In the 19th May 2013 edition
of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
·
An Israeli discovery can protect
fertile women from the effects of chemotherapy.
·
Israeli heart doctors saved the life
of a 4-year-old Syrian girl.
·
A Turkish zoo has received a shipment
of 40 rare animals from Israel.
·
Thanks to Einstein, Israeli scientists
have found a new planet.
·
The Israel Water Authority is opening
the Kinneret dam to replenish the Jordan River.
·
Israel has begun the building of a new
International airport in the South.
·
The Israeli government is subsidizing
conversion to solar heating.
·
Last week’s (very popular) JPost
Israel Good News special article
Click here for “Boycott
Israel? Good Grief” (fast-loading, text-only version, no adverts).
Page Down for more details on these and
other good news stories from Israel.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Protection during
chemotherapy.
Scientists from Sheba Medical Center and Bar-Ilan University have
discovered how chemotherapy destroys the ovaries. They have also developed a medication (under trials) called
AS101, which protects the ovaries and should maintain fertility of women undergoing
cancer treatment.
The heart can heal itself. (Thanks to NoCamels)
Doctors at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem noticed that cell tissue
transplanted into the left atrial appendage of the heart in mice developed into
local heart muscle tissue. The
phenomenon – similar to that of embryonic stem cells – has major implications
for cardiology.
Mushroom derivative treats pancreatic
cancer.
(Thanks to Israel21c) Professor Solomon Wasser of Haifa University has
patented a medicinal product derived from a fungus found in Israeli
forests. In animal trials, the Cyathus
striatus drug appeared effective against pancreatic cancer.
The benefits of Israeli herbs. (Thanks to Israel21c) A team from Israel, Spain, Greece and
PA-administered Nablus is developing a database revealing the science behind
the medicinal benefits of thousands of plants they’ve been gathering and
analyzing since November 2011 – including many native to Israel.
Saving the sight of the elderly. Israel’s Chief Scientist
has awarded biotech Cell Cure Neurosciences a $1.5 million grant to help
develop their cell-based OpRegen treatment for macular degeneration. The dry form of age-related macular
degeneration is estimated to afflict over 7.3 million people in the US alone.
Free check for melanoma. To mark Skin Cancer
Awareness Week, approximately 300 Israeli health fund clinics are providing
free checks by dermatologists and plastic surgeons. Early diagnosis, helped by the Israel Cancer Association’s
awareness campaigns, has reduced the toll from skin tumors.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Gaza weekly deliveries: In the week to 11th
May 2013, 1,579 trucks carrying 42,490 tons of goods entered Gaza from Israel
via the Kerem Shalom crossing.
Israeli doctors save
Syrian girl’s life. A 4-year-old Syrian girl was born with only one heart ventricle
instead of two. She had only weeks to
live when doctors from Israel’s “Save A Child’s Heart” organization operated on
her. The operation was a success and
she is recuperating ahead of returning to her new home in Jordan.
Humanitarian aid for Syria. Jerusalem native Moti
Kahana heads a group of Israeli businessmen and American Jews who have raised
$500,000 and travel to the Syrian refugee camps to provide aid to victims of
the conflict. Moti’s brother Steve is
on IDF reserve service at the Golan Heights, treating injured Syrians.
The Arab-Jewish theater of Jaffa. This is true co-existence.
The Arab-Hebrew Theatre of Jaffa hosts bilingual plays - in Hebrew and Arabic -
that increase understanding between people and bind the audiences and the
actors in a common, fun experience.
Just enjoying themselves. Elder of Ziyon has a nice
image of Israeli Arab Moslem girls having a good time river rafting at Israel’s
Nahal Snir Nature Reserve.
Israeli zoo sends
animals to Turkey. Israel’s Ramat Gan Safari park has sent a shipment of 40 different
animal species to Turkey in order to reinforce the Izmir Wildlife Park. Turkish zookeepers in Izmir had previously
asked Ramat Gan Safari for help in boosting their zoological collection.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Einstein helps find
new planet.
Tel Aviv University researchers have used a light-measuring method,
based on Einstein’s theory of relativity to locate a new planet 2,000 light
years away from Earth. TAU Professor
Tsevi Mazeh said that Kepler-76b was the first planet discovered using the
Doppler relativistic beaming effect.
Water brings Israel, Egypt and Germany
together.
At “Wasser Berlin” the Egyptian Minister of Utilities, Drinking Water
and Sewage posed for photos with several Israeli delegates and the German
Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development. 23 Israeli companies
were represented at the event.
Look after your computers. (Thanks to Atid-EDI)
Israeli hi-tech company Soluto has launched a new service that allows
businesses to manage all their Personal Computers from a single point. The cost is 90% less than most of the
competition. Soluto’s consumer product
has already had 3 million downloads.
Better connections. (Thanks to Atid-EDI)
Israel’s RiT Technologies has launched Beamcaster – its indoor wireless optical
networking solution. The ultra-high
bandwidth and ultra-secure wireless technology is ideal for open-plan offices,
hospitals, schools and trade shows, providing high connectivity and easy
installation.
Stopping security leaks. The CelluSec platform from
Israel’s WiseSec has “indoor GPS” that can monitor mobile computers and
smartphones inside an organization.
Israel’s Ness Technologies then can switch off your Internet capability,
Bluetooth, camera etc. to protect against stealing data inside sensitive areas
of the building.
The gates are opening. The Israeli water authority
is to open the Degania Dam and replenish the flow of the Jordan River by
releasing 1,000 cubic meters of water per hour from Lake Kinneret. It is part of an ecological regeneration
process to restore the river and is being implemented in conjunction with the
Kingdom of Jordan.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
MK’s take 10% salary cut. Israel’s Members of the
Knesset (parliament) have agreed to a 10% pay cut as part of the 2013-14
budget. The reduction of NIS 3,484 per month
per MK will save NIS 5 million a year.
It was enacted to show the public that the new economic austerity
program affects everyone.
Gartner lists 13 “Cool” Israeli vendors. (Thanks to NoCamels)
Technology research company Gartner has released its annual “Cool Vendors”
list, which includes 13 Israeli companies. It features small companies in the
fields of IT, communications and other branches of high-tech, which develop
“groundbreaking” technology.
The Israel Conference. Los Angeles on 30th
and 31st May is the venue for Americans wishing to meet and do
business with Israeli companies delivering the latest technology. 70 Global companies. You need to be there.
Funtactix wins “a Webby”. Israel’s Funtactix has just
won the digital equivalent of the “Emmy” awards. The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS)
chose the on-line developer’s Hunger Games Adventure Game as the winner in the
“Social Game” category. Funtactix won
the Variety award in December.
UK business delegation to Israel. Senior Policy Advisor to
the British Prime Minister, Mr Rohan Silva, will be leading a high-level
business delegation to visit Israel this week.
It includes some of the UK’s largest retail companies, which will meet
with over 20 Israeli hi-tech companies.
Asia is Israel’s new frontier. (Thanks to IsraPundit and
Forbes) 2012 was “The Year of Asia in Israel”.
India and China are replacing any trade lost due to the economic
slow-down of Israel’s traditional partners in the USA and Europe.
The US-Israel win-win relationship. (Thanks to Herb) Yoram
Ettinger writes that Israeli technologies, shared with the U.S. industry, have
enhanced U.S. employment, research & development and exports.
eBay to incubate Israeli start-ups. (Thanks to NoCamels)
International retail giant eBay is setting up a startup incubator in Israel.
The incubator will focus on startups dealing with ecommerce, social networks
and big data, and will be located at eBay’s Israeli headquarters in Netanya.
Building of Ramon
airport begins.
Rona Ramon, widow of Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, laid the cornerstone
of the new Ramon International Airport at Timna, 19km north of Eilat. The first new civilian airport since the
founding of the state will take four years to construct and cost NIS 1.7
billion.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Wine and Jazz in Jerusalem’s Gardens. (Thanks to Janglo) There
can’t be a more pleasant way to spend an evening. For a mere 60 shekels, on May 30th you can admire the flora in
Jerusalem’s Botanical Gardens, listen to great music and sample delicious wines
from the Judean hills.
Visit Druse and Circassian villages. According to the Jerusalem
Post (Metro section) the Galilee Development Authority and North Tourism Center
are offering free, guided tours of Druse and Circassian villages in the Galilee
and Carmel every weekend during May, June and July.
Galilee Dragon Boat race. The second annual Dragon
Boat Israel Festival took place on Lake Kinneret near Tiberias. One of the most impressive teams contained
88 paddlers from OneFamily – the Israeli charity that helps rehabilitate the
families of terror victims. The team
won its category and came 8th overall.
Number 1 for soccer’s Euro U-21. As Israel prepares to host
the European Under 21 Soccer Championships on June 5th, Eyal Golan
has just recorded the official song of the tournament “Always my Number 1”.
THE JEWISH STATE
Israel subsidizes
upgrades to solar heaters. For eligible residents who don’t already
have a “Dude Shemesh”, the Israeli government will pay NIS 900 (at least 25%)
towards the cost of changing from an electric water heater to a solar powered
one. A new eco-friendly heater saves an
average of NIS 1000 a year.
UK to hold major rally to support
Israel. The
UK (Jewish and non-Jewish) community is holding a street parade on June 2nd
to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel. The “Closer to Israel” event also includes
many other activities and projects designed to promote Israel to the British
public.
1500-year-old mosaic unearthed. The Israel Antiquities
Authority has discovered a Byzantine era mosaic floor under the fields of
Kibbutz Beit Kama in the Negev. The red, black, and yellow mosaic was found
prior to the paving of the highway 6, just below the soil along with
structures, pools and a system to move water.
