5777 - What a Year That Was

The Jerusalem Post included two reports on the events of 5777 in its 20th September edition. Gill Hoffman wrote “very little of significance actually ended up happening in Israel” so he described the Top 10 stories that didn’t happen.  Amotz Asa-el struggled to find a “Person of the Year” – there was “no celebrity thinker, captivating artist or high-flying statesman”.

I would like to challenge these rather negative articles by providing a summary of just a few of the many hundreds of positive events of the past year.  Most of these news articles appeared in the Jerusalem Post. Where appropriate, I will name the exceptional people involved.

Tishri-Cheshvan 5777 / Oct-Nov 2016:-

Readers will know about IsraAID’s relief work after recent Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and Maria, but may have forgotten that IsraAID’s Navonel (Voni) Glick and Yotam Polizer were organizing volunteers back in 2016 to help Haitian survivors of Hurricane Matthew. IsraAID has since helped survivors of the Italian earthquakes, refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos, Sierra Leone, Peru, Yazidis in Iraq and more.

In November, the IDF announced that Avraham Yitzhak will be the first colonel of Ethiopian descent in IDF history when he becomes chief medical officer of the IDF Southern Command. Yitzhak came to Israel in 1991, graduated in medicine at Ben Gurion University and was the first Ethiopian-Israeli combat doctor.

Kislev-Tevet 5777 / Dec-Jan 2016:-

Israel received rare recognition from the BBC in December, when (after protest for their initial snub) BBC News finally interviewed Weizmann Institute’s Professor Avigdor Scherz, co-developer of the globally acclaimed TOOKAD prostate cancer treatment. Also in December, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his series of global trips to improve Israel’s international relations and bilateral trade by visiting two Muslim countries - Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. He subsequently visited London, Singapore, Australia, West Africa and of course, the USA and the UN.  In January the PM announced that Member of Knesset Ayoub Kara would become the first lawmaker from Israel’s Druze community to serve as a cabinet minister. In his previous role as Deputy Minister of Regional Cooperation, Kara was instrumental in setting up Israeli help for Syrian refugees in Syria, Israel and Jordan. Also in January, Israel’s leading crowdfunding organization OurCrowd, founded by entrepreneur Jon Medved, hosted Israel’s largest investment event with over 6,000 attendees. Most of OurCrowd’s portfolio of 110 startups were on view.

Shevat-Adar 5777 / Feb-Mar 2017:-

In February new judges chosen to sit on Israel’s Supreme Court of Justice included a Christian Arab, George Kara, and Yael Vilner - the first orthodox Jewish woman to get a permanent seat on Israel’s highest court. In the same month Dr. Michal Kaufmann of Jerusalem’s Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital performed cochlear implant surgery on 16 Palestinian Arab deaf and mute children to allow them to hear for the first time in their lives.  Then in March, Israeli scientists announced one of the biggest breakthroughs in cancer treatment when they used derivatives of Phenanthridine to make tumor cells self-destruct in the most resistant and incurable cancers.  Also in March Intel purchased Israel’s Mobileye, founded by Ziv Aviram and Amnon Shashua, for $15 billion. Mobileye continues to be managed in Israel and expand through partnerships with Fiat-Chrysler and China’s Yutong and Nio.  Another Israeli company, SodaStream, led by David Birnbaum, unveiled its new packaging in March. It includes a picture of the Israeli flag, accompanied by the caption: "This product is made by Arabs and Jews working side by side in peace and harmony."

Nissan-Iyar 5777 / Apr-May 2017:-

One of April’s highlights was when Israeli President Rivlin invited Arab teacher Jehan Jaber to his Jerusalem residence, to praise her for teaching Hebrew to Arab elementary school children. The video of Jehan teaching catchy song “Geshem, Geshem Metaftef” (“Rain, rain is dripping”) went viral, with over two million views. In May Yehiel Tal, CEO of Israel’s CollPlant, which has been developing collagen-based bio-ink, made a major announcement.  He said that CollPlant is now “working with several large international companies, with the aim of collaborating in the development of organs and tissues printing.” Meanwhile, Israeli NGO Innovation: Africa, founded by Sivan Ya’ari, publicized its work installing solar power systems to provide electricity for Africans to pump water, illuminate homes and power medical centers. Sivan’s 8-year-old daughter then visited Uganda to see her mother’s work at first hand.

Sivan-Tammuz-Av 5777 / Jun-July-Aug 2017:-

In June, researchers at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital, led by Professor Benjamin Rubinoff, transplanted retinal pigment cells from embryonic stem cells to prevent five sufferers of retinal degeneration from going blind. In the same month, Jerusalem Rabbi Dov Benyaacov-Kurtzman setup the UK National Emergency Response, Resilience and Treatment Program for Stress and Trauma. Its first work was with the victims of the Manchester UK bombing. In July Eli Beer, founder and President of United Hatzalah, explained his organization’s revolutionary model of life-saving at the largest dedication of emergency vehicles in Israel’s history. Later, in August United Hatzalah despatched its Psychotrauma and Crisis Response Unit to Houston, Texas.

Ellul 5777 / Sept 2017:-

In September, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon took up his new position as Vice President of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly (GA). Earlier in the year, as chair of the United Nations Legal Committee, Danon increased respect for Israel at the UN. He saw two Israeli-sponsored resolutions passed by the GA and arranged a co-operation agreement with United Nations Women - the world body’s institution for the empowerment of women. He even organized a UN event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Israel’s reunification of Jerusalem. Then just before this Rosh Hashana as the presiding GA chair, he proudly invited Israeli PM Netanyahu to speak to the General Assembly.

In fact, it was a Very Good News Year.

Michael Ordman writes about positive news stories from Israel. www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com and a searchable archive www.IsraelActive.com

 

All Will Be Revealed

I was prompted into writing my first blog of 2016 by yet another appalling report on the BBC World Service The Science Hour 27/3/16.  Just after the Jewish festival of Purim, the Biased Broadcasting Corporation erased the name of Israel, Jews and Israeli companies from a program discussing the use of genetics to improve the drought resistance of wheat to feed a hungry world. So I decided to write the following “megillah” to unmask some of the global activities that Israel has been performing to benefit the world in the last three months.

Medical

Ruti Alon, co-chairman of this year’s IATI-Biomed Conference, highlighted that Israeli research is present in between 25% and 28% of the world’s successful biotech-based solutions.  E.g. Exelon for Alzheimer’s, Doxil for cancer and Copaxone for Multiple Sclerosis.

In the field of cancer research, the RosettaGX Reveal diagnostic test for thyroid cancer from Israel’s Rosetta Genomics is now approved for use in all 50 US states.  Another recent BBC report obscured the fact that “innovative” US immunotherapy, which cured 27 of 29 “no-hope” leukemia patients, was developed from the research of Weizmann Institute Professor Zelig Eshhar.

Israel’s MobileODT has the potential to save millions of lives with its smartphone-based cervical cancer detection technology.  Launched only last May it has been used 6000 times in 20 countries.  MobileODT even donated 20 of its Enhanced Visual Assessment (EVA) cervical cancer screening devices to healthcare providers in Kenya where on World Cancer Day (4th Feb), they were used to screen over 700 Kenyan women.  The device was demonstrated at the Innovation Showcase during the recent AIPAC Conference. 

More than 100 million patients annually require manual ventilation - the largest reason for admission into intensive care.  The Israeli-invented Pocket BVM (Bag Valve Mask) portable ventilator has already treated thousands of people at disasters, such as in the Nepal earthquakes and saved US soldiers in Afghanistan.  Meanwhile, Israel’s Hospitech Respiration has just received US FDA clearance for its AnapnoGuard 100 intubation system. 

Israelis are working on treatments and systems that will have bring relief to hundreds of millions of patients.  Firstly, Israel’s Teva is developing a peptide for the treatment of migraine, that affects 36 million people in the United States and 10% of people worldwide.  Secondly, researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem are working to freeze organs in order to preserve them for later transplant using ice-binding “antifreeze proteins” that protect frozen cells from expansion damage when they thaw out.  Finally, Israeli startup Intensix is trialing an Intensive Care Unit patient monitoring system that gives an early warning of impending sepsis and organ failure responsible for killing 30% of ICU patients.

Israel’s global impact is evidenced by the World Bank matching top Israeli health technology innovators with interested healthcare providers in India to address the rise in non-communicable chronic diseases there.  In another example, the MASHAV organization of Israel’s Foreign Ministry is shortly to begin training medics from the underdeveloped southwestern regions of China.  And Israeli startup 6over6’s has developed the GlassesOn smartphone app to help those needing spectacles in developing countries where there is a shortage of opticians and optometrists. 

Humanitarian Aid

Israel21C has produced a map showing the top 83 locations where Israel offers aid to people in need around the world.  And “Israel is only one call away” must be the ultimate video to show that Israel is more than just another country.  Earlier this year we heard that Natan-International Humanitarian Aid (a network of Israeli disaster relief organizations and civil society organizations) is treating migrants in Serbia.  And this video shows the IsraAID rescue team of doctors and nurses, both Arab and Jewish, at work on the Greek island of Lesbos.

Israel has recently provided food and assistance to flood victims in Paraguay, Kenya, and even the United Kingdom (England and Scotland).  But the British Broadcasting Clowns seem to have missed that.

Israel also helps citizens of countries that have no diplomatic relations with the Jewish State.  Such as the

2,000 Syrian war wounded who have been treated in Israeli hospitals.  200 or so Israeli volunteers working for the non-profit Il4Syrians have even been secretly working in Syria to deliver food, medical supplies, sanitation kits, baby powder, survival kits and 3000 protective suits for doctors treating victims of chemical attacks. 

In its latest mission, IsraAID sent search and rescue teams to Taiwan where many were killed or were still missing in the magnitude 6.4 earthquake.   

Recognition of Israeli humanitarian efforts has resulted in the United Nations awarding official consultative status upon the Israeli emergency response organization ZAKA, which will help it to expand its international search, rescue and recovery missions.  Israel also hosted hundreds of delegates from 30 countries, plus the World Health Organization, at the Fourth Israeli International Conference on Healthcare System, Preparedness and Response to Emergencies and Disasters.  Finally, Liberia’s senate president Armah Zolu Jallah, thanked Israel for its help in wiping out the fatal disease Ebola in Liberia.    

Agriculture and Water

Although the BBC is too intoxicated to see it, Israel really is feeding the world, as anyone visiting the Agricultural Research Organization’s Volcani Center, in Beit Dagan near Tel Aviv will testify.  Israel’s NRGene has assembled more than 80 complete genomes over the past 12 months, which will result in better crops and benefit billions of lives.  Despite its location close to Gaza, Israel’s Phytech has developed crop sensor technology that is used in the biggest farms in the US, Brazil and Australia.

In developing countries, Israeli organizations and companies are teaching desert farming to Nigerians; using cutting-edge seed technology to vastly increase the productivity of Ethiopian farmers and building a huge dairy for South Sudan on the Israeli model already in use in Vietnam, China, the US, Russia and India.  In 2016 Israel is initiating 14 micro-irrigation projects in the Indian state of Haryana, northwest of Delhi. 

In the developed world, Israel’s IDE Technologies has now begun operating at its Carlsbad, California site – the largest desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere.  Israeli organizations and companies are at the center of California’s plans to stem its droughts and secure the future of its water supply.  Also in California, the 17,000 acre Conaway Ranch in Woodland will be the first US rice grower to use Israeli drip irrigation.  And despite the European Union not recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, it has engaged Jerusalem’s water company, Hagihon, in its 4-year project to improve governance and social awareness of water environmental challenges.

Social and Environmental

Israelis deserve much praise for their work to improve the prospects of the disadvantaged in the world.   Jerusalem’s Alyn Hospital, just held its first-ever Makeathon, for developers of technology projects that have global social benefits – with particular emphasis on the disabled.  Meanwhile, Israeli accelerator A3i is developing ‘ability’ technology to help millions with disabilities.  And Israel’s LivinGift has offering zero-interest loans to social impact enterprises from all sectors, including health, education, animal protection, social impact technologies, environment, and support for disadvantaged populations.

  

On 29th March 2016 the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel stages a race with a difference. Champions of the Flyway is a bird race for conservation in Israel’s migration hotspot of Eilat.  The 2015 event raised $60,000 to help stop illegal trapping of birds in Cyprus and the 2016 race will help protect birds in Greece.  Finally, please see this recent video of Israel’s unique Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center that is a prime example of Israel’s work to save endangered species.

Security

Many countries are now recognizing Israel as being an essential for their security.  Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has just announced that he has been entrusted by Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan to form an alliance with Israel to rid their countries of the jihadist Islamic State, Al Qaeda and their affiliates.  Millions of Parisians and Belgians used Facebook’s Israeli-developed Safety Check app to let friends and family know they were safe following the recent deadly terror attacks.  And the world is waking up to possible threats from ships reporting a fake identity.  Israel’s Windward tracked 34 such ships last year that left or entered the territorial waters of Libya, Syria and Lebanon.

With $3.3 billion of exports, Israel is the world’s second largest developer of cybersecurity solutions, after the USA.  Cybertech 2016 in Tel Aviv was the second most attended cybersecurity event of the last 12 months.  There are 300 Israeli cybersecurity companies, led by Checkpoint which has a $14.2 billion valuation.  One Israeli cybersecurity specialist CYREN has sensors in 200 countries. In the UK it protects thousands of public WiFi installations and was recently accredited as a "Friendly WiFi" approved provider by the Council for Child Internet Safety.

Technology

“Israeli technology is improving the world” said Bill Gates to the 2,000 people attending Microsoft Israel’s “Think Next” event in Tel Aviv.  And even in the last three months the number of Israeli innovations with global impact are just too many to include here in any detail.

Computing:

-          Optimal+, which analyzed over 35 billion semiconductor devices for defects in 2015.

-          Exciting activities in Cloud computing by Revello Systems, OwnBackup, and GigaSpaces.

-          Developments for the Internet of Things by Seebo and mPrest,

Smart Systems:

-          Mobileye has now signed agreements for its self-driving car systems with GM, Nisan and VW.

-          Giraffic’s technology is now in one-third of the world’s smart TVs.

-          The VUZE camera from HumanEyes and SteamCC’s Ripple Maker won at CES in Las Vegas.

Others:

-          NanoIsrael 2016 showed the world that Israel is a nanotechnology superpower.

-          Pashut Yarok is exporting foam safety surfaces for children’s playgrounds to countries in the EU.

-          Tel Aviv’s FoodTech Nation conference showcased Israeli storage and production innovations.

-          Yaron Yashinski designed the 55-million-hit Coldplay video “Hymn for the weekend”

Outer Space:

-          Helping NASA fly to Mars, Europe to study Venus and satellites to help alleviate global drought.

-          AccuBeat’s atomic device to detect signals of life on the mission to Jupiter and Galilean Moons.

-          Utilis which detects underground water leaks from satellite images.

-          SkyFi, which is building nano-satellites to provide almost limitless communication across the globe.

Finally

If you want to get a glimpse of what Israel has done for the World, simply travel through Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport and view the exhibit, between customs and the departure hall, of 60 posters showcasing Israeli developments and discoveries that have influenced the world.  Follow the “Israel Is On It” media campaign by Untold News to raise awareness of the one tiny country whose citizens are curing cancer, making the ocean drinkable, freezing cancer tumors, preventing hospital infections, stopping airport terrorism, and changing all our lives for the better. 

And sign up for my newsletter.

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