Random Israel Facts

DID YOU KNOW...
...that in 1966, the Mossad, the Israeli foreign intelligence agency, "stole" a Russian-made MIG-21 from the Iraqi Air Force? The plane was the most sophisticated air force plane at the time and the intelligence gathered from it was beneficial to Israel during the Six Day War the following year. Israel paid an Iraqi defector who was angry with the Iraq regime by the name of Munir Redfa $1 million to fly the plane to Israel, and which he did successfully.

WERE YOU AWARE...
...that Israel has a volunteer organization called Zaka that is often the first to the scene of a terrorist attack? Zaka volunteers are normally the first ones to arrive to a terrorist attack and administer first aid to the victims. After the wounded have been treated and taken to hospital, the Zaka volunteers begin their task of scraping up the blood, flesh and bone for a proper burial. The organization is entirely made up of volunteers and supported through donations.

HAVE YOU HEARD...
...that in 1953 the Ministry of Education created the Israel Prize, Israel's most prestigious award? The recipients of the award must have demonstrated excellence or broken new ground in a particular discipline. The prize is awarded the day before Yom Haatzmaut before the Knesset, Prime Minister, President and Supreme Court of Israel. Recipients can be groups or individuals and must be Israeli citizens.