicated that in 1994 one of the operators who was a team leader (a second lieutenant designated to lead the smallest size unit within the recon) extricated himself from a Hezbollah minefield, after half his right leg was blown-off -- yes, he first applied the tourniquet to his leg himself so as not to endanger any of the other soldiers in his team. He is now a senior commander in the IDF.
As of 2004, Golani operates within the northern border of Israel and in Samaria (north part, mainly Jenin). During 2004, Golani battalion reinforced the Givati Brigade in the Gaza Strip.
