Israel Active

Sigal Kanotopsky, head of the charity Olim Beyahad, recalls her family’s extraordinary exodus from Ethiopia to Israel in a secret operation called Shiur Moledet. Olim Beyahad has integrated about 900 Ethiopian Israeli university graduates into suitable jobs through its programs.

I reported last week on the inaugural Forbes 2019 Under 30 Global Women’s Summit that took place in Tel Aviv.  Here is a video by ILTV of the event.

At the NGO Israel’s Society Labs, high-tech professionals volunteer their knowledge and technology to support social change.

The Beyahad (“together”) program at Ono Academic College provides aspiring Druze women with the opportunity to advance their professional careers while maintaining their traditional lifestyle. Israel has female Druze researchers, engineers and doctors and the program aims to encourage more.

After years of diplomatic ties, Israel has opened its first embassy in Rwanda. Israeli Ambassador to Rwanda Ron Adam presented his credentials to Rwandan President Paul Kagame in February. Rwanda’s national airline, RwandAir, is expected to start direct flights to Israel soon.

I reported previously that Jerusalem had spent millions of shekels on improving the Old City, including access to the sites.  The work has paid off, making Jerusalem the largest accessible historical site in the world.  There is even a mobility app in eight languages.

Four years ago, Palestinian Arabs Imad and Ayoub rescued Dr. Eitan and his son when they accidentally drove into a PA village and were attacked by a mob. Recently, Imad’s sister-in-law was severely injured in a vehicle accident. Dr Eitan transferred her to Israel’s Sheba hospital for treatment.

Ishmael Khaldi is Israel’s first Bedouin diplomat and has been posted to Israel's embassy in Nepal. He has teamed up with local Chabad Rabbi Hezkl Lifshitz, to provide trekkers with mini oxygen tanks to rent, for protection against altitude sickness. Khalidi said the project was “where Bedouin and Jewish values meet”.

Israeli and Palestinian Arab firefighters participated in a joint firefighting and rescue exercise in Samaria. The firefighters extinguished simulated fires in four locations, using six Israeli firefighting airplanes, six Israeli firetrucks and two Palestinian firetrucks.