Israel welcomes new Atomic Energy Commission Director

PM Lapid: “What the foreign media tends to call ‘other capabilities’ keep us alive.” Alternative PM Bennett: “The Iranians are making progress but Israel has been working at full capacity”

Israel welcomes new Atomic Energy Commission Director

Lapid and Edri at the handover ceremony. Photo: Haim Zach (GPO)

The Director of Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), Brig. Gen. (ret.) Zeev Snir, is stepping down after seven years in this position and 49 years in the country’s security establishment. He is to be replaced by Brig. Gen. (ret.) Moshe Edri, who served in the IDF for 31 years and in various security establishment senior positions over the past 11 years.

"The fate of the people of Israel is in the right hands," said Prime Minister Yair Lapid at the handover ceremony on Sunday.  

"Ben-Gurion founded the AEC in 1952; it took true vision to do so. The simplest meaning of 'vision' is the ability to take an idea and pour into it organization, strength, the right people, long-term thinking and considerable devotion to detail. That’s what’s in front of me right now,” added the prime minister.

“The operational arena in the invisible dome above us is built on defensive capabilities and offensive capabilities, and what the foreign media tends to call ‘other capabilities.’ These other capabilities keep us alive and will keep us alive so long as we and our children are here.” 

“The Iranians are making progress but Israel has been working at full capacity over the past year. I know that you will continue to work regardless of the political turmoil in the country. Our future and our security for generations, depend on it," said Alternate Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

"A sense of mission is a way of life, a highly significant action that stems from inner conviction and not the expectation of personal gain,” said incoming AEC Director Edri.

“Today, I have been given the opportunity, at a very special time, to continue the mission and lead an important and unique organization – the AEC – in the coming years, and thereby continue as a member of the large group of people that are responsible of the security, resilience and future of the State of Israel."