Bennett Declares YAMAM Israel’s National Counter-terrorism Force

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett officially named the Israel Police’s Special Police Unit, commonly known as Yamam, as the national counterterrorism unit. This new status brings with it expanded duties and increased funding.

Under this designation, Yamam, recognized by its Hebrew acronym, will formally oversee Israel’s counterterrorism activities, including managing hostage situations, conducting high-risk arrest raids, and other critical operations. Before this official recognition, the 47-year-old police unit had been at the forefront of counterterrorism efforts in Israel and the West Bank.