Herzog extends ‘deepest condolences’ to Swiss fire victims
(JNS) — Israeli President Isaac Herzog sent his condolences on Jan. 1 to the families of the victims of the deadly fire that broke out in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana in Switzerland the previous night.
Dozens are presumed dead and a hundred more were injured in the conflagration, according to Reuters.
The fire erupted at around 1:30 a.m. during the New Year’s Eve celebrations, in the Le Constellation bar. The cause of the fire remains unclear but authorities said it appears to have been accidental.
“We are praying for all those injured and the emergency services operating at the scene. I extend a message of strong support to President Guy Parmelin of the Swiss Confederation, the Swiss government, the people of Switzerland and all those nations affected by this horrific disaster,” tweeted Herzog.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said he was “deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic disaster in Crans-Montana,” and that Jerusalem’s thoughts were with the victims and their families.
“Israel stands ready to offer any assistance to Switzerland in responding to this disaster,” the country’s top diplomat wrote in a social media post.
First Israeli vertiport slated for Tel Aviv, opening path to aerial taxis
(JNS) — Israel’s first vertiport for aerial taxis will be built at Atidim Park, a major business and high-tech complex in northern Tel Aviv, project planners announced on Jan. 1.
The facility, to be known as the ATIDIM Vertiport, is designed to support electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), which are widely seen as a key component of future urban transportation.
In its initial phase, the vertiport will operate as a dedicated center for medical aerial deliveries, enabling faster transport of critical medical equipment and supplies across the metropolitan area. Passenger air-taxi services are expected to follow once regulatory and operational frameworks are in place.
A preliminary demonstration of the project was held at the park this week, featuring a flight from a temporary landing pad to another pad located at Medica Rafeal Hospital, which is also situated in the complex.
The initiative reflects a growing global trend, as cities worldwide prepare infrastructure for electric air taxis as part of future smart transportation networks. “If successful, this project could establish Tel Aviv as a pioneer in urban air mobility, setting a benchmark for other cities in Israel and internationally,” the project planners said.
Officials said the project aims to reduce traffic congestion, promote sustainable transportation and position Tel Aviv as a leader in emerging air-mobility technologies.
Israel suspends operations of multiple humanitarian organizations in Gaza, including Doctors Without Borders
(JTA) — The Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs is halting the operations of more than three dozen humanitarian groups in Gaza, including Doctors Without Borders.
The ministry announced on Dec. 30 that the affected organizations failed to meet its new requirements for non-governmental organizations providing humanitarian aid in Gaza, which were posted online in November. The requirements included providing a full list of its Palestinian employees.
“We emphasize that the registration process is intended to prevent the exploitation of aid by Hamas, which in the past operated under the cover of certain international aid organizations, knowingly or unknowingly,” wrote the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), which oversees aid in Gaza on social media.
The ministry said that 38 of the NGOs working in Gaza did not have their permits renewed for the coming year, according to the Associated Press.
The suspensions, which will begin on Jan. 1, come as President Donald Trump has put pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to usher the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel into its second phase, which would include the reconstruction of Gaza.
Israel strikes Hezbollah sites in Southern Lebanon
(JNS) — The Israeli military attacked several Hezbollah terrorist positions in Southern Lebanon on Friday, targeting violations of the ceasefire agreement between Jerusalem and Beirut.
The strikes hit a training compound used by Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force for combat drills and weapons training, as well as military structures recently used to store weapons, the Israel Defense Forces said.
The IDF said the facilities were used to train operatives for attacks against Israeli troops and civilians, calling the activity a breach of ceasefire terms.
The military said it would continue operations to eliminate threats against Israel.
Pentagon awards Boeing $8.6 billion deal for Israeli F-15s
(JNS) — The Pentagon has awarded Boeing a contract worth up to $8.58 billion to supply new F-15IA fighter jets to Israel, the Defense Department said on Monday.
“This contract provides for the design, integration, instrumentation, test, production and delivery of 25 new F-15IA aircraft for the Israeli Air Force with an option for an additional 25 F-15IA aircraft,” according to the department. “Work will be performed at St. Louis, Missouri and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2035,” the statement continued.
The effort is being managed by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
The Pentagon said the contract involved “Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to the State of Israel.”
The announcement on Dec. 29 came after Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. earlier in the day for discussions on a range of issues, including Gaza and Iran.
