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Danger under the sea: This is how the divers unit in Eilat works Israel today

2021-03-07T08:10:24.328Z


| You should know Fin warriors board ships, and also dive beneath them • Unit Commander: "Things are happening, silence is beautiful for them" • This is what you do not see when you are vacationing in Eilat • Watch If you look at the city of Eilat with security eyes, you will indeed see a vibrant resort town in the days when there is no corona, but you will also recognize the tangible threat that may come to it, e


Fin warriors board ships, and also dive beneath them • Unit Commander: "Things are happening, silence is beautiful for them" • This is what you do not see when you are vacationing in Eilat • Watch

If you look at the city of Eilat with security eyes, you will indeed see a vibrant resort town in the days when there is no corona, but you will also recognize the tangible threat that may come to it, especially from the sea.

This is a border triangle - Israel, Egypt and Jordan, and Saudi Arabia also has a close view of the sea.

In addition, the fact that a huge amount of goods arrive in the city adds another layer of threat.

The calm does exist, but who knows if the storm is already on its way in the form of a terrorist attack planned from a distance.

Photo: Oren Cohen, Hezi Shochat, IDF Spokesman

Those who are at the forefront of the fighting in Eilat are the fighters of the Fin Unit, a special unit that operates above and below the sea level to protect the tens of thousands of vacationers and residents in the city.

The unit's fighters operate as part of the ongoing security forces on wasp-type ships at sea, and under diving equipment below sea level.

Not only at sea: 

taking over a hotel and releasing hostages: a rare glimpse into the Eilat Lutheran Unit

"We deal with everything related to the security of the port, including the EPA (Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline).

In addition, because this is a particularly crowded arena, we play a key role in the BATH circle, assisting, reinforcing and any other security need with the various security bodies - including activities in events where there is a risk to life, "says Capt. ZIS Fin (Red Sea Arena) for "Israel Today" and provides a relatively rare glimpse into the unit.

The Fin Unit, formerly known as the Port Security Unit, was established with the aim of securing the civilian and military ports in the State of Israel from threats on land, above and below water.

Unlike other units, the fin unit is divided into three arms, each of which stands on its own - in Haifa, Ashdod and Eilat.

Along with the ports' maritime security against terrorists at sea, the fighters board merchant ships every day and scan them to remove fear of terrorist activity.

This is a particularly great threat, because terrorists are certainly capable of carrying terrorists, weapons and even bombs, with the aim of carrying out an attack in Eilat or anywhere else in Israeli territory.

If the fighters do not detect such a threat in real time, there will be no one to stop the military equipment from entering Israeli territory and literally endangering life.

The fighters who enlist in the fin unit undergo a three-day formation led by reservists from the Yaltaam and Sanfir units. Even after completing the training, which lasts four months, they continue to specialize in various fields, so unlike other units, such as infantry battalions, the actual training continues throughout the service.

"The professional requirement is very high, so the course is only the initial part and the fighters continue with additional certifications and studies even while working within the unit," Lubchenko explains.

"A soldier who comes from training is admittedly talented, but basically."

The unit commanders are graduates of a seamanship course who perform a variety of areas prior to joining the fin.

Sgt. Rotem Tarlovsky, a resident of Tel Aviv, is one of the veteran fighters in the unit. As in other female combat roles, the fighters are required to sign a two- and eight-year service, and she says there is no difference between men and women in the unit.

Admittedly, most of the fighters are men and there are about 40 percent of women, but I do not feel any different treatment.

The girls come to the command, get the same positions, without exception. "

Trlovsky knows the sea well.

"I came to the unit with a lot of background from the world of sailing - from the fifth grade. I was in the Yam youth movement, I participated in sailing competitions in Herzliya. It was very important to me to get to war and I was lucky to hear about the unit. It is an amazing experience. The unit has quite a few trainings." "We are below the surface of the water, above the surface of the water, on a vessel. I wish that for every soldier. There is no boring routine here."

In addition to the security activities, a different type of activity was carried out in the unit several months ago.

The previous winter there was an unusual storm of magnitude, which destroyed a sea wall and turned it into an underwater hazard.

Therefore, the Nature and Parks Authority decided together with the Wiltham fin to carry out an operation to copy the corals to artificial fields and then dismantle the hazard.

This is a project that is plowed once every 40 years, and for us it is a privilege to carry out such work, "Lubchenko notes.

"It was a crazy experience," Tarlovsky shares.

"We were given instructions on how to get to the coral farms and how to move them without harming them. This is a particularly important project, and it was a privilege to take part in it."

About a year and a half ago, a Jordanian citizen entered Israel by sea.

He swam from the coast of Jordan to the shores of Eilat, where he was captured by security forces.

Admittedly, in this case it was not a terrorist, but the threat from such an intrusion is clear.

To this end, both underwater and underwater activities are important in order to maintain fitness and prepare for command day.

"One of the threats we face is underwater divers reaching the shores of Eilat," confirms Lubchenko, but adds: "We have tools and we are constantly working to prevent such a threat."

"Of course a record of threats, even at less predictable boundaries. There are things that citizens are not aware of. The first thing a citizen thinks of when he comes to Eilat is fun and recreation, and our mission, when we get up in the morning and go to sea, is not to remind citizens that he is threatened." "When we jump to one event or another. There are a lot of things that happen and the silence is good for them."

Source: israelhayom

All news articles on 2021-03-07

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