Israel Security Prize awarded to unnamed defense innovators

Most prestigious award must remain classified for years to come; Ya'alon vows technological arm of IDF unharmed in cuts.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
Peres and Bogie at award ceremony (photo credit: President's Press Office)
Peres and Bogie at award ceremony
(photo credit: President's Press Office)
President Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon awarded the prestigious Israel Security Prize on Tuesday evening to several unnamed individuals credited with leading breakthroughs on behalf of national security.
“We trust your ability to create the suitable warning and deterrence for tomorrow’s security challenges,” Peres told those who won the prize.
Ya’alon added, “We won’t enslave the future to the present.
We are committed to granting you all of the tools and resources needed to continue this holy work that you are undertaking for the security of this country. And I vow to you that this is what we will do.”
The prizes are given to Israelis recognized for improving the state’s security and maintaining its power and qualitative advantage on the battlefield, technologically and operationally.
Winners included a joint team from Rafael Defense Systems, the Israel Air Force, Military Intelligence, and the Defense Ministry’s Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure. The team is credited with developing a cutting-edge system, the details of which have not been divulged.
A second prize went to a team from the Prime Minister’s Office for the development of technological and operational tools designed to enable its users to carry out a complex mission.
Defense Ministry directorgeneral Maj.-Gen. (res.) Dan Harel said that it was strange to be at a ceremony honoring people who have done so much for national security without being able to mention the projects on which they were working.
“You are hidden from the public eye, but the few that know what you do fully appreciate the significance of your work,” Ya’alon told the honorees.
Previous winners of the Israel Security Prize include the developers of the Iron Dome anti-rocket system.
Greer Fay Cashman contributed to this report.