Israel Active

Here is a lovely short video from Shmuel, of Villa Rimona, featuring just one of the many thousands of Israel’s lesser-known historical sites.

Israel’s Itzhak Mamistvalov won the 100-meter freestyle S1 race at the 2013 IPC World Paralympic Swimming Championships in Montreal, Canada. Itzhak has cerebral palsy and swims using only his right hand. Israel’s Inbal Pezaro won a silver medal in the women's 200-metre freestyle.

Israeli tennis star Shahar Pe'er won her first tournament in four years, defeating unseeded Zheng Saisai 6:2, 2:6, 6:3 in the final of the Suzhou Ladies Open in Suzhou China. The win will move Pe’er back into the top 100 table of women tennis players.

Marcella Rosen has written a book (hardback and Kindle) described as “A fascinating collection of 21 stories detailing Israel's inventions that benefit all of mankind.” I look forward to reading it.

(Thanks to Israel21c) A team of three Israelis in their seventies beat 32 other countries to win the Fortis World Team Backgammon Championships in Monaco. Team member Shimon Kagan said of the game, “You need to plan the next move, understand all the possibilities and theories.

The normally anti-Israel UK Independent newspaper has discovered that there is another side to Israel. “From vibrant Tel Aviv to the Negev Desert, Israel's network of bike tracks is growing.” It even publicizes how to travel there and the best places to stay.

Amar’e Stoudemire, the New York Knicks star, is seeking Israeli citizenship. Stoudemire came to Israel to help coach Canada’s basketball team in the recent Maccabiah games. He is also part owner of Israeli basketball club Hapoel Jerusalem.

Barcelona FC took a break from pre-season training to hold a two-day “peace tour” in the holy land with Israeli and Palestinian Arab kids. A favorite among Israeli and Palestinian Arab fans, the Barcelona team included Lionel Messi, regarded as one of the best players in the game.

(Thanks to Israel21c) A new International Center for the Study of Bird Migration building at Latrun is being built to encourage tourists to watch some of the 1 billion birds that will fly over Israel in the coming 12 months.

(Thanks to Israel21c) The 22nd International Puppet Theater Festival in Jerusalem will stage over 125 performances – the largest puppet event in Israel’s history. The main themes this year are the Far East and trains. The Royal Thai Embassy is sponsoring the highlight performance “Lunar Eclipse”.