JERUSALEM (Press Release) — Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) leaders and supporters from the San Diego area joined the FIDF National Leadership Mission to Israel earlier this month to show their appreciation for the brave men and women of the IDF.
VIP events included meetings with Israel’s newly elected President, Reuven (Ruby) Rivlin, and the IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benjamin (Benny) Gantz, as well as a briefing by Israel’s senior official on Arab Affairs, Avi Melamed.
“FIDF are the real friends of Israel and of the Jewish people,” said President Rivlin. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart and from the people of Israel. Thank you for taking care of our soldiers, our sons and daughters, and those who come alone to defend us.”
Speaking shortly after this week’s terror attack on a Jerusalem synagogue, Lt. Gen. Gantz told the FIDF delegates that the IDF stands at the ready to defend the Jewish people.
“These cruel and inhumane events provided a reminder that the situation can change from moment to moment and that we have to continue being vigilant, remaining in a state of constant readiness, to do whatever it takes to protect the security of our people,” said Gantz. “The State of Israel knows that even after 66 years of independence, the IDF still needs to continue defending Israel and the Diaspora.”
The sold-out FIDF mission, which took place November 14-21, brought San Diego supporters together with the soldiers of the IDF. Mission participants received in-depth briefings by senior military officers, met with state leaders, and toured strategic IDF bases to get a behind-the-scenes look into the Israeli military.
Joining the FIDF Leadership Mission were FIDF National Chairman, Nily Falic; FIDF National Executive Director, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir; FIDF Chief Executive Officer, Alan E. Scholnick; FIDF National Director and CEO Emeritus, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Yitzhak (Jerry) Gershon; and San Diego Chapter Executive Director, Nir Benzvi.
“This National Leadership Mission allowed our FIDF supporters to forge even deeper bonds with the brave men and women of the IDF, who put their lives on the line every day to defend the Jewish State and the Jewish people,” said Falic. “We are grateful for this incredible opportunity to have visited the beloved country of Israel and learn more about how we can support the wellbeing needs of its soldiers. While they look after Israel, it is incumbent upon us to look after them.”
The San Diego group of FIDF leaders heard first-hand from soldiers about serving on the front lines, toured a pivotal Iron Dome Battery in the South of Israel that helped defend its people from thousands of rocket attacks, visited the Gaza Division headquarters to get briefed on the current security situation by the division’s commander, joined a unique gathering with soldiers who served in Operation Protective Edge this summer, visited the Hatzerim Air Force Base in the Negev Desert to meet F-15 and F-16 pilots, and learned about the activities of elite units such as the Givati Brigade and the “Iron Trails” Armored Brigade.
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Preceding provided by Friends of the Israel Defense Force (FIDF).