On June 12 Israel launched a pre-emptive strike against the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Islamist regime. The information coming out of Iran shows that the strikes were surgical and took extreme care to minimize civilian casualties. The Jewish community of Northeastern Pennsylvania stands by Israel and its allies in its efforts to defang the Iranian regime.
Israel’s attack came after decades of genocidal threats by the Mullahs’ regime, and Tehran’s use of their proxy armies in Lebanon, Gaza and Yemen against the civilian population of Israel – most notably the October 7, 2023 attack which initiated the current Hamas-Israel war in Gaza.
Israel, in a daring operation, eliminated most of the top scientists working on Iran’s nuclear program, as well as most of its military top leadership. This will, hopefully, set back their nuclear program and allow for the time necessary to negotiate a peaceful end of their nuclear weapons program.
Iran responded by targeting civilian population centers, using nighttime missile launches to maximize the chances for civilian Israeli casualties.
We hope that the military confrontation will be short, and we pray for the welfare of our Israeli brothers and sisters, the Iranian people, and our troops in the Middle East.
Daniel Chejfec, PhD
Executive Director
Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania