Israel Active

Israel is to support USAID’s “Feed the Future” initiative in Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Rwanda. MASHAV, Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation will supply the agricultural expertise in agriculture production, research, irrigation and water technologies.

In 1970, only 10% of Arab women had jobs in Israel. Today it is around 20%. However, whilst the Jewish State has given opportunities to Arab women, cultural difficulties in their families prevent job numbers reaching the levels common in Jewish families. An interesting Bank of Israel study and highlights the further improvements (and expenditure) that the Israeli government is making.

Please read these articles in the Malaysian Insider - by Abdul Haleem Abdul Rahiman and Farish A. Noor. I cannot comment further, as my last praise for the Malaysian opposition party leader got him into trouble (Search on Google for “Michael Ordman Malaysia”)

Israel was chosen by top European police officials to host the annual International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) conference in May, marking a historical first for the country. The three-day conference will take place in Tel Aviv and will include 200 representatives from 50 countries.

Some 20 foreign diplomats to Israel joined KKL-JNF on Wednesday for a tour of several different Negev research sites. They were very keen to get hold of some of the drought-resistant seeds being developed by the organisation.

Over the last 12 months, China has changed its official approach to the Jewish State. The Arab “spring” caught the Chinese government off-guard politically. Also, the country wants to change industrially from “factory” to “innovator”. Israel has become important to solving both issues.

(Thanks to Rodger) Israel is seen as a market for several Filipino processed products as well as bananas, pineapple and mango. Conversely, Israel is looking to Filipino companies to contribute to its growing international investment in agriculture and other sectors.

A delegation from Singapore were guests of Kadima Mada – the Israeli branch of World ORT. They had a demonstration of E-Scape - an innovative learning environment being implemented in three Israeli high schools.

The Chabad movement arranged a mass barmitzvah celebration for boys who have lost one or more parents. After the ceremony at the Western Wall, the boys and their families enjoyed a festive party at the Jerusalem International Convention Centre attended by Israel’s Chief Rabbis and ten government ministers.

Haifa born Nissren Kader has won the reality TV song contest “Eyal Golan is Calling You,” a popular television show. She sang Arabic and Hebrew songs, including a song commemorating fallen IDF soldiers.