The 36th Division is the largest armored division in active service in the Israeli Defense Forces. Established in 1954, it belongs to the Northern Command and consists of the Golani Brigade, the 7th Brigade, the 188th Brigade, and the 282nd Brigade, each with its own area of specialization.
Throughout its history, the 36th Division has participated in all wars waged by Israel against Palestinians and Arabs, beginning with the wars of 1948 and 1967, and including conflicts in South Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
On Monday, January 15, 2024, the Israeli military announced the withdrawal of the 36th Division and all of its brigades from the Gaza Strip after more than 100 days since the conflict began on October 7, 2023.
Foundation
The 36th Division was founded in September 1954, under the initial command of General Abraham Yoffe. It did not have permanent forces; instead, it was tasked with receiving troops under the Northern Command for various missions, including logistics, intelligence, operations, and military functions.
Since its inception, the division has been part of the Northern Command, based at Neveh Yarm base, responsible for the Golan Heights and Hermon region. In January 2014, it moved to Camp Tabor, facing Mount Tabor, the highest mountain in the southern section of Lower Galilee in North Palestine.
Components
The division comprises four regular brigades, each with its own distinctive insignia:
Golani Brigade (First Brigade)
The Golani Brigade is the only regular infantry brigade continuously operating in the Israeli military since its establishment. It was founded on February 22, 1948, and consists of Barak Battalion, Gideon Battalion, and a reconnaissance battalion. The brigade’s soldiers are distinguished by their brown berets and black boots.
The Seventh Brigade
Considered the oldest armored brigade in the Israeli Defense Forces, the 7th Brigade was established on May 16, 1948. As one of the three regular armored brigades, it includes the 77th, 82nd, and 603rd engineering battalions. Its soldiers routinely undergo intensive training every few months, particularly on emergency situations and new weaponry. Since 2014, the 7th Brigade has been equipped with Merkava Mk. 4 tanks.
The 36th Division was established in 1954 and has fought in various conflicts. (French Press)
188th Brigade
Also a regular armored brigade, it was formed prior to the creation of Israel as a foot brigade named Carmeli. It later evolved into Armored Brigade 45, and in April 1969, it was renamed “Barak Brigade” with number 188. It includes the Sayeret 74, Sofa 53, Reshef 71 battalions, and the 605th Field Engineers Battalion. It was the last brigade to use the Centurion tanks before transitioning to Merkava-3 tanks in 1992.
Artillery Brigade 282
Established shortly before the October 1973 war as an artillery brigade, it has since participated in the occupation of the Golan Heights alongside the 7th and Golani Brigades. The brigade consists of six battalions, four regular and two reserve, including the 411, the 405 (“Tiger”) Battalion, and the 334 (“Ram”) Battalion, the latter being the only missile unit in the Israeli army equipped with launch platforms.
Emblem
The emblem, designed by Colonel Rafael Eitan, features a tank with wings, topped with a sword symbolizing the division’s combat prowess. Swords are generally a key part of the Israeli army’s insignias.
The winged tanks indicate that it is an armored division with armored brigades. The wings connote the rapid and effortless movement of the division despite its armored nature.
The emblem of the 36th Division in the Israeli Defense Forces (World Military)
According to the Israeli military, the colors in the emblem signify:
- Red, representing the blood of the division’s soldiers who have fallen in various battles.
- Light blue and white on the wing, a nod to the Israeli flag.
- Green and black, the colors of the armored corps in the Israeli army.
History
The 36th Division was founded in 1954 and saw combat in different wars. During the 1967 war, under the command of General Elad Peled, the division fought in the north of Samaria, taking control of Jenin, Nablus, and the Golan.
In that conflict, Infantry Brigades 3 and 9, Armored Brigade 37, Mechanized Brigade 45, and Command Armored Battalion 181 were under the division’s command, alongside other brigades.
The division was entrusted with combat on the Syrian and Jordanian borders, and together with the 7th Brigade and 282nd Brigade, conducted operations like the Tel Aziziat operation, resulting in the Golan Heights falling to Israel.
The 7th Brigade from the 36th Division played a significant role in halting the Syrian army’s advance in the Golan, with Batallion 82 engaging in conflicts in the plateau’s southern region.
From its inception until 1971, the 36th Division managed temporary forces assigned to it for different missions, with no permanent regular forces. In 1971, it restructured as a standing division in the army with fixed forces and brigades, taking long-term responsibility for the Golan Heights sector.
The division participated in the October 1973 war with regular standing forces. The Golani Brigade occupied Mount Hermon and the surrounding highlands, while the 188th Brigade faced Syrian forces in the Golan.
Some of the division’s brigades and battalions took part in the initial 1982 Lebanon War, fighting on the central front and along the coastal road leading to Beirut. Forces from the 188th Brigade reached the outskirts of Beirut and engaged Syrian forces. Meanwhile, a battalion from the 188th, along with the Golani Brigade, combated in south Lebanon’s middle and western sectors, particularly at Ain al-Hilweh camp. The 282nd Brigade participated in shelling militant positions, and the division’s soldiers faced off against fighters around Sidon.
Additionally, brigades and battalions from the 36th Division were active in the 2006 Lebanon War, facing significant losses. The division also played a part in the Second Intifada, contributing to the suppression and arrest of Palestinians, especially in the West Bank, and conducted operations across various regions in Palestine and south Lebanon.
The 36th Division suffered multiple casualties and equipment losses in the 2023 Gaza conflict. (French Press)
Gaza Wars
The 36th Division participated in the Israeli wars on Gaza:
2008-2009 Conflict
Some of the 36th Division’s brigades joined the war initiated by Israel against the Gaza Strip on December 27, 2008, starting with an air offensive. In the ground invasion phase, the division contributed to the incursion with its brigades, heavily bombarding Gaza and taking part in breaches, particularly the Golani Brigade alongside other units from different divisions.
2014 Conflict
The 36th Division entered the second phase of the war on Gaza that Israel commenced on July 7, 2014, which Israel named “Operation Protective Edge.” The division’s involvement was centered on the ground invasion that started on the night of July 17, with all its brigades participating. The Golani brigade faced significant setbacks and suffered losses after an ambush by Palestinian militants in the Shuja’iyya neighborhood. Israel acknowledged the death of 7 soldiers and a captured soldier from this brigade.
Meanwhile, the 7th and 188th Brigades were deployed across central Gaza and faced considerable issues due to malfunctions in some tanks.
2023-2024 Conflict
The latest Israeli offensive began after the “Aqsa Flood” operation by the Al-Qassam Brigades targeted settlements around Gaza on October 7, 2023. The 36th Division’s activities were concentrated in the second phase of the war, the ground invasion, which started later that month.
The Golani Brigade initially joined the combined forces in the incursion, followed by the rest of the division’s brigades. The division was spread throughout the northern, central, and southern parts of the Strip, taking part in battles in central Gaza camp areas, Bani Suhaila, and Shuja’iyya.
Moreover, the 36th Division, along with Yahalom unit, attempted to storm the Al-Shifa Hospital, seeking tunnels beneath it, according to the Israeli military disclosures.
The division faced various casualty and equipment losses, particularly the Golani Brigade, which withdrew after 60 days on December 21, 2023, with the former brigade commander reporting a quarter of their forces lost between killed and wounded in this conflict.
Finally, on January 15, 2024, the Israeli military confirmed the full withdrawal of the 36th Division brigades from the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant subsequently announced the end of significant ground operations in northern Gaza and signaled the same for southern areas.
