Israel News for 4-15-19
Syria Attack
On Saturday, aircraft believed to be Israeli attacked and destroyed a missile production facility in Syria. The site was built during the years 2014-2016 on the western section of a Syrian military base and is isolated by a wall. It is unclear whether the site is controlled by the Syrians or the Iranians. The industrial structures, including all the equipment inside them, were completely destroyed. Other nearby buildings also were damaged. Syrian opposition forces claim that 17 people were injured in the strike including Syrians and Iranian militia personnel.
For further reading click here.
Visit Cancelled
A spokeswoman for Israel’s Economy Ministry said a planned visit to Bahrain this week by Israel’s Economy Minister Eli Cohen had been “delayed because of political issues.” The group of around 30 Israeli business executives and government officials was scheduled to participate in a congress organized by the U.S.- based Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) in Bahrain on April 15-18.
The proposed visit caused protests by members of Bahrains parliament as well as street protests. The parliament members released a statement saying, “Bahrain’s parliament announces that the people of Bahrain reject any Israeli presence on its territory and its lands and any decision allowing this presence is unacceptable.”
For further reading click here.
Women in Tanks
The IDF has decided not to integrate female soldiers in the Armored Corps despite conducting a successful pilot course last year to train female troops as tank crewwomen. The 10 crewwomen who underwent the special training have in recent months been integrated into other combat units, such as the Karakal Battalion, composed of both male and female combat soldiers.
For further reading click here.
Pay Raise
Israel’s non military security forces are getting a, well deserved, 7.5% pay raise. The first payment was made on the eve of the elections last week.
For further reading click here.
Matzah to Poland
The Shavei Israel organization, led by Michael Freund, has delivered to the Jewish community in Poland 2 tons of matzah, consisting of 1,692 boxes of Matzot Aviv, along with 90 boxes of machine-made special shmura (“guarded”) matzah and 45 boxes of hand-made shmura matzah. The matzah will be distributed to nearly a dozen Jewish communities throughout Poland, including Bielsko-Biala, Gdansk, Katowice, Krakow, Legnica, Lodz, Lublin, Poznan, Szczerczin, Warsaw and Wroclaw.
There are approximately 4,000 Jews registered in Poland today, but experts suggest there may be tens of thousands more throughout the country who, to this day, are either hiding their identities or are simply unaware of their family heritage. In recent years, a growing number of so-called “Hidden Jews” have begun to return to Judaism and to the Jewish people. Shavei Israel has been active in Poland for over a decade, working closely with Polish Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich and these “Hidden Jews.”
Rabbi Schudrich said, “As more and more Poles discover their Jewish roots. Passover especially speaks to them as a celebration of freedom and the end of slavery or occupation. Matzah represents that freedom and every Jew wants to have his box of matzah for Pesach. Thanks to Shavei Israel, many Jews will have matzah this Pesach. Thank you, Shavei Israel.”
For further reading click here.
