MAGAV is the combat branch of the Israeli Police and its composed from professional officers on payroll and field policemen redirected from the IDF (men at the age of 18 can choose to serve in MAGAV instead of the IDF, serving 3 years as a MAGAV policeman is equal to serve 3 years as an IDF soldier). All MAGAV policemen receive combat training and in addition are also trained for CT (counter-terror), crowd control and policework. Excellent policemen can specialize in some profession and receive special training to become snipers, buggie-drivers, dog operators, bomb squad etc.
Because of their combat training, MAGAV are employed in unquiet areas, where there are greater risks for riots, violence and even terror. They serve mainly at the countryside, at Arab villages and towns (along with the "blue" police), near the borders and at the West Bank.
MAGAV is also responsible for security of rural settlements inside Israel with it's SHITUR KAFRI (Rural police) units and community security officers or RABASHIM (Security Coordinators). SHITUR KAFRI are full time proffesional officers and RABASHIM are a mixture of full time and volunteer officers.
MAGAV has four SF units: YAMAM (Counter Terror and Hostage Rescue unit), YAMAS (Counter Terror undercover unit), YAMAG (Tactical Counter Crime and Counter Terror rapid deployment unit) and MATILAN (Intelligence gathering and infiltrations interception unit).
MAGAV have excellent record of thwarting terrorist attacks. Some of the most famous avertions of MAGAV is the capture of a bomb-car, containing more than 500 kg of explosives, near Wadi Arra. Another famous avertion of MAGAV is the detection of 3 explosive-belts near Jerusalem on 11.9.2003.
The YAMAM record includes the capture of a terrorist group hidden in the Arab town of Taibe, the resuce of Eliyaho Goral, the killing of Hamas head in Hebron, Abbedullah Qawasameh and the foiling of an attempt massacre in Yokne'am school by Palestinian terrorists.
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