Herzog, Gallant award top defense honor to teams for top-secret, ‘groundbreaking’ ops

President Isaac Herzog and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant award the Israel Defense Prize, one of the highest honors bestowed by the state, to four teams for top-secret work they accomplished over the past year.

The winners, announced last month, include the team behind a “groundbreaking” cyber-defense system aimed at giving Israel “freedom of action in the digital space,” and three other completely classified projects.

“Officers, soldiers and fellow citizens, the women and men of our esteemed defense establishment. Your invaluable contributions to Israel’s national strength are truly remarkable. Through your accomplishments, inventions, developments and outstanding achievements, the security of our beloved nation is safeguarded, ensuring our ability to defend ourselves independently,” says Herzog at the ceremony.

“The projects celebrated today are truly awe-inspiring, revolutionary, and serve as a wellspring of inspiration. They transform seemingly impossible fantasies into tangible realities,” he adds.

Gallant says the classified projects “send a clear message to our adversaries that we are always prepared for any threat.”