The Defense Ministry on Wednesday announced that President Isaac Herzog awarded a prize to the Mossad for "a classified operational system that significantly expands the Mossad's collection and operational capabilities across a broad spectrum of missions."
This project started as early as 2012 and took 14 years to fully develop, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
Former Mossad chiefs Tamir Pardo, Yossi Cohen, and recently retired chief David Barnea all had a hand in advancing the program, the Post has learned, without which it might not have reached the finish line.
According to the ministry, "The project embodies extraordinary technological innovation and unprecedented operational boldness. The award was presented to the Mossad, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and the Israeli Air Force."
Project began under Pardo
The project began in 2012 under then-Mossad chief Tamir Pardo and continued through the tenures of Yossi Cohen and David Barnea before being publicly recognized this week.
The award was announced days after Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman formally assumed leadership of the Mossad, succeeding Barnea following the completion of his term as director.
Broader Mossad transformation
The lengthy development of the project coincided with broader changes inside the Mossad under Barnea's leadership. Former senior Mossad official Ilan Rom recently told The Jerusalem Post that Barnea led a major organizational transformation within the agency.
According to Rom, the restructuring enabled the Mossad to carry out dozens of operations simultaneously, compared to earlier periods when it could focus on only one or two major operations at a time.
Rom said the changes were the result of years of planning and organizational reform, and that they expanded the agency's operational reach across a broad range of missions.
Leadership transition
Despite publicly opposing Gofman's appointment during the legal proceedings surrounding his selection, Barnea called on Mossad personnel to support the incoming chief after the High Court approved the appointment.
"The success of Maj.-Gen. Gofman is the success of the Mossad and the success of the entire State of Israel," Barnea wrote in a message to agency personnel following the court's decision.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.