Ofer Eitani, spokesman for the Israeli Industrialists Association, noted with pride that the figures reflect efforts on the part of the nation's factory owners, despite their own difficulties arising from the war. Among the steps taken to assist the northern industries were debt forgiveness or deferment by suppliers, assistance in actual ongoing production, hosting displaced factory equipment and employees, and more.
Eitani further broke down the figures, collected from among dozens of factories, and explained that about 39% of the factories donated foodstuffs to the residents of the north, while 37% donated non-perishable supplies and equipment. The latter included fans, televisions, emergency lighting, games, sanitary supplies, tables and chairs, etc.
Over a third of Israeli factories supplied living quarters for families that fled the north during the war. This effort included hosting families among the factory workers' homes, financing hotel rooms for the displaced families, and more. About 24% of the factories made cash contributions to help northern residents.
Other types of assistance provided by the nation's factories to the residents of the north during the war included: organizing meals for people from the north in the factory lunchroom; fun days for children and families from the north; distributing gift baskets and game packages; providing schoolbags for children heading back to school following the war; and other unique gifts.
Among factory employees, Eitani reported that 42% volunteered during and after the war to assist the residents of the north in some way. Primarily, the assistance consisted of distributing supplies and hosting displaced families.
IDF soldiers also benefited from Israeli factory owners' largesse and patriotism. About 45% of factories provided assistance to IDF forces fighting in Lebanon, as well as after the battles had ended. Among other efforts, factories donated to the IDF food packages, wind visors, sanitary supplies, underclothes, cleaning supplies, and other items. In some cases, a factory would "adopt" a combat unit and offer to supply many of its day-to-day needs.
The foregoing statistics reflect part of a study made by a special committee of the Israeli Industrialists Association ahead of recommendations it will shortly be issuing regarding the preparedness of the nation's business community for another war. The committee was established to prepare local industry for times of uncertainty and to provide factories with the tools and conditions necessary to continue production and supply even during a war. The recommendations will touch on three aspects: preparedness among industry businesses; organization of the industry in relation to state and local government; and the preparedness of the Industrialists Association itself.
Eitani further broke down the figures, collected from among dozens of factories, and explained that about 39% of the factories donated foodstuffs to the residents of the north, while 37% donated non-perishable supplies and equipment. The latter included fans, televisions, emergency lighting, games, sanitary supplies, tables and chairs, etc.
Over a third of Israeli factories supplied living quarters for families that fled the north during the war. This effort included hosting families among the factory workers' homes, financing hotel rooms for the displaced families, and more. About 24% of the factories made cash contributions to help northern residents.
Other types of assistance provided by the nation's factories to the residents of the north during the war included: organizing meals for people from the north in the factory lunchroom; fun days for children and families from the north; distributing gift baskets and game packages; providing schoolbags for children heading back to school following the war; and other unique gifts.
Among factory employees, Eitani reported that 42% volunteered during and after the war to assist the residents of the north in some way. Primarily, the assistance consisted of distributing supplies and hosting displaced families.
IDF soldiers also benefited from Israeli factory owners' largesse and patriotism. About 45% of factories provided assistance to IDF forces fighting in Lebanon, as well as after the battles had ended. Among other efforts, factories donated to the IDF food packages, wind visors, sanitary supplies, underclothes, cleaning supplies, and other items. In some cases, a factory would "adopt" a combat unit and offer to supply many of its day-to-day needs.
The foregoing statistics reflect part of a study made by a special committee of the Israeli Industrialists Association ahead of recommendations it will shortly be issuing regarding the preparedness of the nation's business community for another war. The committee was established to prepare local industry for times of uncertainty and to provide factories with the tools and conditions necessary to continue production and supply even during a war. The recommendations will touch on three aspects: preparedness among industry businesses; organization of the industry in relation to state and local government; and the preparedness of the Industrialists Association itself.