Israel's Security Cabinet held an event on Monday, honoring retired National Security Adviser and National Security Council head Meir Ben-Shabbat at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem.
The event was hosted by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in the presence of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kohavi, cabinet ministers, Mossad head David Barnea, Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit and other senior officials within the Defense Ministry.
Meir Ben-Shabbat, 55-years-old, spent four years as the government's national security adviser and as the head of the NSC.
Bennett was full of praise for Ben-Shabbat, saying that he "has a passion, namely the good of Israel."
"It burns in every gram of your body, a deep love for what is good for Israel, with stateliness and dedication, to always do the right thing," Bennett said of the retiring NSC head.
"Time and again, with a great love for the country, with a can-do attitude and a big heart, you took another step and another bold step," the prime minister added. "You always said ‘here I am’ and stepped up to the task."
Ben-Shabbat took time to look back at his four years of service as head of the National Security Council.
"In my four years of work I have witnessed historic events, and have participated in powerful and intensive events unlike what existed in the past. I came to know excellent people, to see the beautiful face of Israel," Ben-Shabbat said.
"Together with my colleagues, I worked to establish and strengthen the National Security Council," he said. "I approached it with reverence, recognizing the weight of responsibility and the magnitude of the challenges and opportunities."
Dr. Eyal Hulata, appointed by Bennett in July, has now assumed Ben-Shabbat's two vacated positions.