Israel Active

Orit served as a medic in the Israeli army and saved the life of a Palestinian Arab boy caught in machinery. Then she had to treat a notorious terrorist in prison. She gave him IV fluids and medication - everything he needed, since she was trained to treat those in need regardless of their moral standards, regardless of nationality.

Israel’s Channel 2 recently featured (with English subtitles) the life journey of Professor Ashraf Brik of Ben Gurion University’s department of Chemistry. Winner of the Teva Award for Excellence, Professor Brik was the first member of his family to pursue higher education.

(Thanks to Hazel) Kamel Abu Nadi, a Bedouin from Israel’s Negev desert, believes that the Israeli government's new plan of community and economic development in the Bedouin community - if implemented correctly - might bring about dramatic improvement in the quality of life of the Negev's Bedouin.

(Thanks to Joy Wolfe) Larry Rich, from Emek Hospital in Afula, Israel spoke to an audience of over 60 in the Scottish Parliament about Israel’s equal treatment of its patients and medical staff, whatever their religion. One supporter of boycotting Israel criticized the Jewish State and then had the gall to ask for Israel’s aid for someone with a serious medical condition. Larry agreed to help.

Israel’s Innovation:Africa was awarded the UN Innovation award for bringing solar energy using Israeli technologies to African villages, medical clinics, orphanages and schools. 66 projects in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda and Malawi have benefited 478,661 people.

The Israeli Ministry of Education announced the founding of a university in Nazareth to be called "Peace University" that aims to foster coexistence between Arabs and Jews. It will be an Israeli campus of Texas A&M University, and most of the funding for it comes from the US.

Yad Sarah’s mobile unit has been making a difference for senior citizens by showing them new devices and activities that can help them lead fuller, more comfortable lives.

Back in August I reported the speech of Jean Judes of Beit Issie Shapiro who advised the UN’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) about Community Based Rehabilitation. Here now is Jean’s report on the CRPD conference.

Mashav (Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation) is holding the 28th International Women Leaders’ Conference in Haifa in cooperation with the United Nations. The conference aims to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.

For the first time in the history of the Israeli Defense Force, an officer from Israel’s Druse community is to serve as the chief of the elite Golani Brigade. Colonel Ghassan Alian was previously deputy commander of the Golan Division.