AJC Helps Israeli Communities Build, Improve Bomb Shelters

News provided by

Jul 21, 2014, 02:54 ET

NEW YORK, July 21, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC announced today two grants to communities in southern Israel that have endured many of the Hamas rockets and missiles. The towns, Ofakim and Netivot, are located between Beersheba and the border with Gaza.

With grants from AJC's Heilbrunn Humanitarian Fund, Ofakim will help build a shelter attached to the G'vanim paramedical center for children, and Netivot will purchase emergency lighting, air fans and an emergency generator for the town's public shelters.

"Israelis of all ages are in an absolutely intolerable situation, with only 15 seconds to reach a shelter for safety and security from the ceaseless, indiscriminate, round-the-clock Hamas attacks," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "Given their proximity to Hamas-ruled Gaza, the beleaguered citizens of Ofakim and Netivot need to have the best possible shelters."

Earlier this month, following a long tradition of support for Israel's emergency needs, AJC made a grant to the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon to purchase equipment for its urgent care facilities.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100816/AJCLOGO

SOURCE American Jewish Committee