Israel Active

The first annual Israel South Africa Water Week held successful sessions in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Over a dozen Israeli companies were joined by South African partners, NGO’s and high ranking members of national and provincial governments to focus on solutions for water scarcity in South Africa.

In 2012 Israel-founded companies contributed $6 billion in direct revenue and over 6,600 jobs in Massachusetts .  For 2015 the figures are $9.3 billion and nearly 9,000 jobs. Israeli companies directly generate nearly 4% of the State’s GDP.

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon invited a delegation from the Special in Uniform (SIU) initiative to the U.N. to share their stories about how people with disabilities can contribute to society and to a nation.

The Belgium city of Antwerp greeted Israeli President Reuven Rivlin with the Israeli national anthem played on the bells of the city cathedral.

My criticism of the BBC last week, for ignoring the Israeli source of life-saving melanoma treatment, was picked up by Israel National News .  But more importantly, it looks like the BBC has also taken notice.  This week, the BBC World Service featured a report on the largest solar tower being built in Israel’s Negev desert that I reported in Feb . (from 49mins).

Hundreds of Eritrean asylum-seekers marched in Tel Aviv in support of a UN probe into the African state's regime, considered one of the world's most repressive.  One typical demonstrator said, "for a march like this one we would already be dead in Eritrea."

The Ahava Village in Kiryat Bialik near Haifa, treats over 250 at-risk child residents in 15 family units.  Ahava receives funds from the many Jewish and Christian supporters of Bnai Zion Foundation, a century-old Jewish organization that funds Israeli humanitarian projects.

Dogs training to be guides for the blind visited the Knesset Tuesday, in honor of Israel’s sixth annual “Blind Day.”  The Israeli parliament voted to introduce fines for (a) refusing to admit a blind person with a guide dog or (b) not employing a blind person because he or she uses a guide dog.

The film “Mekonen: The Journey of an African Jew,” has just been released.  Mekonen Abebe is a young Ethiopian shepherd who overcame financial and familial hardships to realize his dream of becoming an officer in the IDF.

Danny Danon, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, was elected chair of the United Nations Legal Committee (the Sixth Committee). It is the first time that an Israeli will head a permanent committee.  One responsibility is the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.