Israel Active

In the latest IMD World Competitiveness Rankings, Israel is 25th overall of the 63 countries surveyed but World Number One for its total expenditure on Research & Development. Also 2nd for cybersecurity, 3rd for public expenditure on education, and 5th for women with degrees.

Israel is sending two special planes, 17 firefighters, and equipment to Cyprus to help the country combat blazes ravaging the north of the island. The decision was made following a request from the Turkish Cypriot authorities. The fire brigades of Israel, Cyprus, and Greece train together periodically.

The 3D mapping and analysis technology from Israel’s GeoX (see previously) is being used by a World Bank project to help Ghanaians avoid floods and mudslides. It is also helping design a dam for the Odaw River to protect 4 million people from its repeated floods.

Israeli archaeologists working in the Negev Bedouin city of Rahat have identified and excavated a 7th century mosque - one of the oldest in the world. It is located 2km from another 7th-century rural mosque that was excavated in 2019 and 5km from a 7th century abandoned monastery.

300+ Arab and Jewish Israeli children have created a sustainable garden at the Al-Hayat School in the Israeli Arab town of Kfar Qassem. Jewish kids from nearby Kfar Saba joined the Kfar Qassem kids in the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation “Green Roofs” project, funded by USAID.

Very interesting to watch this video about Ella Waweya. Interviewed by Yoseph Haddad in Arabic with English subtitles, Ella is the ideal spokesperson to emphasize that Israel is an amazing inclusive country for all its minorities.

Danielle Wolfson, the first Israeli woman to climb Mt Everest (see previously), is now aiming for Mt Denali, the highest peak in North America. She has already scaled Mt Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe. Danielle is sponsored by Israeli air-conditioner manufacturer Tadiran.

Israel and Germany joined forces to host an event at the United Nations to promote the rights of people with disabilities. They sent a strong message to the international community regarding the ability of sports to connect communities and individuals.

For the first time ever, female authors in Israel published more books of prose and poetry. Statistics released by the National Library of Israel just ahead of Hebrew Book Week show that of the 7,344 new books registered with the library in 2021, 52%, were credited to female authors.

Israel and Egypt signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Cairo that allows Israel to export natural gas to Europe via Egyptian ports. Israeli gas will be piped to Egypt, liquified to LNG and then brought to the European Union.