Planning for after Covid

In a video conference, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the heads of Austria, Australia, Norway, Denmark, Greece and the Czech Republic to work together to promote scientific research into vaccines. It would provide future pandemic protection for governments against market forces.

One of the world’s oldest mosques

Israeli archeologists had a surprise when they were unearthing an 8th century CE mosque in Tiberias. They discovered the foundations of a 7th century CE mosque underneath it!  They also found coins and pottery which helped to date the older mosque – the world’s oldest to be excavated.

Helping Israel-Arabs MoveUp

Israeli non-profit PresenTense (reported previously) has partnered with the British Embassy in Israel and others to launch MoveUp - an accelerator for Arab-Israeli tech entrepreneurs. 10 or 12 entrepreneurs will take part in a two-month virtual program led by Israeli and UK experts.

Arab hi-tech integration

The number of Israeli-Arabs studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Tel Aviv University’s School of Electrical Engineering has nearly doubled from 237 in 2016 to 459 in 2020. They include 150 Arab women - almost three times higher than in 2016. Small numbers but encouraging trend.

Reducing the stigma of mental illness

The Jerusalem College of Technology (JCT) has partnered the McLean Hospital, the largest psychiatric affiliate of Harvard Medical School. 30 Haredi 4th year JCT nursing students will be the “agents of change” to deconstruct the stigma of mental illness in Jerusalem and throughout Israel.

Landmines cleared at baptism site

After two years of work, the Franciscan St John the Baptist chapel beside the River Jordan in Israel is landmine free. Christians are again able to pray at the site, abandoned 54 years ago.

Direct flights to Morocco

Israel and Morocco have just signed an aviation agreement that will see direct flights launch between the two countries in two to three months.

Moroccan PR alliance

This historic announcement from Casablanca and Jerusalem is of the first strategic partnership in PR between Morocco and Israel. Morocco’s Brand & Image Agency and Israel’s Kam Global Strategies will use their expertise to the benefit of business individuals and institutions in both countries.

Global training in agriculture

The Arava International Center of Agricultural Training (AICAT) trains 1,200 students from South East Asia and Africa every year. They include from Vietnam, Nepal, Cambodia, Fiji, Vanuatu, Myanmar, East-Timor, Cape Verde, Laos, Thailand and even Muslim Indonesia and Gambia.

25 years helping Ethiopian Israelis

Marion Wiesel, widow of Nobel Prize winner Elie, will celebrate her 90th birthday online. Marion and Elie established the Beit Tzipora centers in the mid-1990s to support the education of Ethiopian-Israeli children and their families. Beit Tzipora now supports more than 700 children annually.