The new commander of the Shayetet-13 Naval Commando's, Colonel Tal, was once a former resident of the Gush Katif town of Neve Dekalim, and a winner of Israel's prestigious International Bible Competition.
Gush Katif was a bloc of Jewish towns and villages in Gaza, evacuated and demolished by then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 2005. It has since become a hotbed of terrorism and rocket fire onto Israel.
Tal, whose full name cannot be revealed for security reasons, studied in the religious 'Or Etzion' pre-military high school, and enlisted into the Shayetet-13 in 1995. After being promoted to a wide array of positions within the unit, he transferred to the Golani Brigade, where he served for almost a decade, before returning to Shayetet-13 in 2014 as the deputy unit commander
Shayetet-13 is an elite IDF commando unit, whose members must undergo a long and punishing training course in order to be admitted into its ranks.
At a festive ceremony at the Shayetet-13 headquarters in Atlit, near Haifa, Tal said: "I am now taking command of the Shayetet-13, and demand from myself to continue its tradition of daring, of creativity, and I wish success to the unit, and to the outgoing commander. "
IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot praised the incoming commander, telling Tal: "I am sure that you are the right person for the job and wish you great success. "
He also commended the outgoing commander of the unit, Colonel Gur Shreibman, who will be taking command of Israels 'Bahad 1' officer school. "Gur has led the unit for the past 3 years, and has achieved far-reaching success. The spirit of excellence has accompanied you since the beginning of your career as a combat soldier in the unit and I have no doubt that you will succeed in your next position as educator of the next generation of IDF commanders."