Updates On Our Partnership Region

 

Update: January 29, 2015


Representatives in our Upper Galilee partnership region report that the Northern Galilee is now quiet. They shared with us this beautiful photo of spring budding in the north.

The two IDF soliders who lost their lives yesterday - Maj. Yochai Kalangel z"l and St.-Sgt. Dor Haim Nini z"l – were laid to rest today. May their memories be for a blessing.

Over the years, our Jewish Federation has built ties between residents of the Upper Galilee and members of our local Jewish community, and supported educational and social services programs, and long-term economic generators that help break the cycle of poverty for many in this isolated region. Consequently, many in our community have built friendships and strong ties to those living in the Upper Galilee. We would like to share with you one of the responses we received from a resident.
 

Indeed, it is a great comfort to know that we are never forgotten by our friends in Canada! As I read your kind and supportive words, I could not help feeling that perhaps it's easier for us here who have been through so many years of war and conflict (actually in my family, three generations). It's hard to say that we are used to it, but we have the motions of being used to it. At these times, we accept, understand and are the strongest and most hopeful we can be.
 

Yet, this is the perfect time to continue to make every effort to hold on to our dreams of peace in Israel and the Middle East and to never stop trying to achieve it.


I live just by the Lebanese border. I can almost touch the homes on the other side of the border, peaceful families and farmers, just like us. So, it's a surrealistic experience, being at war with them and living here, for so long, strengthens me in my belief that peace will one day be achieved.


Thank you again for your caring and support.


Our representatives in Israel continue to follow the situation closely, and we will provide further updates with any new developments.
 



Update: January 28, 2015

On January 28th Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an attack on an IDF convoy of Jeeps that killed two IDF soldiers and wounded seven. A UN peacekeeper was killed in the exchange that followed. The attack took place in our partnership region of the Northern Galilee, a few kilometers northeast of Kiryat Shmona, near the Lebanon border. It comes after an alleged IDF attack on Hezbollah in Syria on January 18th.

 

We have been in touch with representatives of our partnership region, who report that residents of the region are expecting a very tense night following today’s events. Those who live in close proximity to the border have been instructed to remain indoors; others can go out but must remain close to a sheltered zone. Since January 18th residents have been experiencing a build-up of tension. Our representatives report that there is a lot of strength and resilience amongst these residents, many of whom have acknowledged with much appreciation the messages of support that they have received from Canada. 
 

Our team on the ground is following these events, and we will provide additional updates as they become available.