Israel Active

Israel’s Daniel Gold, the original head of Israel’s Iron Dome development project, has been elected to the US National Academy of Engineering, part of the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine - one of the highest professional accolades for an engineer.

ZAKA, the Israeli volunteer emergency response organization, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the US National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) to train US law enforcement agencies in the respectful handling of victims of terrorism and mass casualty events.

An Israeli delegation, including members of the Israel Diamond Exchange, participated in the inaugural International Diamond and Gem Conference (Jan. 29-31) held in Qatar. The event aimed to develop new ideas, due to changes in the supply chain and consumer preferences.

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) presented the five released Thai hostages with 4,000 shekel (38,000 baht or $1,120) debit cards that can be used anywhere in the world. Also warm clothing, as most of their personal possessions had been destroyed or stolen by Hamas.

A delegation of 30 prominent Hispanic-Evangelical Christian leaders has just completed a 10-day mission to Israel with Eagles’ Wings, aimed at strengthening Christian support for the Jewish state. It was one of the largest faith-based Hispanic delegations to Israel in recent years.

Newsletter subscriber and Israel21c editor Nicky Blackburn saw my news of Israel’s amazing emergency medical service. She sent me a link to this article from 2016 when her husband and an Arab Israeli nurse were the only people who went to the aid of a heart attack victim in Paris.

Since 2010 there has been a massive increase in Israeli Arab medical professionals. Current (vs 2010): 25% of Israeli doctors are Arab (was 8%), Nurses 27% (17%), dentists 27% (19%), Pharmacists 49% (28%). Arabs constitute some 20% of Israel’s population. Apartheid?

The Israeli initiative to use barn owls for natural rodent pest control (see previously) is now global. Experts from 12 countries held their annual conference in Greece including new attendees from Germany, Georgia, and Ukraine. They plan to replicate the model in the USA and Asia.

Jerusalem’s Rabbi Daniel Rowe (whom I knew in the UK before making Aliyah) makes a good point here. Instead of lamenting why the Jewish State isn't treated the same as other countries, why not focus less on fitting in and more on standing out?  Perhaps by being more Positive?

The Israel Educational Travel Alliance held its first-ever Leaders’ Summit in Israel. Some 140 representatives from 100+ member organizations reviewed educational Israel travel programs post Oct 7. The pledged to bring over 53,000 participants to Israel in 2025 (up from 35,500 in 2024).