Israel Active

The Center for World University Rankings, based in Saudi Arabia, has ranked The Hebrew University of Jerusalem at number 26 of the 25,000+ degree-granting institutions in the world. The annual rankings also place the Hebrew University at number 1 in the Middle East.

Dulan abu-Saleh, the mayor of Majdal Shams, the largest Druze town in the Golan, told Makor Rishon that the UN Economic and Social Council’s recent statement on the area was “a total joke.” UNESCO had accused Israel of imposing economic and social hardships on his community.

A new Palestinian Media Watch report reveals the truth that Palestinian Arabs rather work for Israelis than the Palestinian Authority. Israelis pay twice the wages; Israeli law protects employees (no exploitation or middlemen) and Israeli working conditions are much better.

Whilst the global media misreports water issues in the Palestinian territories, the UK is funding two joint Israeli-PA water research programs.  “Stream” finds solutions to water problems.  “Growth” brings Palestinian Arabs to Israeli labs to study water technology.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Reuben Rivlin and ex-President Shimon Peres laid the cornerstone for the Israeli Innovation Center.  Thousands of interactive screens, will showcase the Start-up Nation and host an entrepreneurial hub for Israelis of all ethnic and social groupings.

Eighteen Ethiopian young men and women have received Lapan scholarships to fulfill their dream of becoming nurses.  The Hadassah program helps new immigrants, provides jobs, and strengthens health care in Jerusalem.

TALMA, the Israel Program for Excellence in English, has brought some 100 teachers from English speaking countries to Israel to teach English as a Second Language to underprivileged elementary school pupils.

Israel has provided urgent assistance to Cameroon to help fight the spread of the bird-flu virus. The Israeli Embassy in Cameroon initiated and organized the arrival of emergency protective equipment.

In just one week, eight Syrians who were severely injured in artillery strikes on a hospital were evacuated by Israeli helicopters from Syria to Israel.  They included two children, aged 7 and 11.  Israel has treated 2,500 wounded Syrians over the past 3 years.

The India Israel Affordable Healthcare Hackathon 22-24 July brought 600 participants to Tel Aviv, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore. They developed innovative ideas and prototyped solutions to address the healthcare challenges of lower-middle income communities in India.  Israeli teams won prizes for addressing malnutrition and hearing impairment.