In the 9th Aug 2026 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
l Israel successfully tested its new, improved Arrow missile defense system.
l Israeli doctors reconstructed a patient’s ribcage with a 3D-printed implant.
l Two more Israeli breakthroughs in cancer treatment.
l Diplomatic turnaround sees Colombia and Slovenia plan embassies in Jerusalem.
l Future Israeli climate breakthrough may see food made from carbon dioxide.
l Israeli exports are at an all-time high, despite strong shekel.
l Great pro-Israel support by pop-icon Boy George.
l Remains of 1st Temple roof have been unearthed.
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POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
Brother’s death inspires drone tech upgrade. (TY Hazel) Following the death of his brother Capt Eitan Itzhak Oster in Lebanon, tech entrepreneur Udi Oster revamped the startup EyesAtop (see here previously) to allow a single soldier to operate multiple drone types simultaneously.
Fallen soldier’s research can benefit wheat yields. Zechariah Haber, who fell in Gaza, was posthumously awarded a doctorate for his research that identified a gene in ancient wild wheat that researchers say could produce larger, more nutritious grains in modern wheat varieties.
Ex-hostage returns to Nova site wearing tefillin. Nine months after returning from Hamas captivity, Bar Kupershtein prayed, laid tefillin and recited Shema at the Nova site where he was abducted. He worked as the deputy security officer at the Nova festival and saved many lives before he was kidnapped.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/430596
Arrow system upgraded. The upgraded Arrow Weapon System has completed successful tests, marking another milestone in the continued development and enhancement of Israel's top-tier missile defense capabilities. The launch, from a central Israel test site, is part of the system's multi-year development program.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431299
City response simulator. Sderot was one of the first Israeli cities overrun on Oct 7, 2023. It is set to become the site of the world's first city-scale emergency response simulator. Israel’s Rafael, plus simulation specialist In3D, and the Sderot Municipality are building a training platform to rehearse complex disaster events.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/skvjzhu4gg https://www.in3d-tech.com/
Rehovot gives presents to IDF soldiers. This moving video shows a man approaching IDF soldiers on the street and leaving them gifts, part of a Rehovot municipality initiative highlighting Israel’s kindness and appreciation for its soldiers. https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-dozens-of-idf-soldiers-receive-special-gift/
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Cancer patient gets new 3D-printed rib cage. Surgeons at Clalit-Beilinson Hospital successfully removed a cancer patient's sternum and part of her ribs before reconstructing her chest with a custom 3D-printed implant. It is the first time in Israel that an entire 3D-printed chest cage has been implanted to reconstruct the chest wall.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-904167
Treatment for fatal brain disease. Researchers at Tel Aviv University have proved that the medication Davunetide may significantly slow the progression of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) in women. PSP is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disease due to abnormal accumulation of tau protein in the brain.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-026-03709-x
AI to diagnose PTSD. Israel’s Hemispheric is developing Descartes, an AI model trained on 250,000 hours of electroencephalogram (EEG) brain data taken from 100,000 paid volunteers over seven years. Descartes decodes the language of the brain’s electrical activity to diagnose conditions such as PTSD and depression.
Medical miracle in Tzfat. 66-year-old Gonen Klein, of Degania Bet, had advanced metastatic prostate cancer. After treatment with Lutetium-177 PSMA at Ziv Medical Center in Tzfat, follow-up imaging and blood tests showed no detectable sign of disease. His wife Rivka said “I feel I've been blessed with my husband again."
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431209
Surprising medication can stop cancer spread. Researchers say mouse models and data from 5 million health fund members show sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra), in combination with statins, can improve outcomes by blocking the supply of cholesterol that cancer cells need to metastasize.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-world-first-israeli-scientists-find-active-ingredient-in-viagra-may-stop-cancer-spread/ https://aacrjournals.org/cancerres/article/doi/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-26-1818/786876/PDE5a-Inhibition-Restricts-Cancer-Metastasis-by
Sheba to become an AI-powered hospital. (TY WIN) Israel’s Sheba Medical Center will become OpenAI’s first International fully AI-powered hospital. It will allow physicians, nurses, researchers and staff to gain secure access to an advanced AI-powered platform that supports faster, better-informed clinical decisions.
https://www.jns.org/news/israel-news/israeli-hospital-to-become-openais-first-international-partner
Walking, Bar-Ilan University researcher Jonathan Rabinowitz has led to a new feature in the Moovit app that allows public transportation users to choose routes with more walking while reaching their destinations in the same amount of time - or even faster. The feature will encourage a more healthy population.
The heart of Africa. The previous newsletter reported on the work of doctors from Israel’s Save A Child’s Heart in Rwanda. Now they have moved on to Zambia, training the country’s first pediatric heart surgeons, plus several from neighboring Tanzania. Together, they saved 10 children during the week-long mission.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Israel’s first birthday-themed playground. “Motek Shel Park,” in the northern Israeli city of Ma’alot-Tarshiha, offers local families a dedicated outdoor space for children’s celebrations. Costing NIS 5 million, it has a large birthday table, a central performance stage and playground equipment for children of different ages.
https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/hj1fp4m4zx
Celebrating Muslim boy’s recovery from cancer. At Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, Jewish and Arab doctors alike celebrated as young Muhammad beat the odds and overcame his bone marrow cancer.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-sheba-hospital-celebrates-as-young-muslim-boy-beats-cancer/
The Bedouin Arabs protecting Israel. The 810th Mountains Brigade was established in March 2024,and is now responsible for the Mount Hermon and Mount Dov sectors. It includes eleven trackers, all of them Arab Bedouin who fought on Oct 7 2023 and served in Gaza. Not just trackers, but combat soldiers in every sense.
https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/h1wteufbfg
They will all come to Jerusalem. (TY Hazel) After the ousting of anti-Israel governments, the leaders of Colombia and Slovenia have both vowed not only to restore full diplomatic relations with Israel but also to inaugurate embassies in Jerusalem. So too will the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/colombia-and-slovenia-recognized-a-palestinian-state-now-theyre-moving-embassies-to-jlem/ https://www.timesofisrael.com/tiny-nauru-to-open-embassy-in-jerusalem-will-be-tenth-country-to-do-so/
See what Columbia University is doing. Columbia University has confirmed that it will begin programming at its Tel Aviv Global Center this summer, moving ahead with an academic hub intended to expand research, teaching, and partnerships with Israel. https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/07/31/columbia-university-announces-new-tel-aviv-global-center-in-israel-setting-back-bds-efforts-across-higher-ed/
Securing the USA border. Israel’s Elbit US subsidiary has been awarded contracts by US Customs and Border Protection worth more than $370 million. Elbit is already responsible for securing sections of the US-Mexico border as part of the "Smart Border" project, providing real-time surveillance data to the US Border Patrol.
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-903263
World Scholar’s Cup winners. Israel won the Prague round of the World Scholar’s Cup. Competing against thousands of students from around the world, they came first in Science and in Multimedia, plus many other trophies, giving them overall first place. Sorry but no on-line media publication thought it worth reporting.
An unexpected flag (TY Stuart Palmer and Charles A.) While inspecting a house for structural damage in the devasted La Guaira region of Venezuela, the IDF engineers were astonished to see a hand-sewn Israeli flag hanging on the wall. The Christian owners had made it to express their appreciation of the Israeli delegation.
https://haifadiarist.blogspot.com/2026/07/an-unexpected-israeli-flag.html
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Science Olympiad medals. (TY David F) Israeli students one a gold medal and 4 silvers at the International Physics Olympiad in Colombia. Then at the Biology Olympiad in Lithuania they won four medals, including two gold. And at the Chemistry Olympiad in Uzbekistan, they won another 4 medals including 2 gold.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903251
Food from Greenhouse gas? Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have engineered edible bacteria that feed on carbon dioxide. The project aims to produce microbes that only require sunlight and CO2, thus avoiding the need for vast amounts of land set aside for agriculture.
Israel’s invisible drone defense system. (TY Hazel) Israel Aerospace Industries has unveiled HYPNOSIS, an advanced navigation warfare system designed to counter a wide range of airborne threats, including large drone swarms, by disrupting their satellite-based navigation.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/07/16/meet-israels-invisible-weapon/
Controlling the airspace. Israeli defense tech companies Airwayz and Tenna Systems have partnered to embed Tenna’s real-time spectrum‑intelligence capabilities into OVERWATCH, Airwayz’s command-and-control and airspace-governance platform. It provides safety to the skies and allows for more use of civilian drones.
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-902670
NIS 100 million for quantum computing. The Israel Innovation Authority is to invest NIS 100 million to establish national infrastructure for research and development that will help local companies and universities adopt advanced quantum computing technologies. Also Project Nexus, to build an Israeli quantum computer.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-earmarks-nis-100-million-for-national-quantum-computing-rd-infrastructure/ https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-904774
Now micro-robots can climb. Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed microscopic robots, the size of a single cell that can climb over tiny obstacles and transport living bacteria. Previously, microbots could only crawl across a flat surface. Now they could one day help perform delicate medical and laboratory tasks.
Matching digital records to what’s on the shelf. Israel’s Arpalus, uses artificial intelligence and computer vision technology to provide real-time visibility into supermarket shelves. It has just been acquired by US retail tech giant Instacart to provide its network of 600,000 shoppers to scan shelves to check and replenish products.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/s1janyu4ml https://www.arpalus.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv6i2csOR6M
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Record exports in 2025. (TY Hazel) Israeli exports reached an all-time high of $169 billion over the past year. The previous record was $166 billion in 2022 and came despite ongoing geopolitical challenges, boycotts by several countries, disruptions to global shipping routes, and the increase in value of the Israeli Shekel.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/banking-and-finance/article-903196#google_vignette
NIS 1 billion to compensate for high Shekel. The Israel Innovation Authority has launched a NIS 1 billion funding program for start-ups severely damaged by the strengthening of the shekel against the dollar. The program was made possible due to additional funding received from the Finance Ministry.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/banking-and-finance/article-903620
Good advice for the UK. (TY Myer) The case for the UK to expand trade links with Israel. With recent political changes in the UK government, it’s good advice that they’re just not going to take.
One third of Google forum startups are Israeli. Of the 33 startups selected for Google’s top cybersecurity program, 11 are either founded in Israel or led by Israeli entrepreneurs. They will gain direct access to Google’s most advanced AI infrastructure, language models, and cloud tools, to build advanced defense systems.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-903556
New NYC tech hub defies Mamdani. Israeli tech leaders have formed a new hub “Hakibbutz NYC” in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, as the country’s tech scene continues to grow. This is despite growing political hostility to Israel in the city from Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other elected officials.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-startups-open-nyc-kibbutz-as-tech-scene-grows-despite-mamdani/
$750 million for U.S.-Israel cooperative programs. The US the House of Representatives passed its Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), of which $750 million is for U.S.-Israel cooperative programs - a $65 million increase over FY26. It includes $50 million for emerging technologies.
https://www.aipac.org/press-release/israel-defense-fiscal-year-27-ndaa
Greece to buy $4 billion Israeli air defense system. (TY WIN) Greece is buying a multi-layer air defense system worth up to €3.5 billion ($4 billion) from Israel. Greece’s “Achilles Shield,” will comprise Israeli radars and missiles from Rafael and IA, plus several types of drones and Embraer’s C-390 military transport aircraft.
$3.5 billion to invest in AI and Israeli startups. Index Ventures has invested in Israeli companies for two decades including Wiz, Gong, Fireblocks, Capitolis and Empathy. It has now raised $3.5 billion in new funds that will strengthen its position as one of the most active international investors in Israel’s tech ecosystem.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hy3lfltbml
We’re hiring. While many hi-tech companies are shedding staff to cut costs, Palo Alto Networks and Nvidia Israel continue to recruit hundreds of Israeli engineers and researchers. AI isn't eliminating engineering jobs at the industry's two biggest winners, but it is fundamentally changing the skills they expect from candidates.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/k6nb7gphl
Light rail for the North. (TY WIN) A consortium of Israeli banks has signed a NIS 9.6 billion contract for the construction and operation stages of the Nofit light-rail project linking Haifa to Nazareth. 30+ light-rail vehicles will travel up to 62 mph some 41 km, with 20 stations, transit terminals and park-and-ride facilities.
https://www.jns.org/news/israel-news/israels-northern-light-rail-project-gets-financial-boost
Exits, takeovers & mergers to 8/26:. Visa has acquired Israel’s BioCatch for $2.4 billion. US grocery tech giant Instacart is acquiring Israeli startup Arpalus, BandLab has acquired Israeli AI music startup Aiode. Gobal workforce management Deel is acquiring Israel’s Clarity-Sec for $40-50 million. Unity has sold Israeli mobile ads & game publisher, Supersonic, to Tripledot for $40 million. Israeli cybersecurity unicorn Cyera has signed a letter of intent to acquire Oasis Security in a deal valued at approximately $1 billion.
Israeli startup investments to 8/26. XSight Labs raised $300 million (value $2.3 billion); Glow Security raised $180 million (new Unicorn); Zenity raised $125 million; Onyx Security raised $113 million; Groundcover raised $100 million; Neo Security raised $100 million; Oligo Security raised $60 million; Faye Insurance raised $50 million; QuantHealth raised $45 million; Sable raised $45 million; Mate Security raised $35 million; Harmony.io raised $34 million; Encore AI (formerly Insait) raised $30 million; Hush Security raised $30 million; Elio Labs raised $21 million; Bloom Security raised $20 million; June-Sec raised $20 million; ASIO Technologies raised $15 million; Beacon Security raised $13 million; Plantopia raised $9 million; Arrakis Security raised $8 million; Cordant raised $8 million; Horizon Trade raised $2 million; Cisco has invested in Zafran Security. US company Crowdstrike has invested in Above Security;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT,
The world’s first Michelin starred kosher Israeli restaurant. It may not be in Israel, but Raz Shabtai’s Mutra in North Miami is the first Israeli-run restaurant in the world to be awarded the coveted Michelin star. https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-inside-the-worlds-first-kosher-michelin-star-restaurant/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAdzdmI8P9Y
Boy George stands with Israel. (TY Hazel) British pop icon Boy George has released a single, “Od Nirkod - We Will Dance Again”. It defends Israel’s military response in Gaza, criticizes musicians and activists who have publicly supported the Palestinian cause and declares, “If you’re ever confused: I stand with the Jews.”
https://www.timesofisrael.com/if-youre-ever-confused-i-stand-with-the-jews-boy-george-releases-pro-israel-song/ https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-903938 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8OVEI0FfWU
THE JEWISH STATE
Charred beams unearthed from roof of 1st Temple. Days before the Jewish holiday of Tisha b’Av, which commemorates the destruction of the temples in Jerusalem, charred wooden beams testifying to this very event were revealed to have been found by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).
https://www.israpundit.org/charred-wooden-beams-from-first-temple-destruction-found-in-jerusalems-city-of-david/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P2lfAdk8hU https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-903024
Public access to ancient synagogue. (TY WIN) The ancient synagogue at Huqoq in the Galilee is known for its internationally acclaimed mosaics (see here previously). The Judeo-Christian Heritage in the Galilee Project is preparing digital reconstructions, films, and educational resources while continuing physical conservation.
Match made in heaven. Yonatan Rom’s life was saved in a terrorist attack by Eyal Tam in 2002. 24 years later, Yonatan decided to donate a kidney through Matan Chaim (see here previously). Amazingly, he was matched to Reuven Tam – the brother of the man who rescued Yonatan 24 years ago.
Found on the beach. An ancient Cypriot silver-plated Siglos coin dating to the mid-5th century BCE was found at one of Ashdod's beaches, during a search to locate objects lost by visitors to the beach. It is the first coin of its kind to be discovered in Israel and is evidence of trade between Cyprus and Judea 2,500 years ago.
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-903712
Recreating ancient wines. Following archeological research, 200 grapevines, planted from wild plants in the Negev, are producing grape varieties Ba’ar and Syriki that were grown in Talmudic times. These have been made into delicious wines by local Negev winemakers, without yeast, sulfites, or chemicals.
French immigration jumps 30%. The pace of French Aliyah continues to rise. Approximately 2,400 immigrants arrived from France between the beginning of 2026 and the end of July, an increase of more than 30% over the corresponding period in 2025. 7,000+ French Jews have moved to Israel since Oct 7 2023.
https://worldisraelnews.com/french-immigration-to-israel-jumps-30/
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.
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/
Magen David Adom UK: https://mdauk.org
USA: https://afmda.org/
Israel: https://www.mdais.org/en/donation
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
Help rebuild Soroka: https://www.soroka.org/
And Weizmann: https://weizmann-usa.org/
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/
