The Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi Awarding a Citation to an Officer. Photo: IDF Spokesperson

More Articles The Pain Lives On Remembering Our Fallen Sons Flags Set at Half-Mast In Memory of Israel’s Fallen IDF Releases Information on Military Investigations Commander of Golani Brigade Recounts Family's Past in the Holocaust Flower for a Survivor: IDF Remembers the Holocaust All Articles

On Thursday, April 23, a ceremony was held in order to honor 50 exceptional officers from various brigades within the IDF. The ceremony took place in Glilot, and among the attendees were Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, members of the General Staff, and commanders from various brigades. During the ceremony, which occurs annually, officers were given Certificates of Excellence based on their outstanding contributions to their respective brigades, and were thanked for being positive role models within the IDF.

"Each one of you has your own personal story marked by excellence,” said the Chief of the General Staff at the ceremony. “Each person is here with their unique role in the IDF, but there is a common denominator that bonds all of you— a Lt. of the IAF, the Chief Commander of the Research Brigade of the Intelligence Corps, and so on. The common denominator is the hidden spirit that has defined IDF officers throughout the years- it is colored by dedication and a constant desire for perfection and excellence.”

"These exceptional officers are the future generation of founders and builders of this country, and they constitute the proof that we still fight in the name of the principals of loving the land, volunteering, giving, and sacrificing; all of this is still valid in our time, and no less then it used to be,” explained the Chief of the General Staff.

Additionally, Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, made a few remarks in reference to a speech given by Mahmud Ahmadinajad, the President of Iran, this week at the Durban Review Conference II. “Just a few days ago, we heard, once again, the racist words of the Iranian President, which openly expressed his desire to destroy the State of Israel. There words show us that even at the beginning of our 62nd year of independence, anti-Semitism and racism are still alive and well amongst our enemies--  therefore we must continue our battle against those who refuse to acknowledge Israel’s right to live freely.”

The Chief of the General Staff concluded his speech with an important message to the honorable officers: “The battle for our security has not ended. We continue to maintain the readiness of a strong army that is well-equipped, well-trained, and skilled enough to handle all future challenges. This readiness rests on our moral, human, professional and technological advantages. The excellence that each on of you has given to the IDF is of the utmost importance in relation to its success.”