Israel Active

70 Jewish and Arab artists, musicians, performers and dancers are taking part in the annual Speaking Arts Conference, which aims to create co-operation, dialog and joint work between Jews and Arabs in the arts.

Despite Gaza terrorists firing several Qassam rockets at Israeli civilians, 35,657 tons of goods were shipped into Gaza via Israel on 1,285 trucks.

The Jewish State is to allow the terrorist state to export all its agricultural produce through Israel. In the coming year, Gazans are expected to export 1,000 tons of strawberries and 20 million carnations to European markets.

Chief of Staff Benny Gantz visited two Bedouin and Druze villages and expressed his appreciation for the dedicated service that Bedouins and Druze soldiers have given to the IDF. The enlistment rate in the Druze sector is higher than in the Jewish sector (83% versus 72%).

125 Israeli Arabs have been hired by high-tech companies through President Shimon Peres's MaanTech Program. The program was launched a year ago by Peres and Cisco Systems president and CEO John Chambers.

A Darfur teenager received a letter from home eight years after escaping to Israel. Last Wednesday, M. opened the envelope he had waited eight years to receive. Inside was a first sign of life from the parents he left behind in Sudan when he was only 9 years old.

As President Museveni met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, it emerged his trip took Foreign Affairs ministry officials in Kampala by surprise.

Five medical experts from Indonesia – the most populous Muslim country – are graduating from a course at Haifa’s Rambam Medical Center on coping with natural and man-made catastrophes. They are among a group of 27 physicians and nurses from 17 countries.

The 6th annual WaTec Exhibition and Conference drew thousands of people from all over the world who came to see Israel's “water miracle” first-hand – and perhaps to bring home some of that technology back to their countries where it is sorely needed.