Israel Active

The second annual Central America-Israel Forum, involving 14 countries, has just concluded in Panama City, Panama. This year’s focus was strengthening ties between Christians and Jews. It featured Government ministers including from Panama, Uruguay, and Guatemala.

A delegation of Utah governmental and economic officials made its first stop in Israel, on a trip that will also include the United Arab Emirates. 2021 trade between Utah and Israel exceeded $55 million. Of key interest to the delegation was Israel’s Frontier incubator that specializes in desert ag-tech.

Following the recent opening of the Highway 16 tunnels (see ), Jerusalem has now inaugurated an underground road solely for cyclists. The 2.1km Kerem Tunnel is the fifth longest cycle tunnel in the world, taking two years to complete and costing some NIS 25 million.

The PLANETech World 2022 Conference in Tel Aviv on 21 Sep will have a much-reduced carbon footprint thanks to Israel’s Palram and UBQ. Palram will incorporate UBQ’s thermoplastic recycled material in the construction of many of the temporary building structures.

Israeli citizens over retirement age can now receive 20% discount when booking hotels in Israel. The benefit is a joint initiative of the Minister of Tourism, the Minister of Social Equality, and the Hotel Association. It applies to most Sat night to Weds bookings for the coming year.

Thanks to 600,000 The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) is spearheading a program to distribute 11,500 vouchers worth NIS 300 each, to impoverished Israeli families. They can be used to purchase supplies for schoolchildren in Kravitz office and school supply stores.

Following the first Israeli delegation to Chad in 50 years, Israeli NGOs Menomadin Foundation, and Israeli Flying Aid, together with Israel’s MASHAV program, brought back 3 Chad children to receive heart surgery from Israel’s Save a Child’s Heart.

Excellent video from Ambassador Yoram Ettinger highlighting the transformation of Israel from a burden to the US, to a major benefit and ally.  And hear what Israel has provided to the US since.

Israel has signed a contract to build a $4 million embassy in Morocco. It will be on the same site as the previous Israeli embassy which was closed and abandoned in 2000. when diplomatic relations were severed.

The New York Times recently published a lengthy article featuring Israel’s Windward (see previously). Windward identifies vessels on the high seas, transmitting fake location coordinates to circumvent international laws and sanctions. ?