Israel Active

Israeli archaeologists have discovered three 3000-year-old buildings in Judea that include one which King David himself may have used. The palace, near Beit Shemesh, is known by local Bedouin Arabs as Khirbet Daoud, or David's ruin. The area will now be turned into a national park.

Israel’s President Peres sent a message of congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their son, and a personalized baby outfit embroidered with “From Israel with love.” He wished them a hearty Mazal Tov. “From Jerusalem, we pray for his health, his future, and his peace.”

The Moon came to its closest point of the year to Israel last week.

More proof of Jewish settlement in Israel’s capital 2000 years ago.

Israelis recycled over 200 million 1.5 liter plastic bottles in 2012 – a seven percent increase on the previous year. The 29 bottles-per-person average was easily exceeded by yours truly, who personally picked up at least one discarded bottle every day and deposited it into Netanya’s recycling bins.

Netanya is the only large town in Israel that preserved its original cliffs, instead of cutting them down to the sea level. As a result, Netanya’s homes are built at 40-50 feet above the sea level, endowing the city with a lovely, cooling breeze most days of the summer.

On her first visit to Israel recently, Dr. Qanta Ahmed saw the country ‘as God sees it.’ The Muslim physician, and daughter of Pakistani immigrants to the US, was smitten by the natural beauty, history and modern achievements that came into vivid focus on a helicopter tour of the Jewish State.

Israel’s new pilots included 21-year-old Lt B who made Aliya from New Jersey in 2009. "I knew from a young age that Israel was an amazing country, and that I was destined to fall in love with it," he said.

See these clips of some unusual Israeli buskers at the Mamila shopping mall in Jerusalem. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-KRMVdEYjc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D6dFViw2m8

It’s so lovely to have an almost positive article about Israel from the BBC. We may get a few more, now that most of their news reporters can’t risk working in any of the nearby war zones.