What is going on between Arabs and Israelis?

With the on-going murderous attacks by some Arabs on Jews, you may be surprised to discover that there are still many recent examples of co-existence and cooperation between Jews and Arabs both inside and outside of Israel.

Israel continually demonstrates that it values the lives of Arabs.  Israel’s emergency services Magen David Adom recently completed its first training course for 15 young medics who will provide emergency response to Jews and Arabs in Eastern Jerusalem.  The medics are bilingual in Hebrew and Arabic.  Next, the Jerusalem Foundation has opened a home in Abu Tor, for Jewish and Arab children with hearing impairments.  It contains four pre-school classes and an audiology institute with clinics and advanced technology.  And Israel has been showing its “Education Without Borders” photo exhibition to the United Nations in Geneva to highlight that it is the only Middle East country to provide education for all hospitalized children, including Arabs and minorities.

Despite the incitement from the Palestinian Arab leadership, Israel continues to provide medical assistance to PA residents.  Israel’s Civil Administration took Palestinian Arab doctors from the PA city of Jenin to Israel’s Emeq Afula hospital where they learnt the workings of the surgery, trauma, internal medicine and pediatric care departments.  And Israeli humanitarian organization “Save a Child’s Heart” (SACH) is performing life-saving surgery on PA and Gaza children at its Wolfson Medical Center in Holon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIYMOFLtnY0

There is plenty of recent evidence that the quality of life for Arabs in Israel is improving.  The number of university-level degrees awarded to Israelis has increased substantially over the years but the increase is largest amongst Israeli-Arabs.  One of the most popular professions for Israeli-Arabs is pharmacy.  35% of Israeli pharmacists are Arab - up from 20% in 2000. 

And things should only get better, with the Israeli Government pumping a one-time budgetary supplement of 900 million shekels ($230 million) to Israeli-Arab councils. It is designed to “integrate Israel's Arab citizens into Israeli society as equals among equals”, said Prime Minister Netanyahu.  Meanwhile, Israel’s Economy Ministry and the Joint Distribution Committee-Israel (JDC) continue to open Arab-run employment centers. They now serve 63 municipalities in Northern and Southern Israel and since 2012 have placed 9,100 Arabs, including many Bedouin women, in local jobs.

Staying with Bedouin Arabs, young Bedouin siblings Karin, Samar and Shadi al-Touri are among the top Israeli tennis players in their age groups.  And the portable “anaerobic digester” from Israeli start-up HomeBioGas turns kitchen waste and livestock manure into cooking-gas.  It has become popular with Negev Arab Bedouins and rural Palestinian Arabs who previously damaged their health by burning wood or goat manure for cooking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqxCw-6hamg
 

One of the most promising signs of co-existence is just 45 minutes north of Tel Aviv, where Israel is expanding the 1000-residents town of Harish into a city with up to 100,000 inhabitants.  The plans have been praised by its orthodox Jews, secular Israelis, former Soviet and Ethiopian immigrants and Arabs.  Meanwhile, 40 mayors from cities around the world have converged on Jerusalem for the 30th annual Mayors Conference.  The delegation will get a taste of the "Start-Up Nation" when they meet with Jewish and Arab leaders of successful Israeli tech hubs.

Even Arabs outside of Israel are getting to see the benefits of co-operating with Israelis.  Egypt’s Ahmed El Hady - fellow at Princeton University’s Neuroscience Institute - is co-chair of the NeuroBridges 2015 Conference - a scientific meeting of the minds between Arabs and Israelis.  And UK TV station Sky News reports that the Gulf Cooperation Council, made up of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Oman, wants to buy Israel’s Iron Dome system for its six members.

The international media doesn’t mention that the first contact many Arab migrants have on reaching European shores is with Israelis.   On the Greek island of Lesbos they first meet IsraAID Doctor Tali Shaltiel from Jerusalem and Nurse Majeda Kardosh from Nazareth who treat them for hypothermia, dehydration, wounds, illnesses and trauma.  And we must publicize the rescue by Israelis aboard an Israeli training yacht of 11 Syrian and Iraqi migrants whose boat capsized overnight near the Greek island of Kastellorizo. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPsT4CTXK3w

Here are three more Arab-Israeli stories that you may have missed.  Firstly, Israel's new ambassador to Jordan, Einat Shlain, presented her credentials to Jordan's King Abdullah II at a ceremony at the Basman Palace in Amman.  Einat is Israel’s first female ambassador to an Arab country.  Next, despite sporadic rocket fire from Palestinian Arabs in Gaza, farmers in Israel’s Nahal Oz have been giving agricultural advice to Gaza farmers in Khan Younis.  The Gazans are seeking new varieties of potato suitable for food such as chips.  Israeli farmer Yankale Cohen said, “Maybe they’ll stop shooting at us because of the potatoes?”  Lastly, Amir, Sunny and Muhammad Riad Hamed from the Arab-Israeli village of Muqeible contacted the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel when they found a pelican with a broken wing in their yard.  The bird is now receiving treatment at SPNI’s wildlife hospital.

Finally, I just love this article by Lebanese-born, Canadian Arab Fred Maroun.  He writes “Why do the overwhelming majority of Israelis respond to hate with love?  I believe that Judaism teaches love because love is effective while hate is not.”

Let’s get that message broadcast loud and clear.

Michael Ordman writes a free weekly newsletter containing positive news stories about Israel.

www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com and a searchable archive www.IsraelActive.com

For a free subscription, email a request to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com

Going Against the Flow

http://blogs.jpost.com/content/going-against-flow

http://blogs.jpost.com/print/4922

In this fast-moving world, you don’t get anywhere just by standing still and you achieve little if you simply “go with the flow”.  Israeli entrepreneurs, innovators and those concerned with the welfare of others recognize that to succeed they need to steer their own course and overcome major challenges to arrive at their destination.

In the 1970s Israeli citizens Arieh Warshel and Michael Levitt overcame the challenge of combining physical chemistry with quantum theory when they developed computer models for predicting the flow of chemical processes.  Their work won a share of the 2013 Nobel Prize for Chemistry, an honor that has been awarded previously to four Israelis. Both Professors had strong links to Israel’s Weizmann Institute’s in common with an (unnamed) high-flyer nanotechnology doctoral student whose challenge is to juggle five days a week behind a microscope with one day as a reservist fighter pilot soaring across Israeli skies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9VtuaIvSmo

Jewish student David Fintzi found himself up against the flow of electricity when he leaned out of a train window in Romania. He struck an electric cable and 27,000 volts flowed through his body. He was close to death when the Jewish Agency flew him to Jerusalem’s Hadassah hospital, where a medical miracle took place.  David’s was just one of 137,142 emergency cases that Hadassah has handled during the last 12 months.  The total flow of patients reached almost one million, including 10,971 newborn babies.  Meanwhile, Israeli hospitals continue to struggle with the flow of wounded Syrians.  Last week the IDF brought in the 124th victim to the Ziv (Sieff) Medical Center – over 300 having been treated in Israel overall.

A flow of light illuminated World Sight Day with Israel21c’s summary of the 10 top contributions that the “Light to the Nations” has made towards alleviating the challenges of the visually impaired. They include implants, keyboards, a smartphone for the blind, electronic spectacles and cameras.  We should see a tremendous flow of brainwaves at the first-ever International Brain Technology Conference in Tel Aviv. President Shimon Peres will present a check for $1 million to whoever can demonstrate the most exciting neuroscience development in order to win the Global B.R.A.I.N. (Breakthrough Research And Innovation in Neurotechnology) contest.  The finalists have all initiated projects that will ultimately benefit humanity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwGvHMb7-R4

Israel is literally overflowing with companies and innovations that have overcome the challenge of the world’s limited water resources.  Israel’s latest water technology breakthroughs will be publicized at Tel Aviv’s internationally acclaimed WATEC 2013 conference later this month.  An example of Israel’s success in water conservation is seen from the 20 percent increased yield of this year’s date crop in the Arava desert region.  The 7,500 tons has been achieved with a corresponding 20 percent reduction in water consumption.  

Brian Sandoval, governor of the US State of Nevada, has already consulted Israel’s national water company, Mekorot, and has just visited Israel’s Negev desert to learn how using Israeli technology could rejuvenate Nevada’s farming industry.  I hope Governor Sandoval meets Yoni and Shoshana Rappeport who are making the Negev desert bloom with Argan trees. They have already planted 1000 trees that will eventually produce fruit from which rich, nutritious Argan oil will flow.  Yoni and Shoshana are now preparing the land for planting another 1000 saplings in the spring.

Drivers frequently have to struggle against the flow of busy city traffic. They are then faced with the problem of parking their car.  Israel’s Anagog helps with this challenge by monitoring mobile phone sensors to detect parking spaces that are about to be vacated – in real time.  Anagog is now working with Finland’s PARX, the owner of Easy Park, which has users in 130 countries.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1dZYecLjDU

Staying on the road, when Shai Rishoni was a fast-flowing Israeli cyclist he decided to bring the Italian endurance cycle race Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia to Jerusalem.  Then in 2011 Shai had to struggle with another challenge when he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).  He continued his quest and on 11 Oct 2013 it all happened.  The event also raised funds for ALS research.  I hope Stephen Hawking reads this.

Israel’s economy has its ebbs and flows, but last week there were at least four pieces of positive news:

-         A net inflow of foreign currency resulted in an all-time record for the Bank of Israel’s reserves.

-         Oil flows from Israel’s Meged 5 well have led to a 60 percent increase in estimated deposits.

-         Increased flows of Canadian tourists to Israel are expected following a new aviation agreement.

-         Funding for Israeli start-ups continues to flow thanks to the US Israel Business Council’s latest New York City road show.

Finally, Private Or Meidan went against the flow in an Abrahamic kind of way when she left her Ugandan birthplace to follow her Israeli stepfather to Israel in 2011.  She is joining the IDF’s Nativ program to convert to Judaism and operates the Iron Dome missile defense system to save the lives of all citizens of Israel.

Israel’s positive news continues to flow.  Our challenge is to get it to the right destination.

Michael Ordman writes a free weekly newsletter containing Good News stories about Israel.

www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com

For a free subscription, email a request to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com

Israel Provides for Special Needs

Israel Provides for Special Needs

2/1/13

http://blogs.jpost.com/content/israel-provides-special-needs

As all the main political parties get stuck into their largely negative campaigns, it is important to remind readers of the great work that the Jewish State performs for all its citizens and for the world at large.  These recent examples feature both government and non-government activities.

New and veteran immigrant (olim) families, who have a special needs child or adult at home in Israel have been granted further access to a government and private sector outreach services.  As of last month, they will now receive increased rent subsidies.  And it has just been revealed that, thanks to the community outreach program of Iron Dome manufacturer Rafael Industries, three employees with mental disabilities have the vital job of manufacturing parts for the IDF’s crucial defense system.  Another current news article featured Leket Israel, an organization that supports Israel’s impoverished citizens by salvaging non-saleable crops from farmers and unused food from caterers and shipping them to 200 soup kitchens, homeless shelters and other institutions. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YphSmFUEKmI

Instead of maligning Israel’s ultra-orthodox citizens, take a look at how enlightened organizations behave.  The Sami Shamoon College of Engineering in Ashdod has launched a five-year degree program in civil and software engineering, which has been tailor-made for the lifestyle requirements of its 100 ultra-Orthodox participants – 70 men and 30 women.  In another sphere, one religious woman has proved that “in the IDF there is place for all parts of Israeli society. Tamar is an example of the equality between the sexes in Israel.”  So said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the Israel Air Force’s first religious woman navigator.  Tamar was one of four women to gain their wings at this year’s Israel Air Force Flight Academy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLLRKiAu59s&feature=player_embedded

A new program has been launched to encourage young members of Israel’s Druse community to stretch the limits of their potential to achieve scientific or technological success.  The Technion Sparks program enables 200 Israeli-Arab Druse high school students to take special science and technology courses at Israel’s Technion Institute.  The project is the brainchild of Brig.-Gen. Hasson Hasson – the first Druse to serve as a military aide to a President of the State.  And Israel’s Ethiopian immigrants and their veteran Israeli support teams have much to be proud of.  No other population group has risen so quickly to achieve such high university rates (42%).  Just think of where the community was before Operations Moses in 1984 and Solomon in 1991.

Israel’s most needy citizens, of course, are those requiring medical help.  The Israeli National Health Council has just approved a NIS 300 million increase in the budget for subsidized medicines, which will benefit an additional 300,000 Israelis.  The majority of the new money will be spent on preventative medicine and pre-natal testing.  Alongside this, the Israel Institute for Occupational Safety and Hygiene has launched a program of specially adapted Mobile Training Units for agricultural workers nationwide.  Vans containing pullout touch-screen monitors and pick-of-the-crop courses in Hebrew and Arabic, deliver in-the-field courses on accident prevention.  See the larger MTUs in action in this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pmvbF-yw3U

Israeli schoolchildren continually need encouragement, despite the massive improvement in their math skills over the last five years. For this purpose, Israeli company Slate Science is piloting its award-winning mathematics learning "Ten Fingers" program for tablets and smartphones at three Israeli schools, in three languages: Hebrew, Arabic, and English.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svbfBvt3zQE

Israel is also addressing international needs.  Following a recent visit by a delegation from South Carolina, Israel’s NeuroQuest is to open a development center in Charleston for its work in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.  Then to encourage research in India, the government of Israel is to give three-year scholarships grants to sixty-six post-doctoral Indian scholars to pursue research at top Israeli universities.  Israel is even working with the Greek government to help it out of its economic crisis. Top Greek officials have been visiting Israel and presenting opportunities to invest in and own Greek infrastructure.  Israeli companies now own several Greek hotels, the old Athens airport and one is in talks to buy Greece’s national oil company.  Other international projects include cleaning up sewage in Slovenia and Croatia and installing security systems in Spanish ports.

But we return to Israel for our final news item.  Fifty-three Jews from the Bnei Menashe community of northeastern India needed to return to their ancestral roots.  The Bnei Menashe trace their Jewish identity to a lost biblical tribe, exiled from the Jewish State over 2700 years ago.  'It's a dream. We've been waiting for this moment for hundreds of years,' said Ben Asher, 23, who arrived with his family.   

So whatever you’re after, look to the Jewish State.

Israel may have just what you need.

Michael Ordman writes a free weekly newsletter containing Good News stories about Israel.

www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com

For a free subscription, email a request to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com

A bumper harvest for all, thanks to Israel

http://blogs.jpost.com/content/bumper-harvest-all-thanks-israel