Israel’s Newest Recon Satellite Becomes Operational, IDF Assumes Control

By: Aryeh Savir

Israel’s newest reconnaissance satellite was declared operational after initial success and was turned over to the IDF, the Ministry of Defense announced.

Three months after its successful launch into space and at the end of a meticulous and pre-planned testing process, the MoD on Sunday turned over control of the satellite to the commander of IDF’s Unit 9900 – the Geographic Visual Intelligence Unit of the IDF Intelligence Division.

The Ofek 16 satellite is an electro-optical observation satellite with advanced capabilities. The satellite is equipped with a camera developed and manufactured by Elbit Systems with the best performance-to-weight ratio characteristics available on the market.

Since its launch into space on July 6, the satellite has undergone a pre-planned and successful procedure of tests in space. The satellite has already sent many images of excellent quality, which proved its capabilities in various outlines.

The State of Israel was the seventh country in the world to achieve full space capabilities, and today, Israel is one of 13 countries in the world with such capabilities, alongside the US, Italy, France, Japan, India, the United Kingdom., Ukraine, China, Russia, Iran, North and South Korea.

Israel last launched a spy satellite into space, the Ofek 11, in September 2016.

In an unrelated development, Jerusalem’s police arrested 18 Ultra-Orthodox protesters on Sunday night during clashes between extremist factions and police forces in the Kikar Hashabbat area, the heart of the Ultra-Orthodox neighborhood.

The police were operating to enforce the Coronavirus lockdown and the regulations and works to disperse gatherings.

Several Ultra-Orthodox communities decided to ignore the nationwide lockdown and hold the Sukkot festivities and events in violation of the regulations meant to stem the spread of the virus

Two policemen were injured and evacuated for medical treatment after being hit with rocks pelted at them.

Rioters also caused damage to a number of police vehicles, private vehicles and local authority property.

“The police will continue to act resolutely in order to fulfill its responsibility in maintaining public health, and will not allow any extremist person or group to narrow its steps,” it stated.

Similar clashes occurred in the Ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak as police shut down 11 synagogues that were open in violation of the lockdown orders.

Police dispersed crowds and gave 48 reports to individuals who were caught attending forbidden gatherings and for failure to wear masks and a report in the amount of NIS 5,000 was given to a synagogue Gabai.

(TPS)