Israel’s Nippers program canned amid ongoing Iran missile attacks

Paul Hakim, who moved to Israel in 1987, brought an iconic part of Aussie culture to the beaches near Tel Aviv. Now his family of four and their dog spend more time in their bomb shelter.

Paul Hakim has brought an important slice of Australia to Israel - teaching kids how to swim - but it has been put on hold amid the ongoing Iran missile attacks at Israel.

Born in Australia, the 63-year-old has all his Australian water safety equipment - and an iconic Didgeridoo - resting on the lawn in his backyard, unable to teach young Israelis from the age of five important water-safety skills during the peak summer season.

Paul Hakin, 63, runs Nippers in Israel and said the latest conflict between Israel and Iran is preventing him from teaching children water safety skills. Picture: Jordan Polevoy

“This (life saving) flag should not be on the grass in my backyard, it should be on the beach flying high,” he said, while bunkered down at his home in Ra’anana, about 18km north of Tel Aviv.

“This is our summer and it's the beginning of the school vacation, kids are supposed to be going down to the beach.”

More than 5000 children across Israel have taken part in Nippers. Picture: Supplied

Tel Aviv is known for its beautiful beaches and seaside culture. Picture: AFP

Mr Hakim, who moved to Israel in 1987, introduced the Nippers program that’s familiar to so many Australian children to Israel in 2019 and since then more than 5000 children across the country have taken part.

He said not being able to teach the kids so many important water-safety skills is devastating.

“I think it’s more heartbreaking for the children, that’s what the real issue is in my opinion,” Mr Hakim said.

“It’s a beautiful thing to get the kids smiling, they’ve already been through a hell of a lot since October 7 in 2023.”

Mr Hakim, an Aussie, is now storing all of his surf-lifesaving equipment in his backyard in Ra’anana, during what should be peak season. Picture: Jordan Polevoy

He says the kids have been through “a hell of a lot”. Picture: Supplied

Mr Hakim, who lives in Ra-anana with his wife and two daughters, said daily life in Israel remains so uncertain.

“All we know is that the safe room is there (inside his home) and as soon the siren goes down we go in there,” he said.

Mr Hakim took News Corp inside his tiny safe room - which is just 2m by 2.5m - and said his family of four and dog bunker down inside there as soon as they hear a warning siren go off that a missile is on the way.

Mr Hakim and his family frequently find themselves sheltering in their 2m x 2.5m safe room, saying daily life in Israel remains uncertain. Picture: Jordan Polevoy

The room is stocked with water, biscuits, an electric fan and their important belongings including passports and documents and they can be crammed inside the tiny room for hours on end to protect their lives.

“In case God forbid anything happens, this will be the remaining part of the whole apartment and everything else might be obliterated so at least this is what remains,” Mr Hakim said.

Originally published as Israel’s Nippers program canned amid ongoing Iran missile attacks