Israel Active

Afef Abed, a member of Israel’s Druze minority, officially took the Knesset seat vacated by Likud MK Yoav Gallant. He is the first Druze MK in the current government’s coalition. Meanwhile, the numbers of Golan Druze applying for Israeli citizenship has soared.

A 1,500-year-old Byzantine monastery is being unearthed near Kiryat Gat in southern Israel. It features a unique mosaic with a Greek inscription from Deuteronomy 28:6, Findings include a sophisticated winepress, coins, marble, metal and glass vessels, and a great quantity of imported ware.

A 10-year-old Israeli boy out on a school trip in Jerusalem unearthed a cross medallion between 100 and 200 years old. He found it in the city’s southwestern Ein Karem neighborhood, a venue venerated by Christians as the birthplace of John the Baptist. It was crafted using a micro-mosaic technique.

Some 40 pro-Israel student leaders from 30 North American universities arrived recently in the Jewish state as part of an initiative sponsored by Hasbara Fellowships with IsraelAmbassadors.com. They gained tools and inspiration, to educate, combat hate and safeguard students.

Former UK Chief of the Defence Staff, General (Retd.) Sir Nicholas Patrick Carter, said that Western armies learned a lot from Israel, especially in 1967 and 1973. It was very important that UK and Israeli militaries work together and train together.

Thousands of wild animals are accidentally killed on roads in Israel each year. The organization Safe Wildlife Crossings aims to restore wildlife populations by improving the connectivity for wildlife to traverse between habitats and reducing roadkill.

Israel’s Wix.com earned the 2024 Web Almanac report’s “Most Accessible Website Platform CMS” and “Best SEO Performer”. It noted Wix's strong performance in key accessibility metrics compared to industry peers. Accessibility features include tools, templates and presets.

A new study by Israeli researchers found that adults with Down Syndrome demonstrated higher cognitive performance compared to adolescents in many areas. It suggests the continued potential for learning and development into the mid-40s.

400+ North American young Jewish leaders participated in ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran’s third “Race for Inclusion,” a celebration of ability at every level. Gap-year and college students were joined at the Negev village finish line by ADI patients, and raised more than $23,000 for post-trauma treatments.

The Israeli government is to advance Hebrew language proficiency among Arabic speakers, with a budget allocation of NIS 744 million ($202 million). Its aims include to foster social integration, boost employment prospects, and reduce crime in Arab communities.