Jewish Agency mobilises to aid missile victims

On the afternoon (Australian time) that Beersheba’s Soroka Hospital was hit by an Iranian ballistic missile, Yaron Shavit’s phone was spitting out missile alerts.

The jarring sounds punctuated an interview with The AJN that the Jewish Agency deputy chair was giving in Melbourne on June 19 during a meeting with Jewish communal organisations at Beth Weizmann Jewish Community Centre.

Each sharp alert saw his eyes divert nervously to his phone.

Shavit departed on a visit to Australia and New Zealand just before the outbreak of hostilities with Iran.

The Jewish Agency deputy said he believes that if the US enters the war, the goal of victory will be elevated to regime change in Iran. “This is a much different and more significant change” than curbing Iran’s offensive nuclear arsenal.