Israel Active

Israel’s Shahar Keinan is CEO of US-based Polaris Quantum Biotech which is using super-fast quantum computers to speed up years-long search for new treatments. Polarisqb is currently searching a cure for endometriosis, affecting about 10% of women globally.

Last week’s newsletter featured - winner of ACT Foodtech’s “Women of AgriFood Nation” competition. This video highlights the other female-led contestants – , , , and . All are new to this newsletter.

Muslim Arab Khalil Bakly has a dental practice in Netanya and Nof Hagalil. His local organization Habustan (the Orchard) brings together Nof Hagalil’s Arabs and Jews. They have just initiated a social media campaign called “Arabs and Jews in Nof Hagalil against violence”.

For the first time, over two thirds of UN members voted Israel onto the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan said it was a “… recognition of our innovation and creativity, which serves to benefit all nations of the world …”

In Oct (as reported ), Israel announced it would ban the sale of fur to the fashion industry – the first country in the world to do so. Israel’s Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel has now formally signed the amendment into law, and it goes into effect in six months.

Israel’s National Cyber Directorate hosted the 2021 Global Forum on Digital Security for Prosperity, an online conference of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The 3-day virtual event began on June 7 with some 40 speakers from 60 countries.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan - Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for the United Arab Emirates – made the case for peace between Arabs and Israelis plain and simple. He stated that, ironically, the coronavirus pandemic accelerated the peace process.

The Toy Movement of Canada and Israel’s Peres Center for Peace and Innovation (based in Jaffa) have been distributing toys to Arab and Jewish children at four nursery schools in Jaffa.

Ifat Hammer, CEO of Israel’s Biotipac (see below) won the Women of AgriFood Nation competition designed to increase exposure to women-led technological ventures in AgriFood. Hammer receives a $200,000 investment from Israel’s COPIA Agriculture and Food Technologies.

Passengers travelling through Ben Gurion airport will see a new exhibit of 34 photos representing the different shades of Israeli society. They depict religious, secular, ultra-Orthodox and Arab Israelis, outside of the stereotypical way in which they are often portrayed in the media.