Funds from Fellowship of Christians and Jews beef up Israeli security

(RNS) - Funds from the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews provided 86 metal detector-gates and six X-ray machines for Israel's transportation system, according to Gideon Ezra, Israel's minister of public security.

The new security devices will be installed by February as the second phase of Operation Safe Bus, an initiative aimed at increasing security at bus and railway centers.

The fellowship, with offices in Chicago and Jerusalem, is a collaboration of American Jews and Christians in support of Israel. A donation of $2 million from the fellowship in February 2004 spurred the first phase of the security operation, enabling 1,000 hand-held metal detectors to be used by guards at bus stops and terminals in Israel.