ISRAEL UPDATES
Updates from Jewish Federations of North America
Past updates can be found here.
April 18
Separate update from: Secure Community Network
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Activities
- Following Iran’s attack on Israel on Saturday night, Israeli officials have reassured allies across the globe that Israel intends to retaliate in only a limited manner that avoids escalation into a wider war.
- On Sunday, Iran shut down its nuclear installations and evacuated international observers from those sites; it did reopen them on Tuesday. Iran’s President Ibrahim Raisi threatened that if Israel attacks, Iran will respond “in a wide-ranging and painful manner to any small act that would harm Iran’s interests.”
- Watch this CNN interview with Senior Fellow at JPPI Yaakov Katz who describes Israel’s dilemma in either containing the Iranian threat or retaliating based on lessons it learned from Hamas on October 7.
- According to various news reports, the US has now approved a potential Israeli Rafah operation in exchange for the Jewish state not directly conducting counterstrikes on Iran at present.
- See here for additional information, background, and resources on the Iran attack.
- Yesterday, Hezbollah attacked the Bedouin village of Arab el-Aramshe in the north. Some 18 people were wounded including one who is in critical condition and one who is in serious condition. As is the case with all towns in the area, the village was largely evacuated due to its proximity to the Lebanese border.
- IDF reserve soldiers and the local emergency response squad were using a local community center as a makeshift residence, and Hezbollah launched a precise rocket attack at the building and a car parked on the street, causing a large number of casualties. When soldiers started tending to the wounded, Hezbollah launched a follow-up drone that was carrying explosives and crashed it at the site to disrupt evacuation efforts.
March for Israel
We are proud of the 10 buses bringing 500 Ocean County participants, joining hundreds of others from our area and hundreds of thousands, for the March for Israel today in Washington DC.
Together, we stand in support of Israel, against anti-semitism, and together as a community.
- Meanwhile, the IDF conducted a large-scale exercise in the northern sector, where forces trained for possible offensive operations as well as defensive measures.
- In recent evacuations of wounded soldiers from the Gaza Strip, it has taken an average of 27 minutes from the moment a soldier is wounded until they are in a helicopter on the way to the hospital “If you live in Tel Aviv, it takes longer to order a pizza than for a wounded person to get a helicopter in Gaza.”
Hostages
- Israel is still waiting for a positive Hamas response to a proposal for a hostage deal and truce put forward by the US, together with Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Israel had previously accepted the agreement. US President Joe Biden said “It’s now up to Hamas. They need to move on the proposal that has been made so we get these hostages home where they belong.”
- Meanwhile, Rachel Goldberg, mother of American-Israeli hostage 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg-Polin, was named to Time Magazine’s 2024 annual TIME100 list of the most influential people in the world. “Rachel’s inclusion on the TIME100 list is in recognition of the impact she and her husband Jon Polin, along with hundreds of other families of hostages taken by Hamas, and millions of people around the world, have had in raising global awareness of the hostage crisis and their unwavering efforts to continue to fight for the release of Hersh and every hostage,” a group representing hostages’ families said on Wednesday.
Humanitarian Aid
- According to the IDF, Israel has opened a new northern crossing to Gaza, more trucks are crossing into the Hamas-run enclave, and the humanitarian situation on the ground has improved.
- US naval ships, headed for the Gaza Strip to build a temporary pier or floating dock have now arrived in Crete. The ships left Fort Eustis on the James River on March 12 to make their way across the Atlantic Ocean to Gaza. See more on these efforts here.
- Israel continues to do everything in its power to bring massive quantities of aid into the Gaza Strip. Almost every day, the number of aid trucks entering Gaza breaks a new record. See more on humanitarian aid here.
Rockets
- In the north, Hezbollah continues to fire at Israeli targets, triggering significant Israeli retaliations.
- The number of Hamas rocket attacks on Israel remains negligible on most days, due to Hamas’ significantly diminished capabilities.
- In the Red Sea, the US, the UK, and Israel continue to defend against attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Similarly, the US military continues to strike at pro-Iranian targets in Syria and Iraq.
International Response
- British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock are visiting Israel. They met yesterday with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who reiterated that Israel would maintain its right to self-defense. Netanyahu thanked foreign ministers for their countries’ “unequivocal support” and for their “unprecedented standing up in defense of the State of Israel against Iran's attack.”
- Yesterday, the Israeli Cabinet approved a five-year, $5 billion plan to rebuild and to strengthen communities near the Gaza border after the October 7 attack. The funds are slated to go toward housing, infrastructure, education, employment, health, and other areas.
Stories of Heartbreak, Heroism, and Hope
- See this story of 85-year-old Arye Zalmanovich, a father of two, grandfather of five, and farmer who had deep historical knowledge and was profoundly committed to his country. A revered founder of Kibbutz Nahal Oz, Aryeh was in his home the morning of October 7 when terrorists infiltrated. Released hostages shared stories of his bravery in captivity, and how he managed to maintain his dignity despite the harrowing conditions and to show great compassion for his fellow captives. On December 1, the IDF announced that Arye was murdered by terrorists in captivity. Loved ones shared that before he was taken captive, Arye continued to wear his work clothes every morning and drink coffee with the young generation of farmers on the Kibbutz.
- Read this CNN article on the plight of families of dead American hostages who are doing everything they can to retrieve their bodies.
- A message from the Jewish Agency for Israel project: "Each of us has a story. Our heritage is transmitted through stories that our people have been telling for generations. Next week, we will gather around the seder table and recount our oldest story - the story of the Exodus, the moment when our people became a nation. Each of our Shlichim (Israeli emissaries) has a story too. They connect with many other stories as they meet so many diverse people along the way, and then share those with the Jewish people wherever they go. We created the Sipurim project to enable these stories to be shared worldwide. Our Shlichim are creating content that truly resonates on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, connecting our people and their personal stories into one: the virtual story of our global Jewish family." See more.
- Read this story about 70-year-old Carol Siman Tov, a native of Pennsylvania who made aliyah at the age of 21. Carol worked as a nurse at Kibbutz Nir Oz where she lived. She was an avid traveler and had a bucket list of many places around the world she wanted to visit. Carol was murdered by terrorists in her home on October 7. That same day, Hamas murdered her son Johnny and his wife and three grandchildren and also shot Carol’s puppy. Carol was eulogized as a “symbol of resilience and unconditional love which illuminated generations of children and grandchildren. She didn’t keep the good for herself, she always shared everything generously.”
Further Reading
Further Reading
Newsweek: Israel Has Created a New Standard for Urban Warfare. Why Will No One Admit It?
Read about the international law aspects of press access during times of armed conflict in this article by active-duty army judge, Major Emily Bobenrieth.
David Horovitz: Silver linings in an ongoing nightmare
Surprise! Hamas has thousands more fighters than Israel initially thought
On 107.1: KEITH KRIVITZKY, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OCEAN COUNTY, discusses a fundraising campaign the organization kicked off to help raise $150-thousand-dollars for the people of Israel impacted since the October 7th terrorist attacks by Hamas, how the Federation is offering to match every dollar donated up to $50-thousand-dollars, and what it is like in Jerusalem.
We Stand With Israel Vigil
Update from Keith in Jerusalem
OP-ED published in Jerusalem Post 10.29 - https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-770686
| 10.26 Dear Friends, Greetings from Jerusalem. Everyone here is in waiting mode. For some movement – a return of hostages or the start of a ground war…as that forward motion might hint that there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Until then, people are going about their days in a sort of shared state of misery, wondering whether to do normal, every-day things or to stay home, near family, and feel somehow less vulnerable. |
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| An empty Tel Aviv promenade at 3 pm |
| The hostility to Israel and growing concerns about antisemitism around the world are just as troubling. Everyone in the Jewish community who is paying attention is shaken. As we should be. This is the price of family – when members of our family are suffering, we are all affected. |
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| Bring them home |
| Family also comes together to help each other in times of need. I am proud to say that our Israel Emergency Campaign has already passed $100,000. We still need your help to reach our goal – and any contribution you give will be matched dollar for dollar! Thanks to the many in our community who have shown their support so far, I am grateful that we have just made our first local emergency grants to help those struggling and in need of assistance in Israel. These include: · Funds to our core partners at the JDC, Jewish Agency, and the Jewish Federations of North America to address a wide array of social service needs during this crisis · Plus funds to several smaller organizations that coordinate volunteers and aid throughout the country (Lev Echad), provide counseling and support to families who have been displaced or lost loved ones (Koby Mandell Foundation), and work with lone soldiers and youth (Michael Levin Lone Soldier Center, Dror, Crossroads). Together, we can make a crucial difference! |
| Israel Emergency Campaign |
| Below, I share a version of an OpEd written recently to give a taste of what people are experiencing, and the trauma that exists, on the ground in Israel. The most common phrase used today is b’sorot tovot – which basically means may we hear good news. So I want to say to all of you: b’sorot tovot. May we all hear some good news soon. Thanks and Shabbat Shalom. Keith Keith Krivitzky, Managing Director Dispatches from a traumatized country I wanted to share with you some of the many conversations, messages, and news stories I have heard and seen since the horrific attack on October 7 in Israel. The trauma (and resilience) of Israeli society don’t always come across through news reporting on the current conflict. These are real events and conversations that happened, summarized (and sometimes translated) for clarity. Comments in italics are my own. Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin are working tirelessly to have their son, Hersh, returned after being kidnapped by Hamas from the Novo dance party on October 7. He is injured, having lost his arm below the elbow, and in need of medical attention. Join at 7:45 am tomorrow to show support as they head to the United Nations to plead his case, and that of the other hostages, to world leaders. (Jon and Rachel are friends.) Parents of at least two dozen fallen soldiers have sought to collect sperm from their fallen children. This is allowed under a special Health Ministry rule that was enacted following the start of fighting. (Touching and chilling at the same time.) At a recent lunch in Jerusalem, I was eating with friends who engaged in a serious discussion about where they would hide in their house if it was overrun by terrorists. When it was clear that there weren’t many good places, the discussion shifted to whether they should build out some hiding holes just in case. If don't have a protected room, a shelter, or an internal stairwell that can be reached during a rocket attack, find a space with as few windows, openings and external walls as possible, and that there are no ceramics, porcelain and glass that could shatter. Upon an alert, stay against an inner wall, and sit under the window line and not across from the door. Remember: the further inside the building, with as many cement block or concrete walls as possible between you and the place of the explosion, the more protected you will be from being hit by shrapnel and blast. Wait for 10 minutes to protect yourself from intercepted rockets that might fall to the ground. (From guidelines issued by the Home Front Command. Depending on where you live, you have 30-90 seconds to reach shelter after an alert.) The City of Jerusalem and Magen David Adom are sponsoring a blood drive on Monday at Teddy Stadium. Blood type O is urgently needed. (Magen David Adom is Israel’s version of the Red Cross. There have been many blood drives throughout the country with people waiting up to 7-8 hours to donate.) The Jerusalem coordinating center is looking for donations of basic items like clothes and toiletries as well as volunteers to help the thousands of people relocated from rocket attacks and fighting in the south near Gaza. Many had to flee their homes, bringing little with them. (Currently there are more than 200,000 evacuees displaced in Israel. The number of volunteers has also been impressive, with numerous and almost immediate responses to requests for help like this.) FYI - there is a “breast milk bank” with donated milk to provide to babies of mothers kidnapped or killed. Please spread the word. The funeral for Netanel, a lone soldier, will take place at Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem at 12:30. His family is flying in from London - please show up to attend so that they can see he also has family in Israel. (A lone soldier is someone serving in the army, in many cases volunteering, with no family in the country. My friend went to this funeral, which was interrupted by sirens warning of a rocket attack. Attendees had to leave as soon as it was over as there were back-to-back funerals for those killed so far in the war.) Know who is sending messages in your Whatsapp group. An organization called “Love Israel” is asking for the names of Israeli soldiers so they can pray for them. DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY INFORMATION. These are terrorists trying to get information! (Also chilling. Whatsapp groups are group chats. There have been many such messages, including cases where phones of hostages have been used to send messages from their captors in Gaza.) My friend recently said goodbye to a colleague who had moved to Israel to flee the war in Ukraine. His family has now moved to Kishinev to escape war here. (This is a sad irony given that the Kishinev pogroms, to which the October 7 attack has been compared, added momentum to Jews seeking to build a home in Israel where they could defend themselves.) Sadly, more and more of these messages and sad stories are shared every day. **** PS – I urge you to demonstrate your support and contribute to our Israel Emergency Campaign . Thank you. And if you have made it this far, you might also want to listen to this radio interview broadcast this past Sunday: KEITH KRIVITZKY, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OCEAN COUNTY DISCUSSES EFFORTS TO HELP ISRAEL FROM JERUSALEM - 107.1 The Boss (1071theboss.com) |
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From JFNA before Shabbat 10.27:
Dearest Friends and Colleagues:
| July 24, 2023 Dear Friends, Following hours of high tension, protests and political maneuvering in Israel, the “Reasonableness” Bill that will reduce the Israeli Supreme Court’s power to strike down some government decisions passed its third reading in the Knesset, and is now law. The new law passed with 64 votes in favor and 0 against, as opposition MKs boycotted the final vote on the bill in protest. The law stipulates that courts can no longer use a “reasonableness” standard to strike down decisions made by the cabinet or government ministers, including appointments. See further background on the new law here and see here to read arguments on why many feel it will diminish the checks and balances of the Israeli system of government. The law passed after almost 30 hours of continuous Knesset debate that began on Sunday morning. During that period, hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets across the country both in favor of and opposed to the bill. This morning, hundreds chained themselves to the entrances to the Knesset to try and prevent MKs from entering the building. Many businesses, shopping malls and other venues were shuttered. On landing back in Israel last night from an official visit to the United States, President Isaac Herzog went straight to the hospital bed of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (who had a pacemaker implanted yesterday), before meeting opposition leaders, to try to reach a compromise. This morning the President said, “We are in a state of national emergency. This is the moment for responsibility…During these decisive hours, I call on elected officials to act with courage, and to reach out in order to arrive at an understanding.” Within the Knesset, last-minute attempts were made to amend the bill or to come to a broader compromise (see more here), but none of these efforts ultimately bore fruit. The leadership of the Jewish Federations of North America will be meeting this afternoon to consider further steps. In the meantime, please join our webinar tomorrow, Tuesday, July 25 at 12PM ET to hear the latest developments and examine possible repercussions. Register here. As always, please do not hesitate to contact us for any assistance you might need in your communities. For further reading see: Reasonable guardians? How repealing ‘reasonableness’ may affect top custodians of law An explainer on “reasonableness” by Prof. Amichai Cohen As judiciary fight reaches a climax, both sides set to lose Rebecca Caspi Senior Vice President Israel and Overseas Director General, Israel Office | |
July 24: In these crucial days when Israel's Knesset decides the future of the Israeli judiciary, the leaders of the National Institutions and the Jewish Federations of North America have sent a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu and Leader of the Opposition, Yair Lapid, emphasizing the need for unity and peace within our home. They call for respectful dialogue, moderation, and a shared commitment to the future of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.
As partners in shaping the destiny of the Jewish people, we urge leaders to seek common ground for the well-being of Am Israel. Let us remain united, a beacon of hope, strength and unity for the entire Jewish community.
July 23 United in Support of Israel & the Latest on Judicial Reform
| Dear Friends, Like everyone who loves and cares about Israel, we are following the news from our Jewish State today with great concern and anxiety. We wish Prime Minister Netanyahu a complete and speedy recovery and pray that his newly installed pacemaker will provide the health benefits that his doctors seek. As a vote on the first piece of legislation that would change the balance of power between the government and the Supreme Court approaches, protests in Israel both for and against the legislation continue to grow. Efforts to seek compromise also continue, including a visit by our good friend President Herzog to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s hospital room immediately upon his arrival back from his historic trip to the United States, and further meetings with Opposition Leaders Lapid and Gantz, as well as the notable involvement of Israel’s Histadrut Labor Federation. We of course hope for and encourage these efforts at compromise as the very best possible outcome for the country. Whether compromise is achieved on this bill or not, the divisions in Israeli society caused by this bitter debate are deep. Even as we approach Tisha B’av, the day on which we commemorate the destruction of the Temples and the loss of Jewish sovereignty for two millennia, it is apparent that the work of building a flourishing Jewish State, to which Jewish Federations are committed, is not done. Israelis with whom we have worked for years – and who have always helped us put Israel’s political debates in perspective – have been issuing dire warnings. The rhetoric that some Israeli officials are directing at segments of society that disagree with their positions is growing harsher and, God forbid, the unity of the IDF is even at risk. This contentious behavior is seeping into our own communities, and we know it would be even worse if our Federations weren’t making constant efforts to bridge the gaps and keep us all working together. All of us in the Jewish Federation system will devote the necessary efforts and resources to helping Israel build the social, legal and political structures that can bind the wounds of the past few months and engender the widespread support and respect needed to solve the most vexing issues the country faces. Many of these efforts are already underway, including support for organizations such as the Jewish People’s Policy Institute, the Israel Democracy Institute, our own iRep coalition on religious pluralism, and support for LGBTQ organizations in Israel, as well as many other important efforts of individual Federations. We will all work together to develop additional steps we can take to help build Israel’s civil society. It is important to emphasize that our efforts to date on judicial reform have not been in vain. Every conversation, every meeting, every fly-in, has had an impact. This week’s Knesset session – whatever happens – is but one moment in a long-term struggle that will play out over many years. Nevertheless, the stakes this week go far beyond the particulars of the bill under consideration, and all sides know it. To the governing coalition, the failure to pass this bill would be a major setback. To the opposition, the passage of even a minor bill on the topic of judicial reform would embolden the government to take further steps in the same manner. Yet the particulars do matter. It is difficult to provide a succinct summary of the legislation under consideration and why it has engendered such strong feelings because the details are complicated and because concerns about the bill must be understood in the context of Israel’s system of government, which does not readily translate to our own systems in the United States and Canada. We will delve more deeply into this subject at a webinar this Tuesday – whether the bill has passed or not – at 12PM ET. In the webinar, we will also consider the impact of President Herzog’s visit to Washington D.C. and New York. Jewish tradition holds that the age of prophecy ended with Malachi. There are several explanations given throughout Jewish texts for this, but the one that resonates with us today was offered by Rabbi Hayyim Angel: “No longer having prophets to tell us what God wants of us enabled mature human participation in the natural covenant between God and humanity.” We are in the Three Weeks of mourning stretching from the 17th of Tammuz to Tisha B’av. In a remarkable coincidence, the seven and one half year long cycle of studying a page a day of Talmud – daf yomi – focused during these Three Weeks on the destruction of the Temple, and especially on the opinion of the sages that the Temple was destroyed because of divisions within the Jewish people. In yet another coincidence, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog addressed a Joint Session of the United States Congress on Rosh Chodesh Av – the first day of the month of Av, the beginning of the intense Nine Days from the first to the ninth of Av. We may not have prophets, but our history, our sages and even our Jewish calendar are screaming at us, trying to get our attention. We still have time for “mature human participation in the covenant,” but the harm that has been caused is real and will require serious efforts at repair. President Herzog has led the call for dialogue and civility. His trip to the United States was a triumph of leadership and diplomacy. We must do everything we can to bolster his resolve and help him carry this burden. We must also use all the considerable influence of the North American Jewish community to insist that all sides in Israel take a step back from their extreme positions and return to negotiations. In the Talmud, Rabbis Akiva and Tarfon famously debate the relative merits of study and action. Rabbi Akiva wins the argument by concluding that study is greater because it leads to action. We must learn the lessons of our Torah and our history and, as Rabbi Akiva taught, turn those lessons into action. Join us on Tuesday at 12PM ET as we continue to study and consider our role in this important moment. Julie Platt, Chair, Board of Trustees Eric Fingerhut, President & CEO |
July 11, 2023 Dear Friends, Today has seen very high tension in Israel, with perhaps the most significant developments since the new government was formed just over a half a year ago. The debate and protests over the issue of proposed judicial reforms intensified dramatically, with protest groups launching a “National Day of Resistance” as a first bill moves through the legislative process. Last night, the controversial Reasonableness Standard Bill passed in a first reading in the Knesset (in a 64 to 56 vote). Today, it will be brought before the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, where it will be further debated in preparation for a second and third reading in two weeks, after which it would become law. If passed, the bill would block Israel's courts from applying a "reasonableness standard" to decisions made by elected officials. This standard was established by the courts decades ago, and allows judges to strike down decisions made by the prime minister, ministers or other government officials if they believe the decision is beyond the scope of what “a responsible and reasonable authority would do.” (See more about the bill and its background here and here). Examples of this clause's use in the past include a case in which Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman decided to unilaterally end funding for day care centers for some parts of the Haredi sector in the middle of a school year (the Supreme Court overturned his decision) and more recently, the prime minister’s decision to appoint Shas Party leader Aryeh Deri as Interior Minister and Health Minister. (Deri has been previously convicted by the courts, and according to the Supreme Court, had pledged not to re-enter public life; a claim Deri denies. See more here). The actual cases in which the courts overturned government decisions have been few, averaging less than one a year in the past quarter century. The proposed law has been softened from its original version. The new version, currently before the Knesset, still allows judges to strike down decisions by unelected government officials, but would prevent it from having oversight of decisions of ministers and the prime minister. Opponents of the proposed change see this as giving unbridled power to elected officials, without appropriate checks and balances. Tens of thousands of Israelis began protesting early this morning. Dozens of major roads in the country have been blocked, including the main Jerusalem – Tel Aviv Highway, one of the country’s busiest and most important corridors and the alternate route into the city – 443 – along with the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv. Police used water cannons and dragged demonstrators away from the Jerusalem – Tel Aviv Highway, and one protestor suffered a head injury from the high-pressured water. (See video footage here). Other protestors are attempting to disrupt activities at Israel’s only major international gateway, Ben Gurion Airport. In response, Energy Minister Israel Katz called for the arrest of a protest leader "for sedition and disruption of public order.” Police have detained at least 40 people for disruptions. A crowd of several hundred people have also gathered outside the Histadrut Labor Federation Headquarters in Tel Aviv, demanding that Israel’s largest labor union declare a general strike. While the Histadrut, which has the power to shut down large sections of the economy, has not yet joined today’s protests, its leader, Arnon Bar-David, warned of possible action today. Meanwhile, some 300 IDF reservists in cyberwarfare units have issued a letter saying they will not show up for reserve duty in protest against the proposed reforms. As most of you know, shortly after the new government was sworn in just over six months ago, it announced proposals to launch a series of sweeping reforms to the way the country is governed. (For details, see Jewish Federations’ Resource Page here). The past half year has seen much back and forth on the issue, with the protests increasing and decreasing in intensity, according to the government’s changing stance. Notwithstanding Prime Minister Netanyahu comments to English-language media that he intends only to move ahead with those aspects of the reforms where there is widespread consensus (see, for example, his interview with the Wall Street Journal here), members of his coalition have made contradictory statements, and the process of turning some proposals into law continues, spearheaded by Netanyahu’s Likud party. Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has been working hard to get all sides to agree to a compromise proposal, and to return to the negotiating table. For now, however, those talk have been halted. Jewish Federations have repeatedly called on all sides to join the talks under the President’s auspices (see here). We will continue to monitor developments, and report as needed. Meanwhile, please feel free to share Jewish Federations’ comments, as well as this update. Rebecca Caspi Senior Vice President Israel and Overseas Director General, Israel Office |
Update on Security in Israel 5.12.23
Dear Friends,
Despite the optimism in yesterday morning's update that a ceasefire was likely, within a few hours Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) fired multiple barrages of rockets at Israeli population centers, killing one civilian in the city of Rehovot and injuring others. The rocket attacks continued for a number of hours. While overnight only sporadic rocket-fire took place, a number of launches remain underway at the time of writing. There is wide-spread speculation that this may be a final volley before a formal ceasefire begins.
In the early evening hours yesterday, a particularly intense round of rocket fire from Gaza caused millions of Israelis to run to shelters, including in major cities in the country’s center, such as Tel Aviv and Rishon Letzion. In an apparent malfunction of the Iron Dome defense system (see details here), one rocket hit an apartment building in the city of Rehovot that did not have its own shelters. One person was killed, nine others were injured, and the building suffered major damage. See further details here and here.
So far, more than 880 rockets have been fired at Israel from Gaza during Operation Shield and Arrow, now entering its fourth day. Of these, some 672 crossed the border from Palestinian territories into Israel, with the rest falling short, or landing in the sea. Iron Dome has been activated 260 times, and has had a 91% success rate during the current operation. See here for a PIJ-produced video of a rocket being launched. 12 Israelis have been wounded as a result of the rocket fire and thousands more are suffering from various forms of trauma. Millions have had their lives interrupted. See here for an article about one family’s life under fire.
Meanwhile the IDF continued to strike PIJ military targets, and says that the terrorist organization has suffered a major blow, including losing many of its top commanders. In total, 170 terror targets have been hit. See here for a video of the IDF striking a PIJ military post and here for footage of a strike on a mobile rocket launcher. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza says that 31 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since fighting began. According to the IDF, at least four Palestinians have been killed, including children, as a result of failed rocket launches from Gaza. See further details here.
According to media reports, strong efforts are still underway to finalize a formal ceasefire, under Egyptian mediation. In an indication of the country’s willingness to de-escalate, Israeli officials have repeatedly stated that “quiet will be met with quiet.” See more here.
Jewish Federations’ partners, including the Jewish Agency for Israel, JDC, and the Israel Trauma Coalition, are addressing needs on the ground. The Jewish Agency’s Fund for Victims of Terror is providing immediate financial support to families whose homes were directly hit by rocket fire and is helping them with urgent needs. In addition to aid provided by the Government of Israel, the fund also grants supplementary aid to families affected by rocket fire, assists with rehabilitation needs, and addresses the needs of children and families dealing with post-traumatic stress. The Fund, which operates thanks to donations from Jewish Federations and others, was established 20 years ago and to date has supported 9,000 families affected by terrorist incidents and rocket fire, with grants totaling $20 million. Since the beginning of this year, the Fund has awarded grants to the residents of the Gaza border and victims of terror attacks totaling $220,000, and has also run special camps for approximately 350 children and teenagers dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC), another Federation partner, reports that close to 60% of residents living near the Gaza border have temporarily left their homes and are staying in areas further away from the conflict. ITC says the number of calls to trauma help lines have more than doubled in recent days, with the city of Sderot seeing the highest number of calls, by far. ITC says that the majority of the calls come from parents looking for advice as to how to calm their children. Due to the security situation, most trauma care is taking place over Zoom, but professionals visit homes in person where rockets have fallen within close proximity.
Jewish Federations of North America remain in close contact with the Israeli government, our partners, and others to monitor the situation. We will continue to update as needed.
Meanwhile, we are hoping for a quiet weekend here in Israel, and wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom.
Rebecca Caspi
Senior Vice President Israel and Overseas
Director General, Israel Office
From the Consulate General of Israel 5.11.23
At the end of the third day of Operation "Shield and Arrow,” I wanted to share with you an update on the developments:
· As of 4pm ET, the Islamic Jihad has fired more than 800 rockets which were aimed at Israeli civilian communities, reaching the area of Tel Aviv.
· 1.5 million Israelis are at rocket range.
· An apartment building in Rehovot, the Central District of Israel (about 20 kilometers south of Tel Aviv) was hit. One person was killed and eight others were injured. Three houses in Sderot were directly hit by rockets. No injuries were reported.
· 20% of the rockets launched by the Islamic Jihad have fallen inside Gaza. These misfires have killed four innocent Palestinian civilians, including a ten year old child. The Islamic Jihad is a threat to the innocent men, women and children in Gaza, placing them in the line of fire.
· The IDF targeted two commanders in the Islamic Jihad’s Rocket Launching Force. Ali Ghali, the Commander of the Rocket Launching Force, a central figure in IJ, was responsible for the recent rocket barrages launched against Israel. Abu Deka, Deputy Commander of the Rocket Launching Force, was directly responsible for the barrage of rockets fired toward Israeli civilians in the last few days.
