Israel Active

After having been subjected to torture in the Islamic Republic, Ali Ramezan fled his home country and settled in Cheetham Hill, Manchester, where he now supports the State of Israel and is attempting to file charges against the Iranian regime.

Between 1st June and 3rd June New York's landmark building, the Empire State Building, are to be lit in the colours of the Israeli flag in honour of Israel's 64th anniversary. And on 3rd June Manhattan's Fifth Avenue will see the largest ever Israel Parade of 35,000 marchers and 29 floats.

24-year-old Nadav Ben-Yehuda was 250 meters from the summit of Mount Everest when he spotted the body of Turkish climber Aydin Irmak in the snow. He picked Aydin up and carried him back to Camp IV and helicopter rescue. Despite 200km/hr winds, no Oxygen and no gloves, both climbers survived. Please read this amazing story of selflessness and courage.

Israel has set up a mechanism to funnel aid to the Palestinian Arabs in the event of an earthquake. Israeli military relief would be available on request from the PA. A tremor registering 5.5 on the Richter scale shook Israel and the territories last week.

Finland, with one of world's best education systems, has adopted the nursery program of 90-year-old Bar Ilan Professor Reuven Feuerstein. "The secret is that we do not teach content, rather we impart learning and cognitive thinking strategies," said the Professor.

11-year old Kathleen Eligado recently performed Miri Aloni’s classic “Ballad of Hedva and Shlomik,” in Hebrew, before a TV audience of a million Israelis. Born in Israel to Filipino migrants, she is one of the stars of the popular Israeli show “Music School,” a kind of “American Idol” for kids.

Israeli farmers breed barn owls to control rodent pests on farmland. The program has been extended to the Palestinian Authority and Jordan and the Society for Protection of Nature in Israel has just publicised the story of a breeding pair consisting of an Israeli owl and a Jordanian owl.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas entertained Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu and seven cabinet ministers in Prague. Mr Necas said, “We’ve got a full understanding of Israel’s situation as a small, democratic country in a very dangerous region with very dangerous neighbours”.

At the Motorola-Israel conference, former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice described the events of 9/11 that convinced the US that it significantly needed to ramp up security. The US government turned to Israel, and companies like Motorola, for help.

Annual bilateral trade totals $3.3 billion. Scientific and technological ties are strengthening, as is the cultural relationship. Japan also supports the Peace Corridor project, which entails the establishment of an agro-industrial park near the city of Jericho.