Israel Active

Israeli Avital Zeisler teaches the Israeli Krav Maga method of self-defense but with a twist – she uses high-heeled shoes. The objective is to disrupt the attacker’s thought process. Dubbed “the Soteria Method," it is now a hit across the US.

Amazing pictures of a starling murmuration (flock of migrating birds) in the Israeli desert – featured in the normally anti-Israeli UK Guardian, no less!

Israeli violinist Itzhak Perlman has been awarded this year's Genesis Prize – the "Jewish Nobel" to add to his recent US Medal of Freedom. Perlman intends to use his $1 million prize money for projects to assist individuals with disabilities and to develop young musicians of special talent.

Enchanting new video of the abundance of life at Israel’s Ein Gedi Nature Reserve in the Judean Desert, just a few minutes’ drive from the Dead Sea.

A unique event took place at Zedekiah’s Cave (also known as King Solomon's Quarry) in Jerusalem. Hundreds of Jerusalem residents and visitors were treated to Israeli pianist Gil Shohat and singer Nurit Galron as the melodies of Chopin reverberated from the stone walls.

Israeli basketball star Omri Casspi scored a career best of 36 points for Sacramento Kings, including a team record nine 3-pointers. But his team still lost 122-103 to NBA champions Golden State Warriors.

She didn’t win Miss Universe but Avigail Alfatov (Miss Israel) has won Israel’s Youth Fencing Championship seven times and hopes to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She currently works in computer security whilst serving in the Israeli Air Force. Prior to that she was a volunteer for Akim, the charity that supports those with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

You can now watch a daily newscast from Israel in English – a morning brief and a daily roundup. It claims to broadcast “fair, honest, real, true televised news” with “no slant, no political agenda, just the news”.

The northern port city of Acre / Akko once served as the last stronghold of the crusaders in the Holy Land 1,000 years ago. Today it attracts not only history buffs, but many who enjoy the old city's culinary scene, from traditional handmade hummus to Middle Eastern fusion cuisine.

The annual International Puppet Theatre Festival in Jerusalem is the biggest in the country. Here is an enchanting new video of the 2015 festival.