Reactions to Israel’s retaliatory strikes against Iranian military assets in Syria on Thursday morning were swift and almost universally supportive, accompanied by strong statements condemning Iran’s aggression. The endorsements of Israel came from the White House, the EU, several European governments and even the tiny Gulf Arab Emirate of Bahrain.

A report released by Israelis Central Bureau of Statistics ahead of Jerusalem Day on Sunday showed, among other things, that aournd 88% of Jewish residents of Jerusalem are happy with where they live. The same poll showed that only 49% of Arabs residents felt the same way, although that figure rose to 80% among Arabs aged 20 and above. The poll also found much higher birth rates among Jewish women in the capital than the national average and also showed an upward trend in the number of tourists visiting the city.

Technion chemical engineering Prof. Hossam Haick, along with Chinese colleague Dr. Weiwei Wu published an article in the journal Advanced Materials recently detailing a wearable device they have developed which can measure various bodily functions, giving doctors advanced notice of impending health problems and providing long-term data vital to the study of various health and medical issues.

Russia’s Izvestia daily newspaper published an article Friday quoting Vladimir Kozhin, an aide to President Vladimir Putin who oversees Russian military assistance to other countries, as denying that Russia is preparing to sell the S-300 air defense system to the Assad regime in Syria. The comments represent a sharp reversal from the Kremlin’s previous position and came less than two days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Putin in Moscow.

If what Iranian sources say is true—that the main objective of the rocket strike was to deter Israel and weaken the impact of the IDF’s own deterrent efforts—then subsequent events show it has failed. If the Israeli strikes were as effective as some have indicated, and if the resultant casualties were low enough to keep Tehran from feeling obligated to retaliate, then a temporary calm may unfold over the coming weeks.

Iran’s Hizbullah proxy not only serves as the Islamic Republic’s expeditionary force in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Africa.  It also makes feeble attempts at public relations and fiction writing. Twelve hours after the attack on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard bases, depots, and positions, no official responses were issued by Iran’s leaders.

Since 1996, the Nursing Homecare Program has been a significant arm of the ICEJ. Our team in Jerusalem provides basic nursing assistance and physical care to elderly and disabled Russian Jewish immigrants, while also considering their social, and emotional well-being.