In the early 1960s , Sayeret Matkal conducted several intelligence-gathering operations in the Sinai Peninsula — the last of which was launched just four months before the outbreak of the Six-Day War . But , due to the extensive training , planning and preparation that had to be undertaken before its missions , Sayeret Matkal ended up not seeing any action during the war itself . It was however engaged extensively in the following War of Attrition . After 1967 , with the rise of Arab terrorism perpetrated by groups such as the Palestine Liberation Organization ( PLO ) , Sayeret Matkal began developing the first hostage-rescue and counter-terrorism techniques in the world . Beginning with Operation Isotope , the unit carried out several high-profile operations that thrust it into the limelight as an " elite paratroopers " unit ( Sayeret Matkal 's existence was classified at the time ) . In 1972 , before the Munich massacre , Sayeret Matkal 's operatives were sent to West Germany to co-operate with German authorities and , if necessary , perform the hostage-rescue themselves . Their advice though , was not heeded . In the subsequent Operation Wrath of God , Sayeret Matkal struck the PLO in Beirut
Munich massacre
Munich massacre
Sayeret Matkal