The Speaker of the Knesset, MK Amir Ohana, presented three bullet-proof Toyota Land Cruiser and Skoda Superb cars to two elite units of the Israel police - the YAMAM, Israel's national counterterrorism force, and the Gidonim, also known as Unit 33, which focuses on fighting organized crime.
Over the past eight years, the vehicles have accompanied the Speakers of the Knesset, including MKs Amir Ohana, Yuli Edelstein, Benny Gantz, Yariv Levin and Miki Levy, as well as opposition leaders Yitzhak Herzog, Tzipi Livni, Shelly Yachimovich, Benjamin Netanyahu and Yair Lapid.
The security officials of the Knesset and the ISA decided that after eight years, the vehicles have reached the end of their service to the Knesset and need to be replaced by modern security vehicles. At the request of Chairman Ohana, it was decided to transfer the vehicles to the two police units.
The Knesset administration, led by Ohana and Knesset CEO Moshe Adari, visited the YAMAM base in Israel's central district to effect the transfer.
During a private ceremony, Ohana met the commanders of the units and wished them and their operatives great success. "You are our spear, officers who risk their lives for the safety and security of the citizens of Israel day and night, and we owe you a huge debt. I hope that through these armored vehicles, which have never let us down and have brought the elected officials safely to every destination in the country from north to south for the past eight years, you can continue your activity and preserve your life so that you return safely from any mission."
The commander of the YAMAM presented the Speaker of the Knesset with a symbolic photo from the last activity in which the unit operated in Jenin and said: "As a sign of recognition and appreciation for protecting our unit, we have prepared for you, Mr. Speaker, a special photo from our helmet cameras from the last activity from the heart of the refugee camp in Jenin."
The Commander of the Border Police, Superintendent Amir Cohen said: "We thank you, Mr. Speaker of the Knesset, the Director General of the Knesset and everyone who worked to transfer the vehicles to the elite units of the State of Israel, the National Counterterrorism Unit and the Gidonim unit. There is no doubt that the vehicles will improve the units in all their diverse tasks."