So after much prelaunch hype and speculation, Apple’s new iphone and watch has hit the market. Lots of cool new features for the geeks to swoon over. But where did they all come from?

The bottom line is that outside America, Apple’s largest r&d centre is in Israel, operating in the Holy Land since 2011. In fact from the beginning of 2014, the operations have been ramped up even further with an additional 12,500 sq meters in Herzylia, just past north Tel Aviv. We are probably talking of around 800 employees in total.

The importance of Israel to Apple can be seen in so many different ways. Co-founder, Steve Wozniak, paid a high-profile visit to the country during the midst of the recent war with Gaza. A sales center has been opened up. And Apple CEO, Tim Cook, met up with Prime Minister back in March this year.

As for the latest round of Apple goodies for its global clientele, well the Israeli brain will be right there, on everyone’s mobile and now even sitting on their wrist.  How so? Well Haifa-born Israeli-Arab Johny Srouji is now VP of Hardware Technologies. And it is widely understood that the Ra’anana plant has supplied much communications tech in the watch.

It certainly seems that Israel tech will have a welcome place in the homes and offices of billions around the globe.