Israel Active

In mid-March, Israel will host over 30 international scientists at a 4-day meeting of the Technical Committee of the AEWA (Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds). The meeting is a vital stage in the implementation of this UN treaty.

The JNF is presenting the first ever California-Israel Water Summit in Beverly Hills on March 2nd. Political and policy leaders, utility officials, investment executives, labor, business, and environmental leaders will discuss the future security of California’s water supply.

A recent edition of the AJC Live radio show focused on Israel's humanitarian work around the globe being carried out by IsraAid, which is supported by AJC. AJC Live interviewed Shachar Zahavi, the Founder of IsraAid. Here is the link to the show:

In 2015, some 13,000 trucks laden with products from Turkey and Bulgaria passed through Israel on their way to Arab states - an increase of more than 25% on 2014. An additional shipping line is to be added next month between Turkey and Israel, which will add another 150 trucks a month.

Ahmad Al-Sarraf, of Kuwaiti daily Al-Qabas, wrote on Israel's advantages over the Arabs in democracy, military, science, technology, human rights, freedom of worship and economics. He called on the Arabs to look at the reasons for Israel's success and superiority, instead of viewing it as a political-religious foe.

Some 200 or so Israeli volunteers working for the nonprofit Il4Syrians have been secretly operating in Syria since the civil war began in 2011. They have delivered food, medical supplies, sanitation kits, baby powder, survival kits and even 3000 protective suits for doctors treating victims of chemical attacks.

The IssieBoard is an adaptive Hebrew iPad keyboard that makes typing easier for children and adults with learning disabilities, visual impairments, developmental and intellectual disabilities, and can even assist immigrants who wish to learn Hebrew. It was developed by a collaboration of SAP and the Israeli charity Beit Issie Shapiro.

Three Israeli groups, Ima Kadima, Women In Wireless and Digital Eve Israel, held their first joint event at Tmol Shilshom Cafe in Jerusalem. The room was crowded with women eager to network with others they had only ever communicated with on the Internet.

Derech Kfar (The Village Way) Educational Institute operates preparatory programs that helps Ethiopian Israelis to be assigned as IDF medics, social services NCOs, drill instructors and intelligence NCOs. In its first class of 14, three recruits became commissioned officers.

The first school for Arab high-tech entrepreneurs in Israel is set to open on Feb 23 in Kafr Qasim, an Arab city northeast of Tel Aviv. Sponsors of the project include Tsofen, an Arab-Jewish organization that aims to help integrate Arab Israelis in the high-tech industry.