Making music together
The Israel Integrative Orchestra comprises 40 musicians with and without disabilities who regularly rehearse together. It is a joint project of the nonprofit SHEKEL – Inclusion for People with Disabilities and the Yizhak Navon Community Unit of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.
First female Military Secretary is inaugurated
Brigadier General Naama Rosen Grimberg has been formally appointed as the first female Military Secretary to the Israeli President (see previously). For the first time there are now three women serving simultaneously on the IDF General Staff Forum.
El Al gets permission to fly over Saudi Arabia
El Al has received official permission from Saudi Arabia to fly over its territory. Duration of flights to Thailand drops from eleven hours down to eight-and-a-half hours.
Aid to Ukraine
MASHAV - Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation - has sent 25,000 instant meals for residents of Kharkiv, Northeastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, Israeli NGO IsraAID is providing the 475,000 residents of Mykolaiv, South Ukraine, with four reverse-osmosis water filtration systems.
Special mission aircraft for NATO
Israel Aerospace Industries has won a $200 million contract to provide special mission aircraft to a NATO member country in Europe. The unique aircraft use miniaturized sensors alongside artificial intelligence and machine learning software and algorithms.
Israeli innovator in Automotive Hall of Fame
Mobileye founder and CEO Prof. Amnon Shashua has won the Mobility Innovator Award from the Automotive Hall of Fame. It recognizes “the outstanding work individuals have accomplished introducing new technologies and services that are redefining mobility.”
Joint US-Israel cybersecurity projects
The US-Israel BIRD Foundation, the US Department of Homeland Security and the Israel National Cyber Directorate are awarding $1.5 million grants to joint US-Israeli approved projects that improve cyber protection and resilience of critical infrastructure and economies of both countries.
All IDF positions open to Haredim
The IDF has opened all roles to ultra-Orthodox recruits who meet the criteria and is providing a package of services to meet the needs of soldiers from this sector. Recruits may postpone their service until they can complete core studies matriculation, to improve their classification.
Program to combat hunger
Israel’s government is partnering the charity Colel Chabad and its Blavatnik Food Bank in a new $44 million program. 50,000 most needy households will receive an extra 500 shekels a month for grocery items. They will also attend courses that will empower them to increase their income.
Free public transport for over-75s
As of Aug 1st, public transportation in Israel, including local and national buses, trains (and new Haifa cable car), will be completely free for people over the age of 75. With 450,000+ citizens over the age of 75, Israel has one of the world’s highest life expectancies.