Israel is the Smart choice

The current news is full of smart Israeli solutions that benefit the world.  It also contains many examples of smart countries, companies and individuals that have recognized this important role of the Jewish State.

Israeli biotech SynVaccine is developing smart, safe synthetic vaccines from the tissue of the recipient’s own cells that the body’s immune system can recognize.  SynVaccine also generates the vaccine using computer technology rather than from a potentially dangerous live virus.  Meanwhile, Tel Aviv University and Schneider Medical Center researchers have made the smart discovery of a genetic mutation responsible for Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) that affects one percent of all women worldwide.  The cause came to light after they DNA tested two Israeli-Arab cousins with the condition.  And the smart staff at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center realized that although they delivered 22,413 babies in 2014 (probably the largest number in the world for one hospital) they could prevent many subsequent deaths and injuries if they provided free infant car seats to get the babies home safely.  Please watch this video to see more of Shaare Zedek’s smart innovations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMjivlcKEc4

Israel’s smart surgeons treat everyone regardless of nationality or religion.

-         Such as the complex heart surgery to save 18-month old Iraqi Christian Maryam Mansour.

-         Or the Syrian boy treated after he lost a leg in an explosion and for whom six Israeli medical students subsequently bought a smart new digital tablet with their own money.

Some of the thousands of Israeli smart apps for smartphones and mobile devices include

-         Green Road Technologies’ smart vehicle monitors that save fuel and reduce accidents.

-         E2C’s interface that makes smartphones easier to use for seniors and the technically challenged.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4kZ5WOTid8

The future of Israeli smart innovations is encouraging, as indicated by the fact that Israeli companies and entities registered 3,555 patents in the United States in 2014 – a 21 per cent increase on 2013.  So it’s not surprising that the smart researchers at Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science were awarded the top percentage of grants by the European Research Council’s 7th Framework Program. 

An increasing number of international organizations are becoming wise to the facts about Israel’s smart innovations.  They include

-         The delegation of US reporters and editors who came to Israel’s Ben-Gurion University to see cutting-edge Israeli research in neuroscience, stem cells and medical robotics. 

-         The delegation of leaders from the Miami tech-startup community who have just spent a week in Israel learning from our thriving tech and innovation sector.

-         And the Canadian Institute for Jewish Research, which will showcase Israel’s contributions to the world at its 27th annual international conference in Montreal on 29th April.

Countries that have been smart enough to call upon Israel’s help recently include:

-         Taiwan, where Israel has been giving smart advice to the government about public campaigns, recycling and better infrastructure that will alleviate Taiwan’s worst drought in over a decade. 

-         China, which sent a delegation from the city of Shouguang to Israel, as part of the Water City project that Israel is leading. 

-         South Korea, where a delegation of Israeli cyber security companies is showing how Israeli technology can better secure the Asian state.

-         Rwanda, which Israel is helping jump-start its technology ecosystem, using education, skills exchange and investment.

-         And Kenya, where the smartest of its agricultural entrepreneurs hopes to win the Israel Kenya Agri Challenge and where Tel Aviv University’s Pears Challenge for Innovation and International Development encourages smart Israeli agricultural entrepreneurs to develop tech solutions for Kenyan farmers.

Smart companies are investing heavily in Israeli hi-tech companies. 

-         Horizons Ventures, owned by Asia’s richest man - Li Ka-shing, is Israel’s largest foreign startup investor and did a very smart job in persuading Israel’s Waze to accept its funds. 

-         Spanish bank Santander has invested in MyCheck - the largest mobile payment company in Israel.  The move is also smart for MyCheck, which now has access to Sandander’s 107 million-plus customers across Europe and the Americas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_n8aw5ipHI

Israel has also been smart to recognize talent within its borders.  Tarek Abu-Hamed, a Palestinian Arab from Sur Baher in East Jerusalem, has just been named as deputy chief scientist of Israel’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Space.

Finally, news has only just come to light about Muslim nuclear scientist Noha Hashad who spent 11 years in an Egyptian jail, for conducting pro-Jewish Quran research.  During the chaos following President Mubarak’s overthrow in 2011, she escaped and fled to Israel.  “Israel is like a jewel, a diamond, I am very fortunate to be here,” she said.

Now that is Smart thinking!

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

www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com

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

 

Far Out Miracles From Israel

The festival of Purim celebrates a series of remarkable events over 2500 years ago when the exiled Jewish people were delivered from annihilation.  Having returned home, the Jewish State is now delivering astonishing life-enhancing treatments, products, services and technologies to far-flung regions of the world.

Israel has recently been reaching out far and wide to tackle some of the most devastating diseases affecting mankind.  We could soon see the end of malaria, thanks to researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who have developed a method for disrupting the defense mechanism of the parasite that killed over half a million people in 2013 - 90 percent in Africa.  The treatment of heart disease could be revolutionized in a joint Israeli-UK project to use pulsating light to regulate newly implanted heart tissue generated by stem cells. 

Brain disease treatments will be advanced following the international BrainTech 2015 conference in Tel Aviv.  Also by the 21 countries participating in the Human Brain Project, co-directed by Professor Henry Markram, formerly of Israel’s Weizmann Institute.  And take a look at this long-range system from Israel’s LifeGraph to allow psychiatrists anywhere in the world to monitor the mental illness of their patients by smartphone.

Israel’s far-sighted assistance has been crucial in supporting international efforts to fight Islamist extremists as testified by the Nigerian Government, which thanked Israel for its provision of training and support in tackling Boko Haram.  Israeli aid organization IsraAid has been helping Kurdish, Yazidi and Christian refugees in northern Iraq who have escaped Islamic State rule.  Israeli doctors are also treating desperately sick Iraqi Kurds and Christians who have made the long, dangerous journey to the Jewish State. 

Israel is bringing its technical expertise to far-away countries that are currently undergoing upheaval.  In Ukraine, a new joint program, entitled “Israel-Ukraine Tech Bridge” aims to help the troubled country become a “high-tech miracle” like Israel.  Meanwhile, Kosovo’s former foreign minister Enver Hoxhaj sees the rise of the State of Israel as a model for Kosovo in its struggle for independence and expressed admiration for the achievements of the Jewish state.  And in the Muslim state of Azerbaijan, Israel is helping the government defend itself against a growing number of cyber security attacks.  Finally, the East African nation of Rwanda has selected Israel as its “country of choice” to strengthen business ties, innovation and promote investment.

Moving on, we heard good news recently about to some far-out Israeli innovations.  It can be difficult for the disabled to keep in touch over long distances when they are unable to touch the buttons of their phone.  But they can operate the Israeli-developed Sesame Enable smartphone simply by moving their head.  The Sesame Enable has just won a $1 million Verizone Powerful Answers Award. 

The appropriately named Israeli startup Beyond Verbal has opened new pathways to how humans interact with machines.  Its new Empath app recognizes human moods, attitudes and emotional characteristics from human voice intonations in real-time. 

And just look how far Israel’s IronSource has come in its miraculous five-year journey to become a billion-dollar company.  Every day global multinationals use IronSource’s software to install over 7 million applications onto desktops and mobiles from any location in the world.

Israel has been using its “magic touch” internationally.  Top U.S. Latino Media and Entertainment leaders have come to Israel in order find out how to bring the ‘magic of the movies’ back to the Latino community.  Meanwhile, 248 international chess stars from 33 countries were treated to Israeli mind-reading magic acts at “the best opening ever” of the 2015 European Chess Championship in Jerusalem.  Israel has even worked its magic in persuading Jordan to sign a major water agreement that may bring the Dead Sea back to life. 

Finally, you don’t have to go very far in Israel to travel huge distances in time.  Standing at the top of the new Kishle building exhibition, adjacent to Jerusalem’s Tower of David, you can gaze down through 3000 years of history.  Layer upon layer, back to the foundations of the First Temple, built when Jews first came to the Land of Israel.

We’re back – and the miracles continue. 

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

www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com

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

Version 2 of the Startup Nation

In reading about the Children of Israel leaving Egypt, it is easy to imagine that Moses was the original CEO of the very first Startup Nation.  Today, the “company mission” - to become a light to the nations - is certainly being fulfilled by the prolific recent achievements of the Jewish State and its current generation of young startup companies.

Israeli startups dominate the Life Sciences market, as attendees from 60 countries will experience at MEDinISRAEL in March, where medical solutions from 120 Israeli companies will be on display.  Lifesaving products include the tiny patch pumps from Israeli startup ToucheMedical that deliver meds directly into the bodies of diabetics and Parkinson’s sufferers.  Or MediSafe’s medication reminder app that sends you an alert if a dependent forgets to take vital medication.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seE6rCZGm2Q

Lighting up the nations takes on a new meaning with Israeli solar technology.  Thanks to Israeli startup Energiya Global, the new 8.5 MegaWatt solar field at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda will add 6 percent to the East-African country’s electricity production.  Meanwhile at the site of the huge fields of solar panels at Kibbutz Ketura in Israel’s Negev desert, Israeli-designers are developing mud huts with solar panels in their roofs.

Anyone with a mission knows the importance of “staying on message” – being focused and consistent with your ideals.  Two Israeli startups have literally incorporated that message into their products.  Glide has developed video messaging that is so fast, you can begin watching a video on the other side of the world before your friend has finished recording it!  And years after an Israeli startup invented ICQ (the world’s first instant messenger) another Israeli startup has invented Music Messenger – already a huge hit in the music industry.

Israel is rated one of the world’s most innovative countries and the global potential of Israeli startups has certainly been recognized by the world’s multinationals. Johnson and Johnson together with Takeda have launched FutuRx an Israeli biotech startup incubator in Rehovot’s Weizmann Science Park.  Samsung invested in eight Israeli startups in 2014.  Five more recently graduated from IBM’s Alpha Zone accelerator.  And a further eleven have just graduated from the Microsoft Ventures cyber-security and medical accelerator program.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9JP4QhwAYQ

The demand for Israeli innovation was highlighted strikingly last month when overseas companies invested over $900 million in Israeli startups in just one week!  Acquisitions include Amazon’s of Israel’s Annapurna Labs for $370 million and Harman’s of Israel’s Red Bend Software for $200 million.  The Economist reported that Tel Aviv is the world’s no. 2 startup ecosystem.

Although the USA and Europe are still Israel’s biggest customers, there has been a massive increase of interest in Israeli startups from the Asian market.  Two $100 million-plus Chinese-based funds have recently been launched, investing in Israeli startups.  Next, Startup East is the first Israeli-Asian accelerator aiming to connect startups in Israel with East Asia. Finally, the “Israel Innovation in India” pavilion opened at Vibrant Gujarat 2015, showcasing Indo-Israeli cooperation, with special focus on advanced Israeli technologies in the fields of agriculture and homeland security. 

If you had any doubts about the democratic nature of the Jewish State, you should take note that Israeli-Arabs Aziz Kaddan and Anas Abu Mukh were just 19 when they started development of Myndlift - an app that teaches ADHD children and adults to concentrate by using their brainwaves to display a bright image.  Another Israel-Arab, Technion’s Professor Hossam Haick, is looking to incorporate his NaNose cancer “breathalyzer” technology into a mobile phone, called appropriately the “SniffPhone”.  And Israel’s Economy ministry has just awarded NIS 10 million to two organizations, Tsofen and ITworks, for the training and integration of Arab, Druse, and Circassian academics into the hi-tech sector.

Finally, the fact that the Start-up Nation is still in its infancy can be measured by the fact that Iddo Gino heads up the startup RapidPay, a year-old company providing a mobile payment platform for customers without a credit card.  Iddo studies at the Hebrew Reali School in Haifa and hopes to obtain a degree in computer science at the Open University next year.  Iddo is just 17 years old.

Israel – we’ve only just begun. 

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

www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com

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

Israel Goes Global

Abraham, the first Jew, was told to journey from Ur of the Chaldees to the Promised Land where he would become a blessing to the world.  Some 4000 years later his descendants in the Jewish State are traversing the planet with innovative products, technology and aid to benefit humanity.

An Israeli delegation is currently in Rwanda, as part of a program helping the poor east African nation save millions of dollars a year through recycling and green technology.  At the International Water Association’s annual conference in Lisbon, Israelis presented creative solutions to global water problems. At the same event, Israel’s Miya received the IWA’s Project Innovation Award, Asia Pacific Region, for significantly improving urban water system efficiency in Manila, Philippines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8MwPHJfIaI

Israel’s G-Med, the world’s first and only global social-professional network exclusively for physicians, allows doctors anywhere to consult with colleagues, and manage multinational research projects.  Since its 2013 launch, G-Med has linked up 20,000 medical professionals in over 50 countries.  One project, initiated by

Israeli biotech Pharmaseed brings Israeli, Jordanian and Swiss researchers together to search for a cure for cutaneous leishmaniasis.  The parasitic disease is common in the Middle East and can cause death in patients with weak immune systems. 

Doctors at Hadassah Medical Center not only perform complex cardiac surgeries on Palestinian Arab children, they also train Arab physicians so that they can treat Palestinian Arabs closer to home. However, the major humanitarian story this week concerns the Israeli NGO IsraAid, which has been distributing beds, blankets, basic supplies and food to over 1,000 Yazidis and Christians fleeing the Islamic State (IS or ISIS) terror organization in the Kurdish regions of Iraq.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV8G6gm_FnU

Israeli technology has certainly gone global.  The Olympic Committee and the agencies managing the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympiad have selected Israel’s ISDS to integrate systems security for the world's biggest sporting event.  Amazon Web Services is partnering with Israel’s CTERA Networks for its technology to secure storage in the cloud.  Meanwhile, Israel’s Dr. Eli Harari just received the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation for his invention that led to Flash Memory.  And in 2013 alone, one billion products were sold globally with microprocessor chips developed by Israel’s CEVA Inc.  The latest Asus PadFone X hybrid smartphone-tablet contains a CEVA digital signals processor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQuRFQRdH2E

The next generation of Israeli scientists is already receiving the global treatment.  Eight Israeli high school students from the Ilan Ramon Youth Physics Center at Ben-Gurion University earned the top prizes in the latest “First Step to Nobel Prize in Physics” international competition.  Some 80 nations participate in the annual competition, which is held in Warsaw.  Ten major Israeli and multinational high-tech companies are encouraging Israeli children to achieve the same success in Math.  Intel, Sandisk, Marvell Israel, Microsoft, IBM, Qualcomm, Red Hat, Amdocs, eBay, and Philips have combined efforts in order to double the number of Israeli high school pupils matriculating in the five units of Math.

Keeping track of world shipping isn’t as straightforward as you might think.  The Automatic Identification System that supposedly tracks the global position of maritime freight is being manipulated to conceal criminal activities and worse.  Secure technology from Israel’s Windward provides reliable data for both economic and security purposes.  No secrets about the growing attraction of global travel to the Jewish State.  Due to increased demand, British Airways is adding six more weekly flights this coming summer, raising the seat capacity on the London-Tel Aviv route by about 50%. Also schedule changes will give passengers more convenient connections to/from North American destinations.

We can certainly expect an increase in business travel between Israel and California following the first annual California Israel International Business Summit at Microsoft’s Mountain View Campus last week.  And the Canada-Israel Industrial Research Development Foundation announced a new program to encourage research and development between Saskatchewan and Israel, and strengthen innovation and economic ties.  Hi-tech trade links continues to develop with China, where Israel’s SCR Engineers are installing dairy cow monitoring technology.  Finally, Japanese Culture Week in Jerusalem showed that Japan has definitely found the Israeli market. Under the guidance of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Japanese food manufacturers are even obtaining kosher certification.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMkSpfm0Vgo

Those lucky employees of Google Israel that get a chance to spend some quality time in the Jewish State will be able to appreciate working in one of the World’s Coolest Offices – as can be seen on pages 5 – 8 of Inc. Magazine’s 4th annual list.  Even millions of migrating birds use Israel’s Hula valley as a global hub, enjoying some Israeli hospitality on their way to their winter retreat in Africa.

Finally, as millions of Jews worldwide finish celebrating the first global Shabbat (Sabbath) Project together, a new world-class film is about to have its international premiere. “Body and Soul: The state of the Jewish Nation” tells of the remarkable journeys made by the Jewish people.  It culminates with the establishment of the modern Jewish State – a global powerhouse - in the land where it all began.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1Ak5Bo0ZLY

Israel – a nation of trailblazers.

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

www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com

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

Boycotting Israel is Academic Nonsense

http://blogs.jpost.com/content/boycotting-israel-academic-nonsense

http://blogs.jpost.com/print/5092

Last week we saw another suicidal attempt by so-called “academics” to sever themselves from the Jewish State. The real world, however, knows the true value of Israel’s life-enhancing innovations.

Whilst the American Studies Association was voting itself into oblivion, Israel’s VBL Therapeutics announced the development of the first of a new class of autoimmune disease medicines called Lecinoxoids.  ASA pro-boycott members must therefore be hoping that they are all immune from the likes of Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriasis, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.  It is also crazy for the “brainy” scholars at the ASA to ignore Israel’s groundbreaking neuroscience discoveries.  In contrast, Israel’s Brain Technologies has just signed a partnership research agreement with four US organizations with particular emphasis on Alzheimer's disease.

It is obvious that highbrow ASA philosophers never look out of their ivory towers at the likes of Israel’s Circ MedTech, which has just been selected by the United Nations and the Rwandan government to help stop the spread of AIDS / HIV in the African country.  ASA eyes must also be so tightly shut that they cannot see the image enhancement device developed by Israel’s MobileOCT that could prevent up to a quarter of a million women from dying of cervical cancer every year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9vc6Dxta7A

I hope that no ASA hypocrites are still sneakily using their Israeli-powered smartphones and computers.  I trust that they were all logged off when Keepod presented its Israeli-developed operating system at the Center for Global Dialogue and Cooperation in Vienna.  Keepod runs from any USB drive, eliminating dependency on one physical computer. Keepod’s Unite project has the potential to provide access to computers and the Internet to 5 billion people.  Those “superior beings” in the ASA Executive apparently cannot envisage anyone of lesser ability.  So they must have been totally immobilized on hearing about Accelerating Inclusion in Israel (A3i) - the first start-up accelerator for hi-tech and social ventures that helps people with disabilities become entrepreneurs.

We cannot expect any straight talking from anti-Israel ASA members.  They would only be able to display crooked smiles if you spoke to them about the orthodontic system developed by Israeli Aerodentis that straightens the teeth during sleep, through the application of gentle pulsating force.  And they could only offer a limp response when presented with Israel’s Medic Shoes that relieve the foot pain common in those suffering from diabetes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpTLuy-AkSA

I would describe the ASA members that voted to boycott Israel as “hospital cases”.  They should be collected immediately by an IDF medical team, such as the one that rescued a 10-year-old Palestinian Arab boy whose head was cut open following a car accident.  They should be transported to the Western Galilee Hospital or Ziv Medical Center in northern Israel to watch as Israel treats (free of charge) the latest group of Syrians wounded in their civil war.  Alternatively, rush them to Sheba Medical Center to see Israeli doctors operate on a 4-year-old Syrian boy born with reversed ventricles. His Syrian father had a much more intelligent reaction than the ASA when he said, “I am happy to have met this country”.

We should put ASA BDS-ers onto one of the hundreds of Israeli trucks that delivered 1.2 million liters of diesel into Gaza to restart its power station.  And then stand them just outside the Hamas-controlled mini-state to watch as terrorists shoot rockets at Israeli civilians in gratitude.  We should parachute drop ASA BDS supporters into the Philippines to join Israel’s RADWIN which has just donated equipment to help re-establish communications networks in areas devastated by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).  Personally, I would have liked to shoot ASA BDS supporters into space on the Gaia project’s European Space Agency rocket.  They would then be the first to hear about the new planets soon to be discovered by the Israeli scientists working on the project.

But perhaps we should be generous and mindful that when trying to understand the Jewish State, anti-Israel members of the ASA suffer from a complete mental block.  To that end, I suggest we send in AcousticEye.  The Israeli pipeline diagnostic company gave an impressive demonstration at Tel Aviv’s recent WATEC water technology conference, of its unique system to detect defects, cracks, holes and blockages.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8f0LaHc3_k

My quote of the week comes from the UK’s leading travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveller, which spotlighted Tel Aviv recently in its “Insider Tips” section.  It highlights “Tel Aviv’s creative energy and joie de vivre”. “Such positive energy is rare to find, and a pure joy to experience.” And in the next sentence it sounded a message that could be waved in front of all superficial anti-Israel academics. “This is a place where ideas are transformed into reality - where people enact their dreams rather than just talking about them.”

Now that is intelligent thinking!

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

www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com

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

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Israelis Wanted

http://blogs.jpost.com/content/israelis-wanted

http://blogs.jpost.com/print/4645

Every week that passes, Israel increases its reputation as a global provider of essential services.  While BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) crazies peddle only lies about the Jewish State, the Rest of the World enjoys the benefits of Israeli innovations and shows clearly that it wants more.

30,000 of Israel’s 3.5 million visitors in 2012 came solely to receive treatment in Israeli medical centers. In addition, Israeli hospitals opened their doors to a further 210,469 Palestinian Arabs.  Medical tourists seek Israel’s world-renowned expertise and value for money treatments in numerous areas, including curing brain diseases, laser surgery, heart bypasses and fertility treatment. One visitor was Dr. Jason Bodzin of West Bloomfield, who had stem cell treatment for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Ironically, this is the same condition suffered by Professor Stephen Hawking, who fell into a BDS black hole rather than attend Israel’s Presidential Conference that focused on making a better tomorrow.

Israel’s medical innovations are highly sought internationally. Brazil’s government was “honored” that Israel’s Protalix Biotherapeutics will be supplying and producing its Uplyso Gaucher’s disease treatment to Brazilians. Over in the USA, many thousands of women will want to take advantage of the fact that medical insurance now covers IceSense3 from Israel’s IceCure Medical. The unique minimally invasive cryo-ablation (freezing) system removes breast fibroids and tumors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc6tN1XssVE

We remain overseas where Israeli skills and hi-tech are much in demand.  India has requested help from Israel’s MASHAV agency for International Development Cooperation to set up 28 technology centers in 10 Indian states to diversify its fruit and vegetable crops and raise yields.  In Nigeria, Israel’s Solel Boneh has been contracted to re-build and widen an 84km section of the Ibadan-Lagos highway in southwest Nigeria. And children at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village near Kigali literally sang the praises of Jerusalem-based Energiya Global, which is building Rwanda’s first solar field.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbgOqIyRf7o

Billions of mobile phone users may want to download the software developed by Israeli start-up VascoDe. In countries where smartphones don’t work, VascoDe upgrades simple 2G phones so that they can access email, Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia etc over standard cellular networks.  The airways were also filled with airline executives heading to the Paris Air Show, eager to see Israel’s Elbit demonstrate how its Clear Vision system helps pilots to land planes in any weather conditions.

The world cannot get enough of Israeli start-ups and their skilled staff.  Following Waze’s billion-dollar takeover by Google, Fastcompany.com listed its “6 Israeli Startups To Watch”.  Wix, Wibbitz, Powermat, Bizzabo, Roomer and Parko can certainly expect much more interest in their products.  $10.95 million from the latest round of funding from the Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation will encourage fourteen new joint US-Israeli ventures.  And you may want to watch this new video from Israel’s Technion Institute that highlights the possible rewards from this kind of funding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VUsiIqm5a4&feature=youtu.be

Increasingly, multinationals are eager to invest their own money in order to attract Israeli skills.  Deutsche Telekom, for example is growing its own Israeli start-ups by establishing a new incubator. Cisco, on the other hand is recruiting up to 100 local staff directly for its new Israeli development center.  The technology giant already employs 2000 staff in Israel.

UEFA president Michel Platini was overjoyed with Israel’s recent successful sporting event - the U21 Euro soccer tournament. "The stadiums were wonderful and well-organized, the pitches excellent and the atmosphere in the stadiums was great with many families with young children attending.”  After the tournament, many visitors stayed on to enjoy Tel Aviv’s beach – included by National Geographic Traveler in its top ten choices for the best beaches in the world.

Israelis have also been recognized for their quality products.  Exports of Israeli foods and beverages to the United States reached a record $224 million in 2012 – an increase of 50% in five years. 

So it is not surprising that many Israeli-Arabs relish the opportunity to support the Jewish State.  Despite constant incitement by Arab politicians, Israeli National service by Arabs increased by 76 percent last year.  As Arab Muslim graduate Boshra Khalaila states, “I am a liberal free woman, with all the rights that I could enjoy.  I compare myself to other women my age in Jordan, the Palestinian territories, Egypt, any Arab country.  They don’t have the rights that I have.”

Finally, you may recall that in 1998, Miss Israel - Linor Abargil from Netanya - became Miss World.  But not so many will know that seven weeks prior to winning the title Linor was brutally assaulted.  A new documentary film has just been produced telling Linor’s story.  Following the contest, she went around the world, speaking out about her ordeal, meeting with other women who had also been attacked, working with survivors and those who help survivors.

Whatever the circumstances, Israelis are not found wanting.

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