Mossad's best agents honored in ceremony
Citations of excellence awarded to spy agency's outstanding operatives, including 20-year-old woman who penetrated deep into enemy territory at risk of her life.
President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and generations of Mossad chiefs participated in a ceremony on Thursday held at the president's residence in Jerusalem, where citations of excellence were awarded to outstanding Mossad agents.
Among the recipients is a 20-year-old agent who operated deep within enemy territory. "The young fighter participated in the Mossad's most daring operations, at a real risk to her life, and is a role model and example for the young generation of fighters," it was said during the ceremony.
"These outstanding agents are both young and senior operatives, who excel in their role while practicing the values and aims of the Mossad," a statement issued by the president's office said.
"Another outstanding agent is an operative who works in the technological field, that developed new operational technological capabilities which are in accordance with the Mossad's special work methods," the statement added.
Additional certificates were awarded to a fighter who led a team in a complex operation in an enemy state, an intelligence gathering officer who participated in one of the State of Israel's most significant and sensitive operations, and an agent who served in three missions in a complex and unique arena."
President Reuven Rivlin said at the ceremony that "intelligence organizations throughout the world take pride in professional fighters, who work 'like machines' – people who were trained to fulfill every task and every goal, even in a cold and calculated manner. We take pride in the fact that the Mossad is made up of human beings. (These are) combatants whose aspiration to perfection and daringness only worked to enhance their sense of responsibility and caution."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "The threats around us are multiplying and are worldwide, but your operations are also worldwide; our enemies cross all moral boundaries and your work goes beyond all boundaries of imagination."
Mossad Chief Tamir Pardo congratulated the outstanding agents and said: "In the face of a changing world, full of great threats and challenges, we take an approach that combines capabilities from the different branches within the Mossad, as well as with the IDF, the Shin Bet, Israel Police, the Foreign Ministry and allied services worldwide. This combination enables the accomplishment of unprecedented and extraordinary achievements."
Pardo further added: "The strength of the organization, of every organization, lies in the ability to understand that the challenges of tomorrow are different than the challenges of yesterday. We must adapt all the time and adjust ourselves to the new realties, sophisticated and challenging opponents and new and unknown destinations."
Former Mossad chief Meir Dagan was invited to the event but did not attend for personal reasons.
