Our prayers and thoughts are with Israel as they are under increased rocket attack from Hamas in Gaza. To defend themselves, Israel launched Operation Protective Edge last night after the security cabinet met for the fourth time over the past few days and decided to intensify defensive efforts against Hamas and restore stability to the country’s south.
In these times of crisis our umbrella organization JFNA (Jewish Federations of North America) represents Federations at the Non-Profit Emergency Situation Roundtable under the auspices of the Ministry of Defense and collaborates with our primary partners – The Jewish Agency and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee – as well as others to ensure that whatever may come, we are working in the most efficient and informed manner possible to assist Israel and its citizens.
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OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE
Israel’s response to the intense rocket fire from Gaza over the past month, which has been dubbed “Operation Protective Edge”, launched last night. Since Monday morning, over 100 rockets have been fired at Israel. Hamas terrorists in Gaza have claimed responsibility for many of the attacks which have been activating “Code Red” sirens deep into central Israel.
WHAT’S BEEN HIT
More than 240 rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza since June 12, the day on which the three Israeli teenagers were abducted and murdered. A nursery school was hit (July 3), two factories in Sderot were razed (June 28) and a number of homes and cars have been damaged by other rockets striking open areas. In addition, a terrorist armed with a grenade tried to enter an Israeli village (June 22) and there have been several cross-border attacks.
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
Once again, the preventative measures in place are helping mitigate the situation. As disconcerting as the sound of sirens wailing can be, residents in southern Israel are used to the need to move quickly and have been following the instructions of the military and civilian authorities, rushing to protected rooms and safe areas whenever needed.
These measures, together with the deployment of the highly effective Iron Dome defense system, have kept physical injuries to a minimum (primarily shrapnel wounds and shock), even as psychological and social support services are seeing a big spike in calls to help lines and other requests for assistance. In future updates, we will provide more information on the disruption of daily civilian and economic life.
RESPONSE
The Israel Air Force struck over 50 targets Monday night across the Gaza Strip, including rocket launchers, a weapon storage facility, training bases, terror tunnels and other key objectives. Some 1,500 IDF reservists were called up for duty yesterday, with breaking news of a further draft of some 40,000 now approved.
Israel continues to deploy the Iron Dome defense system, which is reported to have an 85% success rate against incoming rockets.
OUR PARTNERS
In the past week as tensions have escalated, our partners funded in part by our Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs, The Jewish Agency and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, have been mobilizing and are already swinging into action. Thanks to core unrestricted funding and hard-earned experience from past emergencies, early assistance efforts are now underway.
The Jewish Agency is working with the National Insurance Authority and local municipalities via the SOS Fund to help meet urgent needs of three families from Sderot whose houses took direct hits. They have been evacuated to hotels and each family has been granted $1,000 to buy basic supplies, medicines, etc. We anticipate that additional similar requests will come through in the upcoming days as rocket fire increases.
Staff from The Jewish Agency is working together with Amigour – Israel’s leading sheltered housing company – to provide guidance and emotional support for elderly residents living in facilities in areas under fire. They are also assisting new immigrants living in absorption centers in dealing with the current crisis.
JDC approved a special grant yesterday to fund an emergency coordinator position at the Center for Independent Living in Beer Sheva. This facility serves a large population of young adults with significant disabilities living in the community. They face unique challenges in coping with emergency guidelines, in particular the need to move quickly to safe space.
The JDC Israel staff is working with Centers for Young Adults across southern Israel as they switch into emergency mode as they already have in Sderot. Where protected space is available, plans are being developed to welcome young adults as well as children and families, should the emergency situation continue.
The Jewish Community Association of Greater Phoenix stands with Israel in their right and need to defend themselves and in our hopes and prayers for some sense of calm to return to the region.
Stuart Wachs
President & CEO, Jewish Community ASSOCIATION of Greater Phoenix
