Abu Ghosh Music Festival
The bi-annual event in the Israeli Arab town near Jerusalem will cover the Jewish festival of Shavuoth (Pentecost) and involve 700 musicians. (Second link gives details of last year’s event.)
We are listening
Israel has introduced National Hearing Day to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by deaf people. Initiatives include a new programme to teach sign language in schools and free hearing tests.
Israel pays firms to employ Arabs
The Israeli government will pay 25% of the hi-tech salaries of Israeli-Arabs for 2.5 years as part of a NIS 5 billion, multi-year plan to integrate Arabs into the economy. 600 companies have agreed to participate in the incentives program by hiring qualified Arab workers.
Feeding the world
Ms. Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), visited Israel for the first time. MASHAV (Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation) is working with the WFP in South Sudan and alleviating the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.
The diversity of Israel
If you’ve ever heard Israel accused of being an apartheid state, then please read this description of Israelis who call Israel home. See the multifaceted society that comprises modern Israel.