Archaeology

By Pesach Benson • June 17, 2025

Jerusalem, 17 June, 2025 (TPS-IL) — President Isaac Herzog visited the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot on Tuesday, following an Iranian missile strike that damaged several buildings on campus early Sunday morning. Touring the site with Prof. Roy Ozeri, Vice President for Resource Development and Communications, Herzog was briefed on the extent of the damage and its impact on the institute’s operations.

The blast caused significant destruction, but no casualties were reported. Despite the attack, the institute has resumed operations. “Everyone is returning to work, without fear, without apprehension,” Herzog said. “We continue to research, develop, and promote Israeli science, and we do not forget for a moment our kidnapped men and women in Gaza, whom we want to see home as soon as possible.”

Founded nearly a century ago by Israel’s first president, Chaim Weizmann, the institute is a world-renowned hub for scientific innovation and plays a key role in developing advanced technologies, including in the defense sector.

Herzog condemned the Iranian attack and praised the institute’s resilience. “The Iranians, with their criminal missiles, thought that if they hit the institute, they would slow down Israeli science — they are simply wrong,” he said. “The banging of the workers and the hammers, and the noise indicate that everything is being repaired and full activity is returning.”

He concluded: “From here, the Weizmann Institute — a Torah will come forth, a great Torah, of progress, of peace, of good news for humanity. This is the central answer we have to our enemy there in Tehran.”

Israel launched preemptive strikes against Iranian nuclear sites on Friday, citing intelligence that Tehran had reached “a point of no return” in its pursuit of nuclear weapons. According to Israeli defense officials, Iran has developed the capacity to rapidly enrich uranium and assemble nuclear bombs, with sufficient fissile material for up to 15 weapons.

Israeli intelligence also exposed a covert program to complete all components of a nuclear device. The strikes mark a dramatic escalation in what officials describe as a broader Iranian strategy combining nuclear development, missile proliferation, and proxy warfare aimed at Israel’s destruction.

Iranian missile barrages have killed 24 Israelis and injured 647.