Israel Active

New York research firm CB Insights chose four Israeli companies in its list of Most Promising Global firms in Digital Health. Aidoc, Zebra, HealthIQ and MDClone were selected from a pool of 5,000 companies based on patents, investors, market, partnerships, competitors, team strength and tech novelty.

Reflecting close bilateral diplomatic ties, Armenia has announced that it will open an embassy in Israel “as quickly as possible” – probably by early 2020. It would be the 90th foreign embassy in Israel. Some 11,000 Armenian Christians are full Israeli citizens .

I reported previously on the appointment of female deputy squadron commanders in the Israeli Air Force.  Now for the first time one has been promoted to full squadron commander. Mother of two, Lt. Col. “Gimel” joined the IAF 16 years ago.

I reported previously when Israeli NGO Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) examined 70 sick Rwandan children for flying to Israel for heart surgery. The first 8 children have been healed and are back with their families. The next 8 have now arrived in Israel.

I’ve reported several times over the last six years on the good health of Eilat’s coral reef.  Here is a recent Government report. It states that since 2004, there has been a gradual increase in the percentage of medium and large coral colonies, indicating improved coral survival over time.

Scientists have determined that tin ingots discovered off the coast of Haifa originated in Cornish tin mines over 7,000 years ago. Tin combines with copper to make a bronze alloy - hence the Bronze Age. The tin ingots were carbon-dated and the only tin mines at the time were in Cornwall.

Israel Tax Authority’s sniffer dog, Katcha, was crowned world champion at a recent international competition in Russia, beating 16 other canine competitors. Katcha patrols Ben Gurion airport searching for illegal drugs and cash.

I reported previously on the IDF Door to Door project that helps Palestinian Arab businesspeople who want to trade with Israel.  Here is a video by I24 News about the project’s success.

The number of Palestinian Arabs working in Israel has almost doubled in the past five years.  The number of permits for employment in Israel had risen 160% since 2012.  Waiting times at checkpoints between the territories and Israel have been cut to just a few minutes.

A survey of 716 Arab-Israelis conducted by Tel Aviv University reported that 71.5% are satisfied with their life in Israel; 65.2% believe they are generally treated equally, and 64.7% have an overall positive view of the state. The survey has only a 3.6% margin of error.