Hearts and minds: Discussing possible building projects with the headteacher of a girls’ school

Report Cliff Caswell
Picture: Mike Weston

IN the rolling verdant hills that surround Jerusalem, the Israeli Border police were in deep cover.
Beneath the strobes of lightning and thunder resonating through the valleys, the military-trained officers were playing a constant observation and waiting game.

They remained silent, invisible and focused on their job despite the enormous globules of rain from the winter storm exploding around them.
The men of the elite Metilan counter-terrorist unit have taken camouflage to a new level. While a passer-by might, by chance, have clocked the sniper in the bushes, they would probably never have given a second thought to his colleague elaborately disguised as a rubbish tip by the side of the road.

Like real life Transformers, these men can set themselves up to blend in with everyday objects. Using lightweight disguises made from rubber and foam, they can merge flawlessly with the street and appear from nowhere with weapons at the ready.

The reputation of the men from the Metilan speaks for itself. Constantly in the line of fire in and around the holy city of Jerusalem, the 40-strong unit has been involved in actions as diverse as sniping against hardcore rioters and pinpoint snatch operations.

In the last 12 months alone, they have been responsible for hitting back at petrol bombers, arresting terror suspects and preventing illegal workers from entering the city.

“As a Border Police unit, our training is very much military focused,” said the commanding officer who asked only to be identified as Superintendent A. “In order to undertake selection with us, you do your basic training with the Israeli Defence Forces before you come here for three months to learn the skills that you will need.

“All of our men undergo regular
physical and psychological tests to make sure they are up to the job and, to give you an idea of how tough the process can be, we had 60 candidates recently apply and only eight made the grade.”

Given the nature of the work carried out by officers in the Metilan, which ranges from dealing with public order situations to covert surveillance, it is unsurprising that personnel in the unit have to be in excellent mental and physical shape.
They must also be intelligent and able to work on their own initiative. Additionally, the ability to endure long periods of isolation out on operations is vital.

Troops in the unit, which has embedded specialists including snipers and dog handlers, are also trained to deploy by helicopter and gather intelligence.

“We can carry out both straightforward and complex actions,” said Superintendent A. “As an example, in one operation a team of troops had to cover a kilometre without drawing attention to themselves – it took five hours.”

The Metilan is certainly well equipped to carry out its role. Along with a diverse suite of weapons, led by the US M16 assault rifle, the inventory includes body armour with a built in Camelbak-style hydration system and the latest night vision aids.

But, as in any military organisation, the personnel are the cornerstone of success. For those on the front line of the battle, maintaining mental and physical agility is key. “You have to be able to deal with some pretty claustrophobic conditions,” admitted one instructor, identified only as Trooper R. “But your training, experience and high adrenalin levels get you through them.

“While you are well prepared for what you are doing, no day is ever the same in this job. I have been on a number of different ops in my five years here.”

A colleague, identified as Trooper A, agreed. “You have to take on whatever situation you find yourself in calmly and professionally,” he stressed. “And you also have to be an excellent team player because you spend a lot of time with colleagues
on deployments.”

Constant operations are certainly the core business of the Metilan. Whether its forces are camouflaged and carrying out covert actions or involved in an all-out assault, there is no shortage of professionalism among the men in its ranks.

Armed with the latest kit and trained to the highest standards, this is a unique unit. And, on the front line of Israel’s never-ending battle against terrorism, this world-leading capability has proved invaluable for hitting attackers before, as well as when, they strike.