Dear parents,
Approximately two hours ago (7:30am Wednesday morning), 4 rockets were fired from Southern Lebanon into Israel. These rockets fell in and around the northern city of Nahariya.
The Israel Experience issued a security warning immediately, and basically outlined a buffer zone where program participants could not travel to, which is north of the Akko-Tsfat line.
At this point in time, Akko and Karmiel are both safe, according to the security line outlined. I spoke this morning with Silvio Joskowitz, Habonim Dror's World Mazkir, and with Meir Hoyzman, who is the manager of the North American division of the Israel Experience, who both gave assurances that, security-wise, remaining in Akko and Karmiel is adequate for the current situation. I will be maintaining close contact with them, and with the security division of the Israel experience, in regards to any updates and/or changes in the situation.
The workshoppers have a closed weekend this weekend, and will be with their madrichim throughout. We will all be very closely monitoring the situation in the North, and will ensure that any changes will be responded to swiftly and responsibly.
I wish all of you a great day, and the hope for better news for everyone soon.
Regards,
Leon.
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3 comments:
Thanks for the update. What is the contingency plan in case the war escalates in the north? Do you have a safe location that you plan to take the kids to in that event? Sincerely, Diane & Barry (Hannah Temkin's parents)
Dear Diane & Barry,
In my discussion with Silvio Joskowitz (World Mazkir of Habonim) today, we discussed at length the procedure for evacuating our groups from the North. We have a couple of temporary sites that we can take them to, in the Tel-Aviv area and in the Jerusalem hills area. At this point in time, the security warnings have been eased on the northern border, but in the case of any escalation at any time, then we will evacuate them within 6-8 hours.
Regards,
Leon.
With all due respect, adequate is not terribly reassuring. It's only safe until it isn't and it doesn't sound as if anyone saw this coming. Nora called us at 6 am this morning so we heard this from her first. She was told there would be a special bus to take the Akko kids back to their homes (apparently everyone is currently in Karmiel) later today but that was the only special arrangement that was proposed at that time. Akko appears to be closer than Karmiel to the site that was hit by rockets out of Lebanon this morning so why are they heading back to the coast? I echo Diane and Barry's questions and pose my own. At what point do you move these kids further south and at what point to you decide you have to change the plans or abandon the experience? Nora was in Israel with you in the summer of 2006 when you acted swiftly to move them to safer ground. Thanks. Gaylord and Carl (Nora Goldfield's parents)
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