Israel’s 104th Day of War

On the 104^th day of the war, the Israeli military on Thursday sounded sirens in the southern port city of Eilat and a local radio station said an explosion had been heard as the result of the interception of an incoming aerial threat.  Eilat, on the Red Sea, has been the target of past long-distance launches by Iranian-aligned Yemeni Houthis, in solidarity with Palestinian militants fighting Israel in Gaza.

Israeli Air Force jets attacked infrastructures used by Hezbollah in the Al Adisa area of southern Lebanon on Thursday.  The IDF also attacked the Kafr Kila and Marjaayoun in southern Lebanon earlier.

The IDF announced that their operations in the Gaza Strip persist as they target terrorist operatives and infrastructure. In the past day alone, approximately 60 terrorists were killed.  In the city of Khan Yunis, IDF troops carried out a targeted raid based on intelligence, resulting in the death of around 40 terrorists. The operation took place at the residence of a known terrorist, where troops uncovered ten grenades, AK-47 rifles, military equipment, and technological assets.  Magazines, grenades, AK-47 rifles, and maps were also discovered during the operation. Additionally, IDF troops identified four terrorists advancing toward them in Khan Yunis. Responding swiftly, an IDF tank fired, eliminating the imminent threat.

In the northern Gaza Strip, IDF forces successfully thwarted an ambush planned by two armed terrorists. A series of aerial strikes were conducted to neutralize armed terrorists posing a danger to IDF troops, including those operating in proximity to a school.  In Zabra, IDF troops discovered a cache of anti-tank explosive devices, RPG launchers, military equipment, and technological assets.

A significant development occurred in the northern Gaza Strip, where IDF forces intercepted terrorists preparing a vehicle with explosives. Simultaneously, as one of the terrorists exited a known Islamic Jihad compound, an IDF aircraft struck and killed the individual. Shots were fired at the rigged vehicle, leading to a subsequent explosion that confirmed the presence of explosives.

As the war continues here it becomes clearer every day that the present government has sorely underestimated the capabilities of our enemies.   It’s a tendency of all of us to underestimate our enemies. People do it all the time. Winning armies realize it and adapt.  Politicians try to stop the adaptation as they see it as admitting error.  Let’s hope we can effect the change required to bring in a new and more capable government so that this will be the last war we have to deal with for many years.

 Seeking Future Leadership

Among Israel’s leading business women is Ofra Strauss, Chairperson, Strauss Group who has served as the Group’s Chair since 2001.

Ofra is a graduate of Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Law. After serving as a regional manager at Estée Lauder in New York, Ofra returned to Israel, and since 1989 has held a variety of positions in the Group. In addition to her job in the Company Ofra holds a number of public positions: Former Chair of Maala – Business for Social Responsibility; the initiator and person responsible for the establishment of the Catalyst Index in Israel; President of Jasmine – Jewish-Arab Businesswomen’s Association; and former Chair of the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce.

Since 2003 she has been regularly ranked in the top 50 places on Fortune’s List of Most Powerful Women in Business, and in 2009 and 2010 she was ranked 12^th and 16^th in the Financial Times’ list of the Top 50 Women in World Business.  In her role as Chair of Strauss she has forged strategic relationships in many countries around the world and has made the company into a serious worldwide economic force.

She has been actively involved in the furtherance of social objectives for many years, notably in the spheres of diversity and inclusion as well as support and advocacy of women-owned small businesses within and outside of the Strauss Group.

Clearly this series has highlighted a wide array of people whom we can tap for creative political leadership as we move forward.