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Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs)
Kitot Konenut

On the morning of October 7th 2023, Hamas terrorists opened a barbaric attack which caught us off guard and left many Yishuvim (villages) near the Gaza border fighting for their lives. Heavily armed and well-trained, these fanatic jihadists breached our communities, with the intent to abuse, murder and kidnap innocent people from their homes on Shabbat morning.

Communities that were fortunate enough to have well-organized and equipped Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) – Kitot Konenut, managed to fend off the attackers and contain the situation with relatively low casualties. Their heroism and sacrifice shifted the balance of power and demonstrated that the safety of our communities depends on our own preparedness and resilience.

Since that fateful day, the frequency and brutality of terrorist attacks against innocent civilians all over Israel have only increased. It has become clear, that our safety and security are in our hands. CERTs have proven to be crucial in responding to home defense scenarios and a wide variety of threats, until national forces arrive. In the wake of the Oct 7th , hundreds of CERTs have been established across kibbutzim, moshavim, small communities and urban areas, grouping thousands of volunteers.

The first people to respond to any kind of emergency

With the best knowledge of the area and terrain

Willing to sacrifice their lives for their neighbours and community

Training constantly for a wide variety of scenarios

16

Average Members

In each CERT

400+

Military CERTs

Active along The borders of Israel

900+

Police CERTs

Subject to Magav and local police

10,000+

Volenteers

In hundreds of CERTs all over Israel

our mission

About the Hineni Forum

In response to the events of Oct 7th, we recognized CERTs as a vital force in protecting Israeli civilians and established The Hineni Forum – A central organization for Israel’s CERTs which operates to strengthen and support these teams through:

What we do

Our Activities

Advocacy and Representation

Organizing local CERTs and liaising with decision-makers in the authorities, Knesset, and government to advocate for the certification and support of CERTs.

Equipment purchasing

    Ensuring quality equipment is purchased and distributed based on the specific needs of communities, guided by thorough research and understanding.

Customized Training and exercises

Providing specialized training tailored to the unique characteristics and requirements of each CERT and Yishuv.

We together can make a difference

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