THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

IMI Marks 50 Years
of Jewish Defense

JERUSALEM — Israel works in metals and chemi-
Military Industries, the cals.
pioneer of Israel's defense
IMI produces over 500
industry, has a history products including
going back to the 1920s — to weapons, light and heavy
the days of the Arab distur- ammunition, all types of
bances, when it was essen- explosives, rockets and all
tial for the Jewish popula- manner of weapons for the
tion to arm itself with any use of the IDF and, in par-
kind of weapons in order to ticular, the Israel Air Force.
defend its very existence.
In its own field, IMI is capa-
Thus were born the first ble of meeting all of the
homemade hand grenades IDF's international quality
made out of concrete or standards at prices which
sanitary pipes and the first are generally well below
primitive workshops for those of foreign manufac-
manufacturing explosives, turers.
concealed among the fruit
In times of war, IMI's
orchards. It was from these efforts are directed to
very primitive and clandes- speeding-up the produc-
tine beginnings that today's tion lines and getting
sophisticated military in- supplies to the IDF as
dustry was developed.
rapidly as possible and
IMI took a great step for- executing special proj-
ward at the end of World ects such as the last-
War II when David Ben- minute overhauling or
Gurion sent IMI's manager modification of equip-
to the U.S. to buy up quan- ment.
tities of machinery for the
IMI is organized into nine
production of arms, at scrap
divisions, each specializing
prices. These machines,
which were smuggled into in its own field — weapons,
ammunition, development
the country past the British,
and production of weapon
enabled the Jews to set up
an arms and ammunition systems, a central labora-
industry while the War of tory for research and de-
Independence was at its velopment, etc.
Export has become an
height.
The first Sten guns, the important part of IMI's ac-
mortars and their shells, tiviites and Israel today ex-
the homemade aerial ports to 36 countries all over
bombs, the "Davidka" the world, even supplying
and other similar items knowhow to several Euro--
are part of the history of pean countries.
that war.
In 1981, IMI's exports
IMI is an industrial com- amounted to $325 million.
plex responsible to the De- Over one half of these ex-
fense Ministry and is the Is- ports, and those most in de-
rael Defense Forces' chief mand, were developed by
supplier of weapons and IMI itself, beginning with
ammunition. It employs the "Uzi" submachine gun
some 14,000 workers and and ending with the latest
operates 31 factories armor-piercing anti-tank
throughout Israel. Its prin- shell— the "Hetz."
cipal functions are the re-
The IMI has developed
search and development of missile engines and pro-
weapons ammunition, duces and exports its own
weapons systems and mili- 290 mm ground-to-ground
tary equipment for the IDF missiles.
and the maintenance of a
productive capacity capable
The name Samaritans —
of rapidly replenishing the Hebrew "Shomronim" — is
IDF's stocks of weapons and derived from the name of
ammunition during and the city of Samaria —
after any military opera- "Shomron." The Samari-
tion.
tans themselves say the
In addition, the IMI de- name is derived from the
velops and produces Hebrew word "Shamor" —
weapons, ammunition and guard — because they re-
weapon systems for export gard themselves as guard-
and, on the civilian side, ians of the Mosaic tradition.

Friday, July 29, 1983

61

PICK THE GREETING
OF YOUR CHOICE

Best wishes for a
happy, healthy
New Year

May the coming

year be filled

#1 — NAME --$ 7.50

with health and

\awn nan3 mu'?

happiness for

to all

all our family

our friends

and relatives

These are samples of the only
Greetings being offered this year to
be published in The Jewish News
Rosh Hashana issue of SEPT. 9,
1983. This issue will be delivered on
Wed., Sept. 7th.

Deadline - Friday, Aug. 26th.

and friends

— NAME —

#2

NOTE CHANGE OF DATE!!!

$14

#3

—

NAME

—

$20.50

All greetings arriving after the deadline will
appear in the following week's edition.

We wish our family and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year

— NAME —

#4

TOO ;710,7

A Very Happy and Healthy
New Year to All Our Friends
and Family

NAME

#6

Wishing all our family and
friends a year of
health and happiness

$14

#5

NAME

$20.50

—

May the coming year be
one filled with health,
happiness and
prosperity for all our
friends and family.

$26.50

May the New Year Bring

—

NAME

#7

$32.50

To All Our Friends

and Family

Health,

Joy, Prosperity

and Everything

Computers Aid Cotton Crop

Good in Life

#9

"1

NAME

To All Our
Relatives
and Friends,
Our wish for a
year filled with
happiness,
health and prosperity

$51.50

• MI MN MI • IM =I IM MN OM MI IMB In MI • IM NM I= MI MN OM MN

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

The Jewish News
17515 W. 9 Mile Rd., Suite 865
Southfield, Michigan 48075

r

Gentlemen:

Please insert my New Year Greeting #

Name

(Please print name to appear in greeting)

Address

Israeli farmers in the Hula Valley harvest cotton.
Israelis are growing a world record average of 1,282
pounds of cotton per acre by using computers and
drip irrigation.

City

State

Zip Code

Check enclosed (circle one) $7.50, $14, $20.50, $26.50, $32.50, $40, $51.50 or $

ow ma

.1