Israel Active

In 2003 non-profit organization Machshava Tova opened a tech room for low-income Ethiopian children in Jerusalem.  Today it has over 12 centers spanning the country, providing 30,000 children, teenagers, job seekers and special needs with computer literacy skills, irrespective of ethnicity.

Israel is due to open in October a new 40-mile rail line between Haifa and a terminal 5 miles short of the Jordanian border. Trade between Israel and Jordan increased 65% between 2010 and 2015 as trucks with European goods travel on to Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the Gulf.

Israel has delivered 13 drip irrigation systems from Israel’s Netafim to farmers in San Pedro, Paraguay.  It is part of the “Family Drip System” plan led by Paraguayan agronomist Edgar Figueredo, a graduate of Mashav - Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation.

Over 650 women attended the 7th annual Temech Conference for Israeli Female Entrepreneurs on Jun 28 in Jerusalem.  Parallel programs were offered in English and Hebrew.  Temech was started by Anglos but Hebrew speakers were in the majority this year.

The latest JNF newsletter contains many great features on JNF’s latest activities not only in the fields of water technology, but also in coexistence and diversity projects like support for Bedouin Arabs and “Baseball for All”.

Jerusalem’s municipality has given season tickets to all lone soldiers for the Kiryat Yovel sports center. Free pool, gym and studio classes like yoga and Pilates.

I featured the story about Hadassah doctors saving Palestinian Arab student Sara al Qassriwy (Katzroy) who collapsed whilst jogging.  Now her father has shown his gratitude by hosting a Hadassah interfaith mission to a festive meal in his Bethlehem home.

The Tanzanian government has said it has decided to open an embassy in Israel in a move aimed to promote economic diplomacy and “following the economic development Israel has made in agriculture, science and technology”.

During the visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said Israel is a critical partner in the battle against terrorism, the most serious challenge facing the world today.  President Kenyatta vowed to work to upgrade Israel's status in the African Union.

Yossi Gal, the Vice President for Advancement and External Relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has been named a Commander of France’s Legion of Honor.  Prior to joining the Hebrew University, he served as Israel’s Ambassador to France.