Israel Active

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan together with Innovation: Africa founder Sivan Ya’ari held a program to showcase Israel’s technology and boost ties between the Jewish state and Africa. It was attended by 25 ambassadors from Africa.

The UN Conference of the Parties (COP15) on biological diversity chose the International Birding & Research Center in Eilat as one of the 19 (out of 258) most outstanding projects presented. Millions of birds migrate across Eilat - the only land-bridge connecting Eurasia and Africa.

15 firefighters from Florida, Ohio and Virginia who had worked with the Israelis at the Surfside Miami disaster, came to Israel for five days. They participated in a rescue training drill with the IDF Home Front Command and conducted a joint review of the Surfside rescue operation.

Chen Kupperman is founder of the non-profit Blend.ar (short for Blend Arabic) a unique Arabic language school in Abu Ghosh. Studies consist of formal classes, informal practice in small groups with Arab tutors, and involvement in the daily lives of the residents of the Israeli-Arab town.

Spiral is an Israel-founded socially-responsible “neobank” (on-line bank) for US customers. Up to $250,000 of each customer’s savings are protected by FDIC Insurance. Its app facilitates easy donations to any charity with a 501c3 designation, which Spiral matches up to $150.

The International Astronautical Federation has awarded Ben Gurion University an excellence award for its educational project entitled "She Space". The project encourages girls to be involved in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) studies.

For the first time, a woman was appointed as a squadron leader in the Israel Air Force’s flight school. Major ‘Yud’ will command the IDF school’s combat navigators’ squadron and train the next generation of navigators. (see for previous female IAF leaders)

Israeli-founded Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM – see previously) has just held its latest virtual TOM Global Innovation Challenge to provide tailored solutions to people with disabilities, the elderly or poor. The winner was a 3D-printed hand support, enabling 5-year-old Shani to draw, play and eat.

Colombia’s President Ivan Duque opened the Jerusalem office of Innpulsa, Bogota’s entrepreneurship and innovation agency. Colombia’s first overseas trade and innovation office is seen as deepening the already close ties between Israel and its South American ally.

Israel’s Weizmann Institute has joined the Giant Magellan Telescope Organization (GMTO) to help it complete the largest and most powerful Gregorian optical-infrared telescope ever engineered. Weizmann previously helped develop the telescope’s exo-planet-seeking spectrograph.