Half of Shin Bet's Honorees This Year Wear Kippahs

An unprecedented number of religious individuals were recognized at the Shin Bet's annual excellence awards ceremony held at the President's Residence on Tuesday. Out of 16 employees honored, eight were kippah-wearing religious Jews, representing half of the recipients. While the honorees were photographed with their backs to the camera, the kippahs on their heads were clearly visible.

The ceremony was attended by President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Shin Bet Director David Barnea. The recognized employees served in various capacities, including in the southern region, Judea and Samaria, and in intelligence and technology roles, contributing to the agency's operations since the outbreak of the war.

Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the Shin Bet's activities, stating that 1,000 thwarted attacks were carried out in Judea and Samaria, which he described as "attempts to murder our people." He praised the cooperation between the Shin Bet, the IDF, and other security forces.

Netanyahu also spoke about the ongoing conflict with Hamas and Iran, vowing to eliminate Hamas and overthrow the Iranian regime. Shin Bet Director David Barnea lauded the honorees as "exemplary individuals" who serve as role models.

This year's awards recognized employees from diverse fields within the Shin Bet, including field operations, investigations, research, technology, and staff positions.