Israel Awareness Update
December 5, 2002
By: Anya Manning, Natick USY Israel Affairs Vice President

Immigrant elected to fifth spot in Yisrael B'aliyah committee.  As Israel is preparing 
for its upcoming election each party makes a list of people they would want to fill 
the spots they recieve in the knesset (based on how many votes they recieve)  For 
example, depending on how many votes the Labor party recieves they will get the top 25 
or 30 people on their list.  Yisrael B'aliyah, a party dedicated to immigrants and 
immigrant rights, is led by the current Construction an Housing Minister, Natan 
Sharansky.  Yisrael B'aliyah has just elected Eli Kashdan, who was born in Russia and 
has lived in the United States, to their fifth slot.

Bush Supports Israel's Fight Against Palestinian Terror
U.S. President George W. Bush expressed his support on Wednesday for Israel's fight 
against Palestinian terrorism, calling terrorism the cause of the Palestinian people's 
suffering.  Bush also added that he believes al-Qaida "was involved" in the twin 
attacks on Israeli targets in Kenya last week. He added, "our country will continue to 
fight terror and join our allies in fighting terror wherever it exists.  And so I 
fully understand the Israeli government's attempt to stamp out terror, because we'll 
never have peace so long as terrorists are able to disrupt."  Bush also said he was 
concerned that terrorist groups such as al-Qaida would take advantage of the 
Palestinian people's situation and that "terrorists have disrupted the ability of 
peace-loving people to move the process forward."

First Female Patriot Commander Appointed
For the first time in the Israel Air Force's history, a female officer was appointed 
as a Patriot Missile Battery commander.  Lt. Shimrit Malka, 22,from the Karkom 
community in the Galilee, will be in charge of dozens of Israel Defense Forces 
soldiers who maintain the Patriot Missile Battery.  Senior IAF officers said "the 
decision to put her in charge of a Patriot Missile Battery that will protect Israeli 
civilians during a possible Iraqi attack in the [coming] months, shows the enormous 
respect she is given."

Each week we will ask some Israel questions.  For each question you answer
correctly you will receive a prize.  Please e mail answers to exec1@natickusy.org.
1.  Who is the President of Israel?  What does he do?
2.  Who was Abba Eban?   What contribution did he make to Israel?