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By Itzhak Rabihiya

“I came here today to thank you,” President Reuven Rivlin said to soldiers today, Sunday 1 December, on his visit to the IDF Technology and Logistic Directorate’s Shimson Base. During his visit, the president was briefed by Maj-Gen Itzik Tourjeman and visited the 650th Maintenance Unit, a tank and APC maintenance depot, talking with the veteran NCOs and soldiers who work there.

“The work you do allows the IDF to be ready and prepared,” said the president. “Without you, we could not ensure that the IDF is operationally ready. No driver, wireless operator or loader can do their job without your important work, for which I thank you. Your combat support ensures operational activity that protects us all.”

“We all see the tank driven by its crew, but not the officers, NGOs and soldiers that maintain it,” said the president. “I never forget that there are people who ensure that the combat troops are ready for war and that there are people who ensure that equipment is ready for deployment. I came to tell you how much we all appreciate you and how grateful we are for your dedication and devotion.”

Head of IDF Technology and Logistic Directorate Maj-Gen Itzik Tourjeman: “Here, we have commanders, civilian workers and IDF soldiers – a human mosaic that represents Israeli society as a whole. In this unit, there are many NCOs who command soldiers who deal with a range of challenges to ensure the readiness and suitability of the vehicles to support operational missions at all times. The 650th Maintenance Unit has a people with a range of technical professions, most of whom have gained this knowledge and expertise in the IDF. The technology and logistics battalions have proved themselves in recent operations in the south and the north and ensured high levels of operability of tanks and APCs. I have confidence in your work and I am proud of you.”

President Rivlin also visited today, Sunday 1 December Tnuva dairy at Alon Hatavor in the north of Israel which particiapates in the ‘Co-Impact – The Collective Impact Initiative: The Partnership for a Breakthrough in Arab Employment’, launched in 2015 at Beit HaNasi. The president met Arab managers and workers and toured the production line. The president was escorted by CEO of Tnuva Eyal Malis, the chair of Tnuva Haim Gavrielei, co-CEO of Co-Impact Nawa Jahshan Batshon and co-chair of Co-Impact Zvi Ziv.

“Tnuva’s standing and strength in the Israeli economy carries responsibility,” said the president during his visit. “The State of Israel is a success story, and our mission today is to ensure that no-one is left behind and that everyone is able to be part of that success story. Inclusion of the Arab sector in the economy is an area where business interests and social responsibility overlap, and that is the strength of this process.”

Attached photo credit: Koby Gideon (GPO)