Israel Active

At last, Israel is to establish a Public Diplomacy Ministry, to be headed by Galit Distel Atbaryan. Maybe we will start to hear positive news from an official source.

Please read Robert Sarner’s ToI interview (also ) with George Deek – Israel’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan since 2019 (see previously). Ties include tourism, cultural, scientific, and Israeli help clearing around 1 million mines in the Karabakh region.

Three Israelis were included in TC Candler’s 2022 list of the World’s 100 most beautiful faces. They are (2021 ranking) Yael Shelbia 7th (6); Gal Gadot 12th (15); and Eden Fines 72nd (97). TC Candler’s list began in 1990 and also has a 100 Most Handsome Faces list (but no Israelis yet).

The non-profit Appleseeds helps 80,000+ Israelis each year develop essential digital literacy skills. It also sponsors Israel’s Net@ movement which gives technical training to disadvantaged Jewish, Christian, Druze, and Muslim youths. Meanwhile Israel’s 44 Ventures funds “forgotten” entrepreneurs.

Volunteers from Israeli emergency NGO United Hatzalah have distributed some 100 powerful electric generators to schools, orphanages, and medical clinics in Kyiv, Uman, Lviv, and Odesa. Hundreds more are to be supplied in the coming weeks. (Also, see previously).

Israel, the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, Morocco, and the US held the inaugural meeting of the Negev Forum in Abu Dhabi (see previously). Six working groups focused on food security and water technology; clean energy; tourism; health; education and coexistence; and regional security.

Middle East expert Jonathan Spyer has written an in-depth article explaining the key factors behind the improvement in Israel-India relations in recent years.

Sakir Ozkan Torunlar, Turkey’s new ambassador to Israel, presented his credentials to President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, filling a role that has been empty for more than four years. Torunlar previously served as Turkey’s consul general in Jerusalem.

Sheikh Khalid Qasmi of the United Arab Emirates is the first Arab royal known to have been treated in Israel. He said it was the best medical treatment he had received since his accident and was amazed by the quality of staff, the advanced capabilities, hospitality, and sympathy.

The Kasser Joint Institute is a partnership of Jewish National Fund-USA, the University of Arizona, and the Arava valley in Israel. It aims to solve global food, water and energy issues through research and student training programs, while highlighting Israeli innovation and supporting development in the Arava.