March 16, 2003
12 Adar II, 5763
Jerusalem

THE JEWISH AGENCY IS PLAYING AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE CURRENT NATIONAL SECURITY EFFORT AND HAS PREPARED IMMIGRANTS FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF AN IRAQI ATTACK.

During this past year the Jewish Agency has been assisting massively in the national effort to prepare the Israeli population for a possible Iraqi attack or emergency situation. The Israel Emergency Campaign initiated by the Jewish Agency through the auspices of the United Jewish Communities of North America and Keren Hayesod, has allocated $140 million to emergency preparations which include acquisition of emergency equipment to hospitals, patrol cars and communications equipment for the Civil Guard (auxiliary police), the purchase of emergency beepers for the hearing impaired, and assistance to the Home Front Command (Israel’s Civil Defense).

Though the possibility of an Iraqi missile attack against Israel is low, the Jewish Agency with the assistance of the Home Front Command has taken all necessary measures to prepare immigrants and other populations for which it is responsible, for such a contingency. In addition, volunteers organized by the Jewish Agency will play important roles in helping Israeli society prepare for an emergency and will perform essential tasks in civil defense and medical assistance should an emergency situation develop.

Populations under Jewish Agency Responsibility
The Jewish Agency is responsible for 35 absorption centers throughout Israel with a total population of 10,000 immigrants. It is likewise responsible for 28 kibbutz ulpanim, in which 1,000 students study, four youth villages and tourists that have come to Israel on long and short-term Agency-sponsored Israel experience and study programs. The Agency is likewise responsible for solidarity missions arriving in Israel in the context of the Agency’s "Partnership 2000" program and members of the Board of Governors. {Veteran immigrants and tourists who arrive in Israel in other frameworks [e.g. "Birthright"] fall under the responsibility of the Home Front Command}

Jewish Agency Preparations for Conventional and Non-Conventional Attack
The Jewish Agency has already readied shelters in its institutions and outfitted them with the necessary emergency equipment as recommended by the Home Front Command. Likewise descent to shelters has been drilled in all Jewish Agency facilities in the event of a conventional attack.

However, in order to prepare for a non-conventional attack, the Jewish Agency has seen to it that all immigrants in Agency facilities have been supplied with the Home Front Command issue protective kits as of their very first week in Israel. All supplies necessary for hermetic sealing have been prepared for all Jewish Agency facilities in Israel and will be distributed upon instructions from the Home Front Command. Jewish Agency retirees have and will continue to play an important role in the distribution process.

An emergency supply network is in place for furnishing protective kits to all tourists under Jewish Agency responsibility, and within six hours from the moment a directive is issued protective kits and isolation supplies will be issued to such tourists.

Under the guidance of the Home Front Command staff at all Jewish Agency facilities have been trained on how to function under emergency situations and how to instruct immigrants tourists for whom they are responsible. Jewish Agency Psychologists and social workers have been incorporated into this effort.

The directors of each Jewish Agency facility have organized, in coordination with the Home Front Command instruction what to do in time of emergency. Such instruction is given by soldiers, either in Hebrew with simultaneous translation, or in the native language of the immigrants. Likewise all Jewish Agency installations are equipped with video-cassettes (in all the relevant languages) on what to do in the event of an emergency.

Contingency announcements in four languages exist in all Jewish Agency absorption centers, which are equipped with PA systems. Thus by pushing a button Agency staff will be able to issue emergency announcements and instructions to inhabitants. Sophisticated communications equipment has been distributed to each Jewish Agency facility.

The Jewish Agency has set up a nation-wide situation room as well as regional situation rooms to monitor the situation and coordinate Jewish Agency activities during an emergency situation.

Jewish Agency Assistance to the General Population in Preparation for and in the Event of an Emergency.

Jewish Agency-Organized Volunteers perform Valuable Security Tasks

The Jewish Agency has organized volunteers who have already rendered invaluable service to the people of Israel during the tense situation of the war against terror. Over 3,200 volunteers have signed up and over 1,900 have actually served or are currently serving in social welfare medical and public safety capacities. Volunteers include members of the joint Jewish Agency-Magen David Adom Yochai Porath Overseas Volunteer Program (which qualifies volunteers as first responders and enables them to serve on Magen David Adom ambulances or first aid stations), volunteers on kibbutzim and in development areas, volunteers for the Civil Guard, and volunteers for the Sarel program who perform civilian tasks on military bases. Recently young adults on Jewish Agency educational programs have volunteered to help the Home Front Command pack emergency protective kits, as have groups of immigrants in Jewish Agency absorption centers and kibbutz ulpanim. Likewise a group of Jewish Agency organized volunters from abroad will perform such tasks. The Jewish Agency has likewise organized special study and orientation sessions for some 60 physicians from North America, and South Africa who have come to Israel for hands-on seminars on Israel’s emergency medical disposition. In the event of a national emergency they have volunteered to come to Israel to serve in civilian hospitals and medical facilities, replacing Israeli physicians who might be mobilized.

Purchase of Emergency Equipment
The Jewish Agency has purchased 5,000 beepers (and upgraded 2,059 others) for the use of hearing-impaired Israelis. These devices will transmit to them Home Front Command civil defense announcements through vibrations, lights, bells and text messages, The purchase has been made possible through the Israel Emergency Campaign, launched by the United Jewish Communities of North America. The Jewish Agency has also helped secure Israeli schoolchildren and supplied equipment to the Civil Guard, hospitals and Home Front Command, as well as bullet proof ambulances and civilian vehicles through funds collected through this campaign, which is also conducted by Keren Hayesod.

Assistance in National Information
In the domain of national information, which is an important element in modern war efforts, the Jewish Agency maintains continuous, direct contact with official Israeli information authorities (e.g. the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Israel) and will immediately update its staff personnel and emissaries abroad, and through them decision makers in the Jewish communities and other publics. A government portal, http://www.nic.gov.il, has been set up for national information. This site is linked to the sites of all relevant agencies (e.g. IDF, Israel Police, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Ministers Office) including that of the Jewish Agency (http://www.jafi.org.il).

For additional information contact
the Office of the Spokesman:
Yehuda Weinraub
Liaison to Foreign Press and Media
Jewish Agency for Israel
Mobile:972-53-927017
Fax: 972-2-6204013