Israel Active

IKEA Israel has partnered with Israeli nonprofits Access Israel and Milbat to produce 13 furniture accessibility add-on products (e.g. mega switch, easy handle, gripper) for people with disabilities. Their “ThisAbles Initiative” helps Israelis with disabilities live more independently.

Israeli NGO Molet turns trashed wooden pallets into everyday furniture.  Molet also offers companies “away days” where employees help make furniture which is then donated to institutions in need.

45 budding entrepreneurs from all over Israel, took part in a pre-accelerator program in Jaffa, aptly named Starting Up Together. Around 50% were Jews and 50% Arabs (Muslim including Bedouin, Christian and Druze). They formed groups to work on “smart city” projects.

For nearly 4 years Israelis have been helping migrants from Syria, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan on the Greek island of Lesbos. There is no other foreign support. IsraAID runs a school for the migrants, some of whom even became teachers themselves.

Israel’s new embassy in Rwanda is its 11th in Africa. The new Ambassador, Ronny Adam presented his credentials to Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame in Rwanda’s capital Kigali.

Many Arab (Muslim and Christian) volunteer first responders participated in an emergency drill in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Zur Bahr. They trained together with Israeli security forces, firefighters and Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service.

The Israeli Government together with the Druze Veterans Association have launched the first Druze hi-tech accelerator program in Daliyat al-Karmel. It aims to extend the leadership roles of Israeli Druze when they finish their IDF service and return to civilian life.

Slovakian PM Peter Pellegrini confirmed that Slovakia is to open a new information, cultural and innovation center in Jerusalem. Hungarian PM Viktor Orban promised to expand the Hungarian Embassy in Israel, and to open a trade representation in Jerusalem with diplomatic status.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Czech Republic PM Andrek Babis to Jerusalem on his first visit to Israel. They plan to sign agreements for defense, technology and innovation, especially on water issues. Mr Babis said “Israel is our strategic partner in the Middle East.”

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison marked 70 years of Australia-Israel relations with a moving speech in Australia’s Parliament. He praised Israel as a beacon of democracy in the Middle East; its multicultural character, science, research, innovation and free press.