Israel Active

Sgt René Elhozayel’s Arab Bedouin father met his Jewish wife in Switzerland. Renés grandfather had 39 wives and most of René’s 5,600 extended family members in the Israel-Arab city of Rahat served in the IDF. As a medic, René treats anyone from soldiers to illegal African migrants.

Thirty farmers from Gaza were given permits to enter Israel in order to attend an agricultural exhibition. Ramadan Abu Naja from Gaza said, “We came here to learn about Israeli agriculture. We will take some of the types of produce that we like back with us into Gaza.

Besides defending the Jewish State, Israel Air Force pilots perform a major service to Israel’s youth. Children with difficult home lives, spend quality time with IAF pilots as members of the "Squadron Club," where they learn tools for self-expression, coping mechanisms and leadership skills.

ESRA encourages talented underprivileged teenagers to fulfill their potential by providing them with a challenging program of enrichment and leadership training. The weekly program benefits 36 children. The video shows them studying Marine Science at the Mikhmoret center.

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC-Israel) has received an additional NIS 50 million to expand its Israel Unlimited project, which focuses on the development of services for the advancement and integration of people with disabilities in the community.

A delegation from Mongolia's Ministry of Environment and Green Development visited Israel in December to learn about water pollution management and prevention, and land rehabilitation. Population migration has caused heavy pollution levels in the capital Ulan-Bator.

Israeli David Barashi (“Dush the clown”) holds a degree in medical clowning from Haifa University. He is currently in Nepal working to help cheer up sick Nepalese children before they have surgery. David previously worked with orphans in Ethiopia and tsunami survivors in Asia.

So said Samir – a Muslim Arab who voluntarily enlisted in the IDF. Samir was born in Syria but now lives in Israel. He serves in the Tavor battalion, one of the Home Front Command's search and rescue battalions, whose men also perform combat activities in addition to their rescue efforts.

Here is a news item that may (but should not) surprise you. Members of an Ultra-orthodox IDF battalion saved the lives of three Palestinian Arabs who were trapped in a car near Nablus in a swollen stream growing violent due to the stormy weather. Plus, another rescue video.

Haaretz is surprised by evidence of the true wish of Arab residents of Israel’s capital. More applications for Israeli ID cards; more students taking the Israeli matriculation exams; more enrolling in Israeli academic institutions; and a rising number of youth volunteering for national service.