NEXT NEWSLETTER - 13th JULY
In the 29th Jun 25 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
l Israel and the USA have made the world a safer place.
l A non-Jewish Cypriot billionaire gave free rooms to stranded Israelis.
l Israeli scientists have discovered chemicals in corals that can treat infections.
l A Druze IDF officer raced to prepare his Jewish soldiers for the Sabbath.
l An Israeli startup is enhancing the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide.
l Israel’s global financial status has skyrocketed.
l An Iranian missile hit an Israeli building due for demolition.
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POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
A historic victory. Prime Minister Netanyahu declared a “historic victory” for the Jewish state following a 12-day conflict with Iran. The IDF had decimated Iran’s nuclear weapons program and its ballistic missile arsenal. “We rose up and stood like lions, and our roar shook Tehran and echoed around the world,” he said.
https://www.jns.org/netanyahu-hails-historic-victory-over-iran-in-12-day-war/
https://www.jns.org/israel-wins-stunning-12-day-war/
Existential threat removed. With a stroke, America removed the last existential threat to Israel by striking Iran’s “impenetrable” Fordo nuclear site, plus its Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites. A ceasefire is now in place.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-strikes-irans-elusive-fordo-facility-joining-israels-fight-against-nuclear-program/ https://www.jns.org/israel-claims-victory-over-iran-agrees-to-ceasefire-deal/
The nation of Israel has risen. On 12th Jun, Israel’s Prime Minister placed a note into the Western Wall “Am Kalavi” (the operation’s name) “yakum” (The people will rise like a lioness). 10 days later, after the USA bombed Fordo, he returned to the Kotel to place another note: “The people of Israel have risen”.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4LyAK4vV864
All restrictions lifted. The IDF Home Front Command has lifted nationwide restrictions on civilian movement that had been imposed amid the conflict with the Islamic Republic of Iran. In most of the country, unlimited numbers of people can meet, pray, work, and study. Schools, public offices, and the airports, have reopened.
https://www.jns.org/idf-lifts-all-restrictions-on-civilian-movement-in-wake-of-iran-truce/
https://www.jns.org/ben-gurion-international-airport-resumes-full-operations/
Using cyber to counter drones. The IDF has revealed that its 5114th Spectrum Battalion, a unit operating under the military’s Computer Service Directorate, is defending Israeli airspace from Iranian suicide drones. Its technology disrupts communications or guidance systems, rerouting or neutralizing the UAVs mid-flight.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/r1rmejd4ee
Support for employees. During the war with Iran, Israeli tech companies are offering employees additional financial, emotional, and logistical benefits. Microsoft: 10 days emergency paid leave; Wix: funding credit cards; Matrix: NIS 5,000 to each evacuee; Others: safer housing, yoga sessions, childcare support, and more.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/s10qchhnxx
So much support. The latest Israeli conflict with Iran has accelerated support from Israeli organizations such as Hashomer Hachadash, the Kibbutz Movement Rehabilitation Fund, Yad Sarah, Leket Yisrael, and La’Aretz Foundation. https://www.jns.org/wire/hashomer-hachadash-responds-to-national-crisis-with-wide-scale-volunteer-efforts-across-israel/ https://www.jns.org/wire/kibbutz-movement-sets-up-emergency-volunteer-headquarters-to-assist-israeli-evacuees/ https://www.jns.org/wire/yad-sarah-mobilizes-as-ongoing-iranian-strikes-threaten-israeli-civilians/ https://www.jns.org/wire/leket-israel-launches-emergency-measures-during-war-with-iran/ https://www.jns.org/wire/foundation-launches-emergency-relief-campaign-for-israeli-families-displaced-by-iran-missile-strikes/
Humanitarian aid for Israelis. (TY eJP) For 22 years and in 62 different countries, IsraAid has supported the world’s most vulnerable communities. But since Oct 7 2023 the nonprofit has provided emergency services at home in Israel. And after Iran began its missile attacks on Israel, IsraAID launched new emergency services.
https://www.israaid.org/media/israaid-supporting-israelis-affected-by-iranian-attacks/
Funds for missile victims. The Jewish Federations of North America has allocated another $10 million to 19 Israeli organizations – the first since the start of the Israel-Iran war. It included $2 million for Jewish Agency grants to victims of the Iranian attacks. Another $2 million went to Israeli hospitals, primarily Soroka.
https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/jfna-makes-first-allocations-of-israel-iran-war/
Haredi MK’s late night maneuvers. At 11pm, Israelis at Larnaca airport phoned Knesset member Moshe Roth (United Torah Judaism) as their flight to Israel via Jordan would arrive after the Jordan crossing closed. The MK arranged via officials and diplomats to wake the Jordanian guard leader so he could open the crossing.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410474
Free luxury Cyprus hotel rooms for stranded Israelis. The (anonymous) Hong Kong billionaire owner of the Cyprus Rodon Hotel has provided free rooms to Israelis stranded by the closure of Israel’s airspace. The owner, who loves Israel, was contacted by Israeli brothers David and Ben Shlomo Cohen who are Cyprus realtors.
https://worldisraelnews.com/luxury-cyprus-hotel-offers-free-rooms-to-stranded-israelis/
10 people you’ll meet in your bomb shelter. (TY Ilana O) Lovely article highlighting the individuality and positivity of Israelis. I know this is fiction based on fact, but see the cleverly generated image.
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/10-people-youll-meet-in-your-bomb-shelter/
Beautiful and safe. (TY Sharon) Only in Israel can you find colorfully painted bomb shelters next to schools and bus stops. Underground wards in hospitals were literally operating normally. And Jerusalem’s Tower of David museum complex was regularly opened to the public, as it had been reinforced to protect visitors.
https://rjstreets.com/2025/06/22/finding-safety-in-shelters-in-time-of-war/
15 minutes IDF rescue response time. The IDF deployed 26,000 reservists to respond to Iranian missile impact sites, saving dozens of lives. More than 21,000 alerts of incoming missiles and other threats were activated through the Command’s alert systems, with an average response time of 15 minutes to each location.
https://www.jns.org/idf-deployed-tens-of-thousands-of-troops-during-war-for-rapid-rescue-missions/
What missiles can’t destroy. The Iranian missile that struck the Weizmann Institute may have wiped out decades of life-saving research, but it couldn’t extinguish the determination of the scientists to rebuild. That’s what makes Israel different: the relentless message to its enemies: resilience and defiance.
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/what-missiles-cant-destroy/
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Better health even if no weight lost. A study by researchers at Israel’s Ben-Gurion University has found that although over a quarter of people on a diet do not lose weight, they gain other health benefits. These include higher “good” cholesterol, lower leptin levels, and reduced visceral and liver fat. So be positive!
https://www.bgu.ac.il/en/news-and-articles/the-weight-loss-resistance-phenomenon/
https://academic.oup.com/eurjpc/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf308/8154771
Antibiotics from coral? Researchers at Israel’s Ben-Gurion University have discovered molecules in corals that prevent bacteria from making the biofilm that connects them. This disrupts their communication, weakening infections and enhancing antibiotic effectiveness without harming beneficial microbiota.
https://www.bgu.ac.il/en/news-and-articles/coral-derived-molecules-disrupt-bacterial-communication/
https://bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12915-025-02234-7
Stimulating success. Israel’s BrainsWay reported success in the trial of its accelerated Deep TMS protocol on 104 patients suffering from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Both programs of accelerated (10mins) and standard (20 mins) treatment sessions had very high response rates, remission rates, and time to remission.
Israeli joins US longevity academy. The US Academy for Health and Lifespan Research (AHLR) has inducted Prof. Haim Cohen of Israel’s Bar-Ilan University. “It's inspiring to be part of such a remarkable group of scientists, all working to advance aging research and improve lives around the world,” said Prof. Cohen.
https://www.ahlresearch.org/haim-cohen
Tech to treat mental illness. Israelis have developed many digital platforms to aid mental health. They include Kai.ai, physiological approaches from Calmigo (see here), passive sensing technologies by Behavidence, and the digitally scaled trauma response of NATAL (see here), Israel’s Trauma and Resiliency Centre.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/5nrfwvjte https://www.behavidence.com/
One pill to control your body. Israel’s Lembas (named after elves bread in the movie Lord of the Rings) has developed the GLP-1 Edge dietary supplement. It contains a bioactive peptide that triggers the body’s secretion of GLP-1 and other gut hormones that regulate appetite and metabolism.
Another less expensive medicine. The US FDA has approved SELARSDI that Israel’s Teva has developed with Europe’s Alvotech. SELARSDI is a biosimilar (see here previously) to the costly branded Stelara. It treats adult and pediatric psoriatic arthritis and plaque psoriasis, as well as Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-teva-jumps-on-fda-approval-for-biosimilar-1001509454
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Making a better world for those with disabilities. NGO Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM – see here previously) was founded in Israel a decade ago. It now has makers in 30 countries, several development centers in Israel, and soon in New York. It makes devices for the blind and amputees; even wheelchair access to bomb shelters.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-making-a-better-world-for-the-disabled-1001507234
Druze officer asks Rabbi for Shabbat supplies. (TY Yanky) A Druze officer responsible for hundreds of IDF soldiers contacted his friend Rabbi Joe Wolfson as his troops were without the candles, challah and wine for the Sabbath. Rabbi Wolfson Whatsapp’d his 800 JLIC TLV volunteers and supplies were bought and delivered.
https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/in-tel-aviv-rabbi-joe-wolfson-leads-a-community-of-volunteers-ready-at-a-whatsapps-notice/ https://tlv.oujlic.org/ https://oujlic.org/donate/
Iranian soccer legend thanks Israel. (TY UWI) Iranian soccer legend Ali Karimi, now based in Dubai, told his 11 million Instagram followers about his support for Israel’s strikes against Iran’s nuclear sites and military targets. https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/rynopqj7lg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Karimi
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Removing CO2 from the oceans. Israel’s CarbonBlue (see here previously) has developed technology to remove masses amounts of carbon dioxide from water. Its removal allows the oceans to re-absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere. CarbonBlue’s Project Midway integrates the technology at a desalination plant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuajRgC26XA https://carbonblue.cc/project-midway/
A better tomato. Tel Aviv University researchers have developed a genetic editing method suitable for crop plants, enabling them to influence a wide range of traits in tomatoes. It can help develop new plant varieties with improved resistance to drought and disease, better taste, and more nutrients.
https://english.tau.ac.il/research/crispr-tomato https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/hyyabuvqlg
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59280-6
Accelerating HP’s accelerator. HP has selected the 10H AI accelerator from Israel’s Hailo (see here previously) to power its all-new HP AI Accelerator M.2 Card which will be the basis for HP’s next generation point-of-sale solutions. It brings high-performance AI directly to the point of transaction and interaction.
Helping AI to forget its mistakes. (TY Atid-EDI) Hirundo is building a “machine unlearning” system, designed to surgically remove unwanted data and behaviors from already-trained AI models. These include hallucinations, plausible-sounding but wrong outputs, plus embedded biases and adversarial vulnerabilities.
https://www.hirundo.io/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/s1ryvsnqxg
AI financial advice. The AI-driven financial planning platform from Israel’s Quinn gives financial companies the ability to service more clients. Its military grade machine learning embeds directly into systems of banks, brokerages, and fintech platforms, generating detailed, self-checked, financial plans in seconds.
https://www.quinnadvisor.com/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hknxhzfvex
Next generation AI workforce. Israel’s ai.work provides companies with autonomous AI workers designed for internal operations - IT, HR, Procurement, Legal and beyond. These digital teammates automate all regular tasks across an enterprise, enforcing policies etc., but escalate to humans where necessary.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bj11twcsxll https://www.ai.work/
One platform to manage all image editing tools. Israel’s Weavy (see here previously) has launched a new AI-powered platform for image and video editing. NVIDIA, Wix, Taboola, eToro, etc., use Weavy’s browser-based workspace to integrate traditional editing tools with AI models, such as OpenAI, Runway, and Kling.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/r1s47slqxg https://www.weavy.ai/
Too much information. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Beamr Imaging (see here previously) has developed high-performance, high-quality video compression. It is specifically designed for autonomous cars which produce terabytes of video data daily. Beamr’s Content-Adaptive Bitrate (CABR) technology reduces sizes up to 50%.
Uninterrupted emergency call handling. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Carbyne (see here previously) has joined with AT&T to launch APEX Continuity, a solution to keep 9-1-1 emergency call handling operational during network disruptions, cyberattack, or evacuation. APEX reroutes calls to continuity backup support facilities.
8 of top 100 drone companies are Israeli. The "Top 100 Drone Defense Companies in 2025," by Defense Post" website includes eight from Israel (second in the world after the US). Elbit Systems ranked in fifth place, further reinforcing Israel's role as a leading player in the international arena on drone technology.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-only-us-has-more-big-drone-companies-than-israel-1001514148
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-the-israeli-weapons-controlling-iranian-skies-1001513586
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Israeli Stock Market at record high. The Tel Aviv 125 index hit an all-time high after Israel and the United States attacked Iran’s nuclear sites. Shares gained some 7%, as $100 billion of funds was invested in TASE companies. At the same time, the Shekel strengthened by more than 3.5% against a basket of currencies.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-nis-100b-flowed-into-tase-during-iran-operation-1001513707
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-as-shekel-gains-strongly-is-it-heading-for-nis-3-1001513676
Sometimes dreams come true. This article explains the reason why the values of Israeli stocks, bonds and currency have suddenly soared. No-one imagined what would happen last week. Even if someone secretly believed in it or dreamt of it, it’s not a scenario that was priced into the stock or bond market.
Time to invest in Israeli startups? OurCrowd founder and CEO Jon Medved writes that war and uncertainty don’t slow down innovation in Israel. If anything, they accelerate it. Live video with geospatial data to guide emergency responders; AI to detect terror financing; advanced cooling systems for data centers.
https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-now-is-the-time-to-invest-in-israeli-startups/
Apple expands in Jerusalem. Apple, which has been operating in Jerusalem for nearly four years, is expanding its presence in the city. It is leasing space in the Hebrew University Givat Ram Campus technology park, and recruiting 28 positions, including hi-tech degree students, for its Jerusalem development office.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-apple-leases-space-in-jerusalem-near-hebrew-university-1001512555
Matching investors with US real estate. Israeli-founded Waltz (see here previously) enables international investors to form U.S. entities, open local bank accounts, convert currencies, obtain financing, and close on property purchases, all through a single streamlined platform. It aims to launch across Latin America.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/x2fmj2u6q
Most likely startup to succeed. Israel’s Finout (see here previously) tops the Globes list of companies most likely to succeed, named by 80 local and foreign funds that invest in Israeli startups. They selected young, healthy, groundbreaking, privately-held Israeli technology companies that are making a significant impact.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-startups-1001508777
One of Israel’s largest tech exits. New Zealand-based fintech giant Xero has agreed to acquire Israeli startup Melio (see here previously) in a deal valued at up to $3 billion. It will give Xero full control of Melio’s payments infrastructure and 80,000+ small business clients in the US.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/mw4tgg4ym
Exits, takeovers, and mergers to 29th Jun 25: New Zealand’s Xero is acquiring Israel’s Melio for at least $2.5 billion. (TY Atid-EDI) Caesarea’s Turpaz (owned by Frutarom, owned by IFF) has acquired Poland’s Carotex for $23.4 million. Israel’s Cyera has acquired Israel’s Shape AI for “for several tens of millions of dollars”.
Startup investment – to 29th Jun 25: Forsight Robotics raised $125 million; Waltz raised $25 million; Quinn raised $11 million; ai.work raised $10 million; Bonfy.ai raised $9.5 million; Colugo raised $8.5 million; Hirundo raised $8 million; Weavy raised $4 million; Lembas raised $3.6 million; Noma Security received funds from SVCI;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
We are dancing again. It seems appropriate timing that, after vanquishing the Iranian regime, “We Will Dance Again,” a 90-mins documentary film about the Hamas massacre at the Nova music festival on Oct 7 2023, won “Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary” at the 46th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/we-will-dance-again-wins-outstanding-documentary-award-at-news-docu-emmys/ https://theemmys.tv/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025-ND-Winners-6-26-25.pdf (page 26)
Two Israelis to be NBA teammates. Basketball history was made when the Brooklyn Nets selected Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf with the 26th and 27th overall picks, respectively. It marks the first time two Israelis – or even two Jewish players – have ever been drafted by the same NBA team, in the same round.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-hoopsters-ben-saraf-danny-wolf-taken-by-nets-in-first-round-of-nba-draft/ https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-859055
Deni Avdija to Lead Israel at EuroBasket 2025. The Israeli National Basketball Team is preparing for EuroBasket 2025. The Portland Trail Blazers star forward Deni Avdija headlines a 20-player roster, returning to the national team for the first time since EuroBasket 2022.
https://israfan.com/p/deni-avdija-israel-eurobasket-2025
THE JEWISH STATE
Ancient lionhead bronze discs discovered. Four rare bronze discs have been discovered, designed in the form of lion heads, about 1,900 years old and dated to the Roman era - the 1st-2nd centuries CE. Israel‘s campaign to neutralize the nuclear threat in Iran was called ‘Am Kalavi - A nation will arise like a lion’.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410689
68,000 Israeli lions. (TY Yanky) Some 68,000 Israelis have first names associated with lions, as symbols of strength and power. They include Aryeh (30,161), Lavi (17,313), Ari (13,603), Kfir (7,156), and Livia (488).
https://israel.com/breaking-only/more-than-50000-israelis-have-a-first-name-that-means-lion/
Apartment block hit by missile was due to be demolished. Among all the tragic missile impact sites, this one in Holon advanced the local urban renewal program. Thankfully, no-one was hurt and tenants were expecting to be evacuated – just not so soon!
110 new immigrants arrive. A day after the ceasefire with Iran came into effect, 110 Olim (new immigrants) landed at Ben Gurion International airport. Most are from France, along with some from the UK, Spain and the Netherlands. Since Oct 7 2023, over 45,000 new Olim have arrived in Israel, with about a third under age 35.
How to help Israel. Here are some sites where newsletter readers can donate to Israeli organizations that provide vital help to Israelis at this difficult time. Many thanks to those who have already contributed and to those who are helping by donating their own valuable time and resources.
Friends of the IDF (US donors): https://www.fidf.org/
or IDF Soldiers Fund in Israel: https://www.ufis.org.il/en/donation-en/ (select the English speakers’ option)
American Friends of Magen David Adom (US donors): https://afmda.org/
or Magen David Adom (Israel): https://www.mdais.org/en/donation
Zaka (US donors): https://donate.zakatelaviv.org/give/525578/ or (Israeli donors): https://charidy.com/zaka
or (Canadian donors): https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/bellevue-foundation/
United Hatzalah: https://israelrescue.org/campaign/israel-at-war-2/ or Canada https://www.uhcanada.org/
Donate a medic bag, save a life https://israelrescue.org/campaign/medicbag/
Leket Food Israel: https://www.leket.org/en/
JNF USA - https://my.jnf.org/gaza-emergency/Donate or Canada https://jnf.ca/
Orthodox Union - https://www.charidy.com/ouisraelcrisis
Schneider Children’s Hospital: https://www.fos.org.il/en/donate (Israelis)
https://system.smartgiving.org.uk/charities/8530/make-donation (UK)
https://chaischneider.org/donate/ (USA)
Rambam Medical Center (Haifa) https://aforam.org/ways-to-give/ (US)
https://www.rambam.org.il/en/support_rambam/donate_now/ (Rest of the World)
Hadassah Hospital Israel: https://www.hadassah.org/
Laniado Hospital (Netanya) https://my.israelgives.org/en/fundme/EmergencyLaniado
Buy Israel Bonds to support the Jewish State. (TY Larry B)
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/state-of-israel-bonds
USA - https://www.israelbonds.com/
Europe - https://israelbondsintl.com/
Canada - https://www.israelbonds.ca/
