In First, Israel Sends 2,000 Helmets, 500 Flak Jackets to Ukraine: In a further sign of its shifting stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Israel on Wednesday, May 18, sent Ukraine helmets and flak jackets that the Defense Ministry said will be given to rescue forces and civilian organizations. Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Jerusalem has tried to preserve its ties with Moscow and has until recently refused to send defensive equipment to Ukraine — instead, sending over some 100 tons of humanitarian aid as well as setting up a field hospital in western Ukraine for six weeks. However, the attempt to maintain a neutral stance has appeared to shift somewhat in recent weeks. Jerusalem agreed last month to send the helmets and flak jackets to emergency workers in Ukraine and explicitly accused Russia of war crimes as scenes of atrocities have emerged in towns and cities across the country. https://www.touchpointisrael.com/2022/05/23/in-first-israel-sends-2000-helmets-500-flak-jackets/ From Amir's e-mail newsletter: The Iranian rial has plunged to a 20-month low of 315,000 rials to a dollar. This is part of the reason for the massive anti-regime protests that have swept across the country which included chants of “Death to Khamenei!” In the city of Abadan, the protests have been particularly sharp after a building collapse killed at least 34 people with more still missing. Thirteen people, including the mayor, two former mayors, and the building contractor have been arrested in the incident. On Monday, in the capital city of Tehran, football fans at Azadi Stadium chanted “Abadan! Abadan!” in support of the victims and in protest against the regime. Iran continues its uranium enrichment bringing it to 18 times the limit allowed under the 2015 agreement. It is beyond dispute that they have enough uranium to create a weapon. However, there are still steps that must be taken if they are to weaponize what they have. Israel cannot afford to wait any longer to see when Iran will weaponize their uranium. Already, we have been in a month-long drill to prepare for a major attack from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen if Israel is forced to act to take out Iran’s nuclear program. Tuesday night, Israel conducted the largest air drill in its history employing hundreds of platforms including fighter jets and refueling planes and others. The simulation was attacking a far-away location. This was undoubtedly a preparation for an attack on Iran. Per Israel National News NBN: Major wave of North American Aliyah expected summer 2022 Over 2,000 individuals from over 20 states and provinces across the United States and Canada are expected to arrive in Israel during the summer months alone. A busy season of Nefesh B’Nefesh events and initiative which has drawn thousands of participants both planning and contemplating Aliyah. Last week the organization hosted a celebratory “homecoming BBQ” for Olin from the Tri-State area who are making Aliyah during the summer. The event was attended by hundreds of individuals, including the soon-to-be Olin and their extended families. The month of May also saw a successful virtual “Mega” event and job fair, which had over 1600 registrants and encompassed a variety of Aliyah topics for prospective Olin from over 45 states and provinces across North America, as well as from 2 dozen countries around the world. And prior to these 2 big events, Nefesh B’Nefesh held a 2-day “MedEx” event in NJ, in cooperation with Israel’s Health Ministry, providing an array of resources and personal meetings, expedited licensing and support for more than 300 medical professional and 135 physicians planning their upcoming moves to Israel. - Fair Use - In doomsday move, Knesset may affirm settlers don’t live in Israel: If one wants to measure the depth to which right-wing politicians in the opposition will sink, one need look no further than their plan to clarify in the Knesset on Monday that West Bank settlers do not live in Israel. To demonstrate that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s government has no capacity to rule, these politicians plan to reject the law that gives settlers in the West Bank the same legislative status as a resident of Israel. They would effectively be viewed as Israelis living outside the county, and would lose access to rights granted to Israelis in sovereign Israel. The law was put in place soon after Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan during the Six Day War in 1967, and has been renewed every five years without fanfare. The ulterior motives: The need for its renewal is a technicality that has been exploited by the opposition, which hopes that its failure to pass and the ensuing chaos would doom Bennett’s government and lead to an election. On Monday, the passage or failure of the bill will first be an issue of domestic politics. If the settlements are annexed in the future or a resolution to the conflict is reached, this debate will remain an internal one. But if the status quo continues, it is likely that the next battle to renew the bill won’t be between the government and the opposition, but between Israel and the international community. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-708477 Why is Ghana’s president pro-Israel, running world’s hottest economy and building a $350-million Bible Museum – a first in Africa? Posted by Thom on RN FB 
Nefesh B’Nefesh planning first Charter Aliyah (immigration) flight since beginning of pandemic along with 10 group Aliyah flights
