Israel Active

Normally anti-Israel CNN has ranked Tel Aviv one of the world’s most bike-friendly cities. It says, “Israel’s sophisticated, Bauhaus-styled city on the Mediterranean Sea has the makings of a bicycling paradise.” Meanwhile, the Israel21c article lists Yalla Bike’s favorite bike-lane routes.

Around 500 African wild donkeys exist in the world, and Ramat Gan Safari Park in Tel Aviv is a key player in keeping the species from extinction. The park recently celebrated the birth of Broko, which translates to “blessing” in the Amharic language.

Mirna Sayeh, 22, from Bethlehem becomes the first female Palestinian Arab basketball player in the Israeli Premier League. She joined the ASA Jerusalem women’s basketball team and was expected to play in the match against Elitzur Ramla.

The speedy response of Israel’s teams sent to rescue victims of the Turkish earthquake was primarily due to members of the IDF Special In Uniform program. The highly trained soldiers with physical and mental disabilities and autism worked all hours to prepare medical and emergency equipment.

(See X-ray photo at source article) Specialists from the otolaryngology department at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center successfully removed a ring stuck in the throat of a two-year-old boy. His father Muhammad praised the Shaare Zedek team for saving his son’s life.

Israeli Lt.-Col. Dr. Ofer Almog described the reactions of some of the Syrians after learning they were being treated by Israelis. “In some cases, they were very emotional, very surprised. One person said that everything he was taught all his life about Israel was a lie.”

South African BDS leader Klaas Mokgomole couldn’t understand why Ben Gurion Airport officials laughed when he asked for the Blacks-only restroom after his 9-hour flight from Jo’burg. He was dumbfounded as Jews and Arabs went in and out. It was transformational.

Turkey’s Ambassador to Israel Shakir Ozkan Torunlar welcomed Israeli teams returning from their earthquake rescue mission and thanked the Jewish state for saving 19 Turkish lives. He also noted Israel’s civil society and NGOs who “displayed exemplary solidarity with the Turkish people.”

Normally anti-Israel UK Independent has highlighted that 25 sea turtles have received medical treatment in Israel after being injured in a severe winter storm.  Following rehabilitation at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center in Mikhmoret they will be released back to the sea.

Representatives of 14 African and Arab countries will convene in Jerusalem in March for the first ever Arab-Africa-Israel conference on Middle East security. The 3-day conference is titled “Trusted Regional Partnerships at a Time of Shifting Alliances.”