Isaac Herzog visits IDF Oketz canine unit

Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited the IDF’s Oketz canine unit ahead of Rosh Hashanah to express gratitude to the soldiers and their service dogs. During the visit, Herzog noted the unique capabilities of the special forces unit and thanked the personnel for their contribution to national security.

The Oketz unit, which translates to ‘stinger’ in Hebrew, is an independent canine unit within the Israel Defense Forces. Its history dates back to 1939 with the Haganah, though the military operated without a canine unit for a twenty-year period following its dissolution in 1954.