It’s classified: Israel Defense Prize awarded for top-secret work

President Reuven Rivlin and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman awarded the Israel Defense Prize, one of the highest honors bestowed by the state, to two teams for top secret work they accomplished over the past year.

The identities of the team members, as well as the specific nature of their work, will be kept secret for security concerns.

The first group was a joint effort from the IDF Intelligence Directorate, the Israeli Air Force and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, while the second team was made up of members from the Prime Minister’s Office and Israel Defense Forces’ Intelligence Corps (a separate unit that is subordinate to the Intelligence Directorate).

“The defense of the state and its citizens is dependent upon the full and total use of our toolbox, and so our security is dependent on each and every one [of those tools] from every field — engineering, computers and every other area,” Rivlin said.

“It’s easy to imagine our heroic fighters carrying out physical, demanding, dangerous missions deep in the enemy’s home front. That is indeed great bravery, but this prize proves that there are other ways — no less crucial — of showing bravery,” the president said.

Both groups were responsible for the development of new technologies, the details of which — you guessed it — cannot be revealed at this time.

The recipients are often kept secret for sometimes years after they receive the award, along with the specific reasons behind their receiving the prize.

In his speech, Liberman noted this fact, but stressed that it did not reflect the enormous thanks owed to the recipients for their service.

“In a few moments a group photograph of the prize winners will be taken alongside the president and senior members of the defense establishment. But the country’s residents will not be able to see the faces of these wonderful people, as they will be blurred afterwards and their identities will be kept secret,” Liberman said.

“For obvious reasons, we must leave much of our praises and worship in the shadows. All we can do is say thank you. Thank you for making the defense network stronger. Thank you for your determination in turning imagination into reality,” he said.

The Israel Defense Prize has been given yearly by the defense minister since 1958. Though the prize is sometimes given for lifetime achievement, generally the recipients are responsible for the creation of a new piece of technology, as is the case this year.

Over the years, the prize has been awarded to both individuals, like Uzi Gal who received the first Israel Defense Prize in 1958 for creating the Uzi submachine gun, and entire teams, like the group responsible for the development of the Iron Dome missile defense battery who received the prize in 2012.

“Israel is often called the start-up nation. The Jewish people always stand out in these abilities that we are proud of: entrepreneurship, a pioneering spirit, the courage to do the impossible,” Liberman said.

“You, dear recipients, carry with you this unique DNA of ours,” he added.