--- product_id: 23823921 title: "Israel's Edge: The Story of The IDF's Most Elite Unit - Talpiot (Gefen Publishing)" price: "161.33 DT" currency: TND in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.tn/products/23823921-israels-edge-the-story-of-the-idfs-most-elite-unit store_origin: TN region: Tunisia --- # Israel's Edge: The Story of The IDF's Most Elite Unit - Talpiot (Gefen Publishing) **Price:** 161.33 DT **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Israel's Edge: The Story of The IDF's Most Elite Unit - Talpiot (Gefen Publishing) - **How much does it cost?** 161.33 DT with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tn](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/23823921-israels-edge-the-story-of-the-idfs-most-elite-unit) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description How will Israel keep its strategic edge over an increasingly dangerous Iran? Israel has been preparing for this day by creating a special and secretive IDF unit called Talpiot. Instead of being trained to fight, the few soldiers each year selected for Talpiot are taught how to think . In order to join this unit they have to commit to being in the army for ten years, rather than the three years a normal soldier serves. Talpiots are taught advanced level physics, math and computer science as they train with soldiers from every other branch of the IDF. The result: young men and women become research and development machines. Talpiots have developed battle ready weapons that only Israel's top military officers and political leaders know about. They have also dramatically improved much of the weapons already in Israel's arsenal. After leaving the army, Talpiots have become a major force in the Israeli economy, developing some of Israel's most famous and powerful companies. Israel's Edge contains dozens of interviews with Talpiot graduates and some of the early founders of the program. It explains Talpiot's highly successful recruiting methods and discloses many of the secrets of the program's success. The book also profiles some of the most successful businesses founded by Talpiot graduates including CheckPoint, Compugen, Anobit, recently bought by Apple, and XIV, recently bought by IBM.No other military unit has had more of an impact on the State of Israel and no other unit will have more of an impact in the years ahead. The soldiers of Talpiot are truly unsung heroes. Review: a very well-written, thoroughly researched and an interesting and educational read - ISRAEL’S EDGE: THE STORY OF THE IDF’S MOST ELITE UNIT - TALPIOT written by Jason Gewirtz and published by Gefen Publishing House. IDF is the Israel Defense Force Talpiot is a Hebrew word meaning ‘tall turrets’ and/or ‘sturdy strongholds’ MAFAT is the acronym for Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure established in the early 1980s by Defense Minister Ariel Sharon and used as the ‘umbrella’ for all things R&D in the Israeli Military The Yom Kippur War (October 1973) caught Israel a bit off guard. There was much soul-searching among military and government leaders, as well as fear and anxiety. “How did this fiasco happen?” Israel asked itself. In the years before the war, Israel was engaged in constant war and military preparedness. Also, many Arab nations were receiving mass shipments of arms from the Soviet Union. There were also new weapons and technology being used against Israel. Israel was caught ‘napping’, so to speak. Two professors at Hebrew University, Professor Shaul Yatziv and Professor Felix Dothan, wanted to give Israel its edge back. Their idea or goal was to rearm Israel with the best and the brightest young minds who would work exclusively on research and development for the IDF. It took several years to get the government and especially the IDF behind their idea. In 1977, Menachem Begin became Prime Minister and Rafael Eitan was appointed chief of staff. They were both committed to change and an elite educated unit in the army. Talpiot was finally born. Many organizational details had to be worked out - the recruitment process; the admissions process; curriculum; teachers; examinations; program structure and the partnership and the cooperation of the IDF and MAFAT. The first recruiting began for Talpiot and the program was developed. The first Talpiot class reported in the summer of 1979. The rest is history. This book is very interesting reading. The access points were very helpful - a good cover picture; an introduction; a table of contents (20 chapters); a timeline (which I found very helpful); a salute from the author and acknowledgements. I especially liked chapter 20: The Future; the timeline; many comments about the Israeli educational system and education, in general; examples of the Talpiot graduate network; all the many accomplishments of the Talpiot participants; Unit 8200 and the many innovations that developed from Professor Yatziv and Professor Dothan’s original plan. ISRAEL’S EDGE is very well-written, thoroughly researched and an interesting and educational read. I would heartily recommend this book Review: Spys are us - Good read on the realty of the situation. One would think that similar projects occur in other countries. Israel faces some rather austere choices on geography and neighbors and various other elements as to their existence. Going to be a struggle until the end of time... ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #1,255,014 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #96 in Firearms Weapons & Warfare History #138 in Military Life & Institutions History #176 in Politics of Privacy & Surveillance | | Customer Reviews | 4.2 out of 5 stars 756 Reviews | ## Images ![Israel's Edge: The Story of The IDF's Most Elite Unit - Talpiot (Gefen Publishing) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71WFe-wBswL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ a very well-written, thoroughly researched and an interesting and educational read *by D***E on May 2, 2016* ISRAEL’S EDGE: THE STORY OF THE IDF’S MOST ELITE UNIT - TALPIOT written by Jason Gewirtz and published by Gefen Publishing House. IDF is the Israel Defense Force Talpiot is a Hebrew word meaning ‘tall turrets’ and/or ‘sturdy strongholds’ MAFAT is the acronym for Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure established in the early 1980s by Defense Minister Ariel Sharon and used as the ‘umbrella’ for all things R&D in the Israeli Military The Yom Kippur War (October 1973) caught Israel a bit off guard. There was much soul-searching among military and government leaders, as well as fear and anxiety. “How did this fiasco happen?” Israel asked itself. In the years before the war, Israel was engaged in constant war and military preparedness. Also, many Arab nations were receiving mass shipments of arms from the Soviet Union. There were also new weapons and technology being used against Israel. Israel was caught ‘napping’, so to speak. Two professors at Hebrew University, Professor Shaul Yatziv and Professor Felix Dothan, wanted to give Israel its edge back. Their idea or goal was to rearm Israel with the best and the brightest young minds who would work exclusively on research and development for the IDF. It took several years to get the government and especially the IDF behind their idea. In 1977, Menachem Begin became Prime Minister and Rafael Eitan was appointed chief of staff. They were both committed to change and an elite educated unit in the army. Talpiot was finally born. Many organizational details had to be worked out - the recruitment process; the admissions process; curriculum; teachers; examinations; program structure and the partnership and the cooperation of the IDF and MAFAT. The first recruiting began for Talpiot and the program was developed. The first Talpiot class reported in the summer of 1979. The rest is history. This book is very interesting reading. The access points were very helpful - a good cover picture; an introduction; a table of contents (20 chapters); a timeline (which I found very helpful); a salute from the author and acknowledgements. I especially liked chapter 20: The Future; the timeline; many comments about the Israeli educational system and education, in general; examples of the Talpiot graduate network; all the many accomplishments of the Talpiot participants; Unit 8200 and the many innovations that developed from Professor Yatziv and Professor Dothan’s original plan. ISRAEL’S EDGE is very well-written, thoroughly researched and an interesting and educational read. I would heartily recommend this book ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spys are us *by J***R on September 11, 2021* Good read on the realty of the situation. One would think that similar projects occur in other countries. Israel faces some rather austere choices on geography and neighbors and various other elements as to their existence. Going to be a struggle until the end of time... ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Talpiot *by G***2 on December 18, 2016* A remarkable book showcasing the Jewish People's amazing Gifts from God. Awesome Intelligence and brilliance from the Creator the God of Israel to his Children, the Jewish People. The students selected for the Talpiot program possess a rare and unique level of intelligence and talent. Taught by the best teachers in Israel, these young students after graduating this elite unit go and create amazing companies that create many jobs that helps the Israeli economy. They are tasked by the Israeli Army to invent weapons and technology especially in the intelligence field that no other country has. As a result, Israel is marching very quickly to becoming a super power, with a world wide reach, a small country that leads the world into unknown paths that humanity has never crossed yet. Pioneering such a level of intelligence that many countries can only dream of. Its no wonder many people are jealous because of Israel's success, notwithstanding Israel's Arab enemies. The irony is that the more they push the Jews into the corner the more the Jews become stronger, smarter, and talented, and Israel finds these strengths precisely because it is cornered and it has to fend for itself by utilizing the amazing gifts that its people have. If Israel was left alone and no one would have cared about it just like some Island in the middle of the Ocean with no enemies, then all these awesome inventions wouldn't even come to reality, its when a diamond is pressed that its shines so brightly. So the dumb enemies of the Jewish People are in a very interesting way making the Jewish People even more stronger and even more intelligent, that is how dumb and stupid the enemies of Israel are. May God Bless and Continue to Bless Israel and the Jewish People forever. ## Frequently Bought Together - Israel's Edge: The Story of The IDF's Most Elite Unit - Talpiot (Gefen Publishing) - Mossad: The Greatest Missions of the Israeli Secret Service - No Mission Is Impossible: The Death-Defying Missions of the Israeli Special Forces --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.tn/products/23823921-israels-edge-the-story-of-the-idfs-most-elite-unit](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/23823921-israels-edge-the-story-of-the-idfs-most-elite-unit) --- *Product available on Desertcart Tunisia* *Store origin: TN* *Last updated: 2026-09-28*