Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant was among the 150-plus guests gathered at the Chicago home of a Friends of the IDF (FIDF) supporter on Sunday night to raise funds for FIDF’s IMPACT! Scholarship Program, which has provided four-year college scholarships to more than 20,000 combat and combat support veterans from low socio-economic backgrounds since 2002.
A former FIDF board member and part of the group that founded the program back in 2002, Gallant addressed the war on terror in Israel.
“Over the past weeks, we have experienced a wave of terror attacks in Israel and the murder of innocent civilians by Palestinian terrorists. And while facing complex challenges, we know that our bond with the United States is a pillar of Israel’s security. As Minister of Defense, I have set a clear directive, placing the ties between the United States and Israel, above all.”
He added: “I will do everything in my power to defend the State of Israel, to protect the IDF and its commanders, and to unite our society.”
Also in attendance were Izzy Levy and Al Frank, co-founders of IMPACT!; Brig. Gen. Guy Markizano, secretary to the defense minister; Maj. Gen. Hidai Zilberman, IDF attaché to the United States; Orna Pesach, executive director of IMPACT!; and Shuki Peretz, Doron Lavy and Dr. Dor Gilboa, three graduates of the scholarship program.
