“Fear
not, for I am with you, Be not frightened, for I am your God; I strengthen you
and I help you, I uphold you with My victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (The Israel Bible™)
The IDF’s aid delegation to Mexico, moments
before lifting off on September 20, 2017. (IDF Spokesperson)
Tazpit Press
Service September 24, 2017
By: Mara
Vigevani
A
60-strong delegation from the IDF’s Home Front Command, together with two
foreign ministry representatives, left for Mexico City on Wednesday
afternoon shortly before the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) to provide
emergency aid after an earthquake hit the country, killing at least 200 people.
They
were met with applause by Mexican civilians as they walked through Mexico City.
Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the IDF to send the delegation after receiving a
request for aid from Mexican authorities in the wake of the 7.1 quake that caused
several building in Mexico City to collapse on Tuesday night.
“Prime
Minister Netanyahu ordered that an aid operation be organized to leave to
Mexico as soon as possible,” his office said.
Gali
Cohen, a representative of the Strategic Cooperation Division of the
National Emergency Authority and Home Front Command told Tazpit Press
Service (TPS) the delegation would be comprised mainly of “engineers and
other professionals that can provide assistance.” The delegation will stay in
Mexico for a week and will come back on September 29, ahead of Yom Kippur.
Though
the IDF soldiers were in Mexico to assist in aid and rescue missions, they made
sure to perform the special commandments, or mitzvot, that are incumbent
upon Jews during Rosh Hashana, including blowing the shofar.
The
delegation is headed by Col. Dudi Mizrahi, the head of the army’s search and
rescue unit.
Israeli
diplomats in Mexico were in touch with local officials to find out what exactly
Mexico needed.
Netanyahu
made his first trip as prime minister to Mexico last week meeting with
President Pena Nieto and offering reconstruction aid following an earthquake
that killed 96 people in southern Mexico earlier this month. Wednesday morning
before taking off to Israel following a 10-day trip to Latin America and
New York, Netanyahu said Israel’s “heart” was with Mexican President Enrique
Pena Nieto and the rest of the country.
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