Israel-Hamas War 2023/ screenshot
A series of new initiatives from different organizations have been announced to aid Israelis suffering in one way or another in the aftermath of the barbaric terror attack carried out by Hamas on October 7. The Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) is offering an NIS 100 Million ($25 million) fastback initiative to help companies in which the Authority invests and to accelerate the transfer of funds to them due to the problems they face as a result of the war against Hamas in Gaza. Also, the World Zionist Organization (WZO) has an initiative for the Israeli residents of the Gaza Periphery who lost their homes. Meanwhile, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations held an emergency solidarity mission to Israel.
50 prominent U.S. community leaders came to Israel to meet with government figures such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog and victims of the October 7 attacks. The delegation said that it presented a united front of support for Israel from the U.S. Jewish community, and delivered a message to him from families of hostages taken by Hamas.
The WZO appealed to the Jewish communities in Israel and in the Diaspora with a request that Jews who own empty apartments in Israel offer them for the use of Israelis who were forced to abandon their homes in the areas near Gaza, as well as those who were live near the border with Lebanon and who were required to evacuate due to the growing threat of an attack by the terrorist group Hezbollah.
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The WZO asked the apartment owners to transfer temporary control over them to it so that the organization can handle the housing of families who lost their homes.
The World Zionist Organization will take full responsibility for the process of handing over the apartment and will ensure that the apartment is returned in the same way as it was received. A contract will be signed between the World Zionist Organization and the owners of the apartments, and another contract between the World Zionist Organization and the family that will live in the apartment, which makes it legally binding and for the World Zionist Organization to be the guarantor.
As for the IIA program, the organization said the funding will be used to help around 100 Israeli startup companies with significant technological assets, and short runways for companies struggling to raise funds from their existing investors during these challenging times. The funding, operating under the R&D fund program, is designed for Israeli companies who need additional funds to extend their runway, giving them more time to fully utilize their available resources.
Offir Akunis, Israel’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, said, “Much like the entire Israeli economy, our high-tech sector was significantly harmed by the crisis. In such times, we are all joining the collective efforts, each in their areas of responsibilities, including the Ministry of Science and the Israel Innovation Authority. Our policy of providing rapid support, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, will prevent critical damage to the high-tech industry. This policy will be the central tier in the ability of the Israeli economy and its growth engine to quickly return to a path of growth at the end of the war.”
