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PERCENT OF ISRAELI JEWS VOLUNTEER (3/9) Volunteerism in Israel remains among the highest in the world, with more than 18 percent of adult Israeli Jews engaging in volunteer work. According to a survey released by the MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, TRADE AND LABOR, 650,000 Israelis take part in some regular volunteer work15.7% of Israels Jewish and Arab adults. According to the survey, 18% of Israels Jews engage in volunteer work, while half that proportional percentagejust 9.1%of the countrys Arabs do. Of Israel's volunteers, about half work with organizations such as Magen David Adom emergency medical services and the Yad Sarah medical equipment lending organization. The other half volunteer on a private basis or for smaller groups. Volunteers contributed an average of eleven hours a month. Among Jewish volunteers, the study demonstrated volunteerism increased with level of religious observance and was highest among the Hareidi-Religious sector. BUSINESS IS BLOOMING FOR
ISRAELI FLOWERS (2/24) "Flower export works nicely with the special characteristics of Israeli export and agriculture," says Zvi Alon, director general of the Ministry of Agriculture's Foreign Trade Center, himself from a farming family. "[Even] the small family farm model, a small area yielding a lot of produce; with superintensive farming and using technology, [about five acres] can be adequate." Israel's total agricultural yield, including agriculture-related technology and other nonedible products, is about 2 percent of the gross national product - or $3.5 billion - of which 30 percent are exports, mostly of fresh produce. Flowers, in particular, are heavily export-centric, with 90 percent of Israeli growers shipping their blooms out of the country. The picking, packing and distribution process is so streamlined that German and British direct-order clients receive flowers via temperature-controlled jet within two days of plucking. In the late 1970s, Israel was the first foreign country to enter the Netherlands' auctions and trade fairs; until then, only Dutch growers were allowed to participate. 2,000-YEAR-OLD
JUDEAN DATE SEED GROWING SUCCESSFULLY (1/31/06) The Judean date seed was found, together with a large number of other seeds, during archaeological excavations carried out close to Masada near the southern end of the Dead Sea. Masada was the last Jewish stronghold following the Roman destruction of the Holy Temple over 1,930 years ago. The age of the seeds was determined using carbon dating, but has a margin of error of 50 years-placing them either right before or right after the Masada revolt. The seeds sat in storage for thirty years until Elain Solowey of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies was asked to attempt to cultivate three of them. Solowey spoke with Israel National Radio's Yishai Fleisher and Alex Traiman about reviving the ancient date palm. As this year's Tu B'Shvat (the Jewish new year for trees, the 15th of the Jewish month of Shvat) approaches, the young tree that sprouted from one of the three seeds now has five leaves (one was removed for scientific testing) and is 14 inches tall [33.5 cm]. Solowey has named it Metushelah (Methuselah), after the 969-year-old grandfather of Noah, the oldest human being ever. ISRAELI
RESCUE TEAM Israel dispatched a similar team to Nairobi in 1998 after the terrorist bombing of the U.S. embassy. POPE WORRIED BY
GLOBAL UPSURGE IN ANTI-SEMITISM (1/17) Waves of anti-Semitic violence and vandalism have hit Europe in the past few years. Last week, worshippers in a Moscow synagogue were attacked by a man with a knife. According to THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Benedict did not mention specific occurrences of anti-Semitism in his speech welcoming Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni to an audience at the Vatican. The rabbi led a delegation from Rome's Jewish community, one of the oldest in the world. Benedict said Jews and Christians have the responsibility to cooperate to promote justice, love and freedom. "In the light of this common mission, we cannot not denounce and combat with decisiveness the hate and incomprehension, the injustices and the violence that continue to sow worry in the soul of men and women of good will," Benedict said. "In this context, how can one not be pained and worried about the fresh outbreaks of anti-Semitism that are occurring?" the pope said. Di Segni said Benedict was welcome to pay a call on Rome's main synagogue, noting the approaching 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's groundbreaking visit there. The visit by the late, Polish-born pope to the synagogue helped repair centuries of poor Vatican-Jewish relations and underlined his determination to use his papacy to improve ties. Benedict became the second pope in history to visit a Jewish house of worship when he went to the synagogue in Cologne, Germany, last summer during his first trip abroad since being elected pontiff in April. ISRAELI
JEWISH POPULATION MATCHS U.S. (1/17/06) SUICIDE
BOMB FILM WINS PRESTIGIOUS GOLDEN GLOBE (1/17) POLICE REPORT 5% DECREASE IN
CRIME (1/16/06) In an interview with Army Radio on Monday, Inspector-General Moshe Karadi said that dealing with violent crime is at the top of law enforcement priorities. "Organized crime activities are becoming more and more similar to those of terrorist organizations Their activity is ramping up, which undoubtedly shakes the public's feeling of security. Organized crime must be dealt with in the same way as terror." Other data released today by the police shows that violence among youth has further increased in the past year. In 2005, the number of youth caught in possession of knives went up 60%. "We have declared war on the stabbing phenomenon," Karadi said. "But the treatment of (violent) youth has to be multi-institutional. (This) includes the police as well as the home and the educational system." The Department of Traffic reported a 14% decrease in car accidents on Israeli roads. Likewise, there was a 10% decrease in the number of fatal accidents. 397 people were killed in car accidents in 2005 as opposed to 471 in 2004. Inspector-General Karadi added that in 2006, the police plan to fight governmental corruption and the penetration of organized crime into government offices. ISRAELIS
CONQUER BRAZILS COFFEE INDUSTRY (1/3/06) In the framework of the agreement, Strauss Elite's subsidiary, Tres Coracoes, will merge with Santa Clara, one of the largest coffee companies in Brazil, owned by the Lima brothers. The Israeli company and the Limas will equally own the new merger. Strauss Elite will funnel US$60 million to the new firm, and will jointly manage it with its partners. The merged company will manufacture roasted ground coffee, cappuccino, instant coffee and chocolate drinks powder, and handle the processing and storing of green coffee, an activity estimated at US$60 million annually. "This deal represents a breakthrough in Strauss Elite's way to become a leading factor in the ground coffee market, as well as in emerging markets," Ofra Strauss, the company's chairman said January 1. US
LEADERS CALL FOR AN END TOURISTS ARE
BACK; HOTEL OCCUPANCY UP (11/14) UN
GENERAL ASSEMBLY DESIGNATES Co-sponsored by some 90 other states, the resolution rejects Holocaust denial and encourages countries to develop educational programs about the horrors of genocide. It also condemns religious intolerance, incitement, harassment, or violence based on ethnic origin or religious belief. Assembly President Jan Eliasson said the memory of the Holocaust must be "a unifying historic warning around which we must rally; not only to recall the grievous crimes committed in human history, but also to reaffirm our unfaltering resolve to prevent the recurrence of such crimes." Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman said the Holocaust "brought us face to face with the full extent of man's capacity for inhumanity to his fellow man," and that it served as a "critical impetus" for the development of human rights, the drafting of landmark international conventions on genocide, and the founding of the UN itself. ISRAELI AND GREEK
NAVIES CONDUCT JOINT RESCUE EXERCISE (11/1) The exercise aims to strengthen the cooperation between the two countries and practice the immediate dispatch of forces in any crisis, disaster, or need for humanitarian aid and rescue. It is part of the IDF's policy of offering aid regardless of limits and borders. The exercise will be held over the course of several days and will take place in the Mediterranean Sea and in Greece. PM
SHARON AND BILL GATES ANNOUNCE "Israel is a superpower in the technology and computer fields and I believe that this stems from both Jewish tradition and the Jewish history of a small people whose only resource for many generations was human capital and brainpower. The absence of other physical resources both as the Jewish People was in the Diaspora and during its return to its homeland has caused the accelerated development of human capital as an alternative." The two men jointly announced a new national plan to reduce the digital gap in Israel, under the aegis of Prime Minister Sharon. The plan is the initiative of Microsoft and will be jointly undertaken by public sector companies and the private sector. The Prime Minister said: "Today, we are investing in an important project, the goal of which is to reach those children who have no access to computers and to give them the opportunity to become integrated into our modern life. We believe that the gap is opened at a young age and, therefore, we have chosen to deal with children. Our goal is to reach 250,000 underprivileged children - mainly on the periphery - by 2010, to utilize existing computer classrooms and give them full instruction that will prepare those children for the work market." Prime Ministers Office Director-General Ilan Cohen and Microsoft Israel Managing Director Danny Yamin will oversee the project. BUSINESS BEHIND BARS (8/10) "One of the big marketing firms has ordered 10,000 units," Dahan told MAARIV. "There is also interest abroad, and the bulk of the product is intended to be sold in the United States and Europe." The Prison Service plans to mass produce the pads and give all prisoners involved in the enterprise a share of the profits, Maariv reported. ANTIBIOTICS
AND FIRST AID The Deputy Director General for Asia and the Pacific at the Foreign Ministry, Mr. Amos
Nadai, commented on the response of Israeli companies: The total aid package, estimated at NIS220 thousand, includes tablets against nausea and vomiting, pain medication for children and adults, first aid kits, penicillin, and antibiotics. The aid is in answer to the appeal by the Maharashtra Government, following the floods that struck the region, claiming more than a thousand lives and leaving thousands more homeless. All of the medicines and equipment were flown by El-Al on August 8, directly to Bombay, capital of Maharashtra, and arrived at their destination that evening. ISRAEL
ELECTED DEPUTY The UNDC is a subsidiary body of the General Assembly and serves to recommend to it ways to solve problems on the global agenda of disarmament. The decisions taken by the UNDC form the basis for future international action in disarmament. Formed in 1978, the UNDC's mandate is to deal with both conventional and nuclear disarmament. Israel's election represents an impressive achievement at the UN and an expression of its effort to become substantively integrated in various UN activities. In addition, Israel's election to the sensitive task of nuclear disarmament is an expression of its professional capacity to contribute to a field that is itself problematic for Israel. NBA STARS TO PROMOTE
PEACE (7/12) Consul General of Israel in New York Aryeh Mekel met with NBA Commissioner David Stern who gave the initiative the green light. In a bid to promote the project, a meeting was held last week between a senior NBA vice president and Fran Oppenheim, a representative for The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations that is sponsoring the trip. Consul for Media and Public Affairs at the Israeli Consulate in New York Ido Aharoni said the possibility of incorporating the visit with the Peres Center for Peace's sports project was also being weighed. ARAB ISRAELI WINS MACCABIAH GOLD (7/11) The Maccabiah, often called the "Jewish Olympics," are open to Jewish athletes from around the world, and to all Israeli citizens - regardless of their religion. Asala Shahada's gold medal is another accomplishment in a chain of Arab sporting successes in Israel. The Arab Israeli town of Sakhnin has known many sporting celebrations, but up until now all of them were connected with soccer. ISRAELS
JEWISH Today about 5.28 million Jews live in the United States, while 5.235 million live in Israel. Israel is the only country in the world expected to see significant growth in the size of its Jewish population, while all other communities in the world are expected to shrink or remain stable. The Jerusalem-based institute predicts that there will be 6.25 million Jews in Israel in 2020, compared to 5.25 million today. In North America the number of Jews is expected to remain stable, at about 5.5 million. The number of Jews in Europe is expected to drop from 1.25 million to 1 million. WORLD ATHLETES
ARRIVE IN ISRAEL FOR MACCADIAH GAMES (7/5) The Maccabiah Games have been a quadrennial event since 1957, and the games are now ranked among the five largest sports gatherings in the world. One of this year's top draws will be Olympic backstroke champion Lenny Krayzelburg. The triple-gold medallist from the 2000 Sydney Olympics has been named the honorary captain of the American team. The American delegation arrived in Israel just before July 4, and Lindsey Durlacher, 29, who won the U.S. national championship in Greco-Roman wrestling two weeks ago, had the honor to carry the flag off of the plane. Leading the Israeli delegation will be Olympian pole vaulter Alex Averbukh and judoka Arik Ze'evi. PROFESSIONAL
TENNIS TO RETURN TO ISRAEL (7/5) ANGLICAN
COUNCIL BACKS CAMPAIGN TO DIVEST FROM ISRAEL (6/27) ISRAELI
OFFICIALS SAY ISRAEL TO PARTICIPATE
IN NATO SUBMARINE DRILL (6/20) "The NATO exercise Sorbet Royal 2005 is the largest and most challenging live submarine escape and rescue exercise ever conducted," according to NATO reports. "It will test international submarine escape and rescue personnel, equipment and procedures to cope with the most extreme submarine rescue missions and will involve ships, aircraft and submarines from 10 nations." The Israeli contingent observing the drill, which is leaving for Italy this morning, will be headed by Brigadier General Noam Feig, head of naval operations, and submarine commander Colonel Yoni Vart. The Israeli team participating in the drill is headed by Lieutenant Colonel Oded Gur-Lavi. ISRAELI
PILOT SAVED Mayor Bloomberg later told reporters that Ben-Bassat was to be commended. "The pilot encountered a malfunction in the aircraft, and helped save the passengers," he said. "When the tourists return to their countries they'll have stories to tell." ISRAELS
UN AMBASSADOR GILLERMAN Gillerman was the candidate of the Western nations, a bloc containing some 30 states, including members of the European Union, Canada, Australia and the United States. "This is an important and historical moment for the State of Israel, both in essence and in timing," said Gillerman of his election Monday. The vice president is responsible for running General Assembly discussions in the president's absence, and he is a member of the committee that decides on the assembly's daily agenda. SYRIAN
ATHLETES REJECT CERTIFICATES CARRYING ISRAELI FLAG (6/14) In a statement to the press Tuesday, the head of the Syrian team said "the team refused those certificates since they carry the Israeli flag." The Syrian team was later given new certificates that carried only the Syrian and the Turkish flags. ISRAELI EXPORTS
TO IRAQ TO REACH ALMOST $1 MILLION (6/2) However, exports to most Arab countries are still much lower in comparison with pre-Palestinian violence levels. In 1998, Israel exported $108 million worth of clothes, chemicals and plastic materials, mechanical equipment, food and agricultural products to Arab countries from the United Arab Emirates to as far as Morocco. About a quarter of those exports - $26 million - went to Jordan. In the first quarter of 2005, Israel trucked $29 million of goods to Jordan. That amount accounts for a large portion of the total $42 million worth of goods bound for Arab countries in that period. ISRAEL JOINS NATO
PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY (5/31) The NATO Parliamentary Assembly is the inter-parliamentary organization of legislators from 14 member countries of the North Atlantic Alliance, and is a forum for international parliamentary dialogue. ISRAEL NAMES
GALILEE PARK AFTER POPE JOHN PAUL II (5/24) LIFE
EXPECTANCY IN ISRAEL AMONG HIGHEST IN WORLD (5/16) The life expectancy rate of Israeli men is among the highest of all developed countries and stands just one year behind Japans, which holds the highest life expectancy rate in the world. However, the life expectancy rate for Israeli women remains four years lower than Japans and places Israel 18th in the world in that category. Also, the life expectancy rate among Jews is higher than that of the Arab population: Jewish males live an average of three years longer than Arab males, while Jewish women live four years longer than Arab women, on average. On the local front, statistics show that Bat Yam, Givatayim, Ramaat Gan and Haifa hold the highest percentage of elderly people in the country; all in all, some 670,000 elderly people lived in Israel in 2003, representing 9.9 percent of the population. Statistics show that 77 percent of the countrys elders have expressed general satisfaction with their lives. Elderly folks visit the doctor about 15 times a year on average, compared with only seven visits made by the general population, the data shows. ON
INDEPENDENCE DAY EVE, ISRAELS POPULATION IS 6.9 MILLION (5/10) Israel's population today is 8.5 times larger than it was at the time of the state's establishment when it included 806,000 people. Since last year, 149,000 babies were born in the country and about 26,000 new immigrants have arrived. About 9,500 newcomers came from Russia and former Soviet states, while 4,400 arrived from Ethiopia. MAACABI TEL
AVIV WINS PM
SHARON AT AUSCHWITZ: Addressing some 20 survivors and their grandchildren he brought with him - many of them in IDF uniforms - Sharon said: "Do not let them forget - remember the silence of the world." Joined on the podium by the Polish and Hungarian leaders, Sharon said: "I am certain that all my colleagues - world leaders - remember how the world stood by in silence. Remember the victims and remember the murderers. Remember how millions of Jews were led to their deaths and the world remained silent." Sharon arrived at Birkenau in the afternoon under heavy security, visited one of the barracks, and took part in the ceremony marking the end of the 18th annual March of the Living. "I arrived here today from Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Israel, the only place in the world where Jews have the right and capability to defend themselves by themselves," he said. SHARON
LEADS MARCH OF THE LIVING AT AUSCHWITZ (5/6) ANTISEMITISM HITS
15-YEAR HIGH (5/4) Physical attacks on Jews occurred mainly on streets and in educational institutions. About 180 people, including children and teenagers, reported such assaults, saying they were mainly attacked by Muslims. Antisemitic desecration and vandalism also rose, mainly of statues and monuments, cemeteries and private property. The report was conducted by Tel Aviv's Stephen Roth Institute for the Study of Contemporary Anti-Semitism and Racism, the World Jewish Congress and the Anti-Defamation League. ISRAELI
SHORT FILM WINS PRIZE AT TRIBECA (5/3) Several Israeli films have won prizes at Tribeca, such as the documentary Arna's Children in 2004 and the feature Yossi & Jagger in 2003. The Tribeca Film Festival, which ended last Sunday, was founded in 2002 by actor Robert De Niro to help downtown Manhattan recover from the 9/11 attacks. POPE
BENEDICT XVI PROMISES "This was a pleasant surprise because of the speed with which the new Pope wanted to send such an important message of continuity," Rome's Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni said today. "I think this will send a very powerful signal to Catholics around the world." JEWISH
LEADERS SAY ISRAEL
HOPES NEW POPE WILL FIGHT ANTISEMITISM (4/20) Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom welcomed the election of Ratzinger as the new leader of the world's Roman Catholics. A Foreign Ministry statement read: "The foreign minister expresses his hope that this pope, considering his historical experience, will be especially committed to an uncompromising fight against antisemitism." Ratzinger, born in Bavaria, Germany, on April 16th, 1927, was a boy when Nazi leader Adolf Hitler came to power. His predecessor, Pope John Paul II, was widely hailed in Israel for his millennium pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Vatican and Israel in 1994. Tel Aviv's chief rabbi, Israel Lau, a Holocaust survivor, met Ratzinger last year at a symposium on antisemitism held in New York, where the cardinal was the first to deliver a speech condemning the hatred of Jews. "He is known as a friend to the Jewish people," Lau said. "I hope, pray and wish him to follow the footsteps of John Paul II in his good approach and friendship to the Jewish people in the world and to state of Israel especially." ISRAELI
HOLOCAUST PM SHARON: JOHN
PAUL II WAS A FRIEND OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE (4/4) President Moshe Katsav offered a similar tribute, saying: "The pope bravely put an end to historic injustice by officially rejecting prejudices and accusations against Jews." Over the course of his papacy, John Paul II revolutionized the Vatican's relationship with both Israel and the Jewish people. Learn more about Pope John Paul II and Israel at http://www.israelfm.org/publicaffairs/FYI_2005/pope_israel.htm ISRAELI ART TAKES
OFF IN NEW YORK (3/19) This is the second year Sotheby's has included Israeli artwork in its international art auction. Meanwhile, Israeli art is slowly breaking new grounds in New York, with several pieces currently being presented in a contemporary exhibit at the Chelsea Art Museum and the Armory Show near the Hudson River. PRESIDENT
KATSAV CUTS RIBBON AT NEW HOLOCAUST MUSEUM (3/15) New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, representing the United States, told reporters, "Freedom is something we constantly have to fight for and if we ever compromise our standards, we see just how far it goes." To give a human dimension to Holocaust statistics, some 90 personal stories are woven into the museum's displays, which also feature some 280 works of art. FM SHALOM
INAUGURATES BEN-GURION PARK IN MEXICO (3/14) "Under the leadership of David Ben-Gurion, and following his example, Israel has converted itself into a pioneer in the development of abilities and technologies necessary to convert the desert into gardens and sterile land into a source of wealth," said Shalom. "Having chosen his name for this park reflects the profound ties of friendship between Mexico and Israel." ISRAELIS
AND AMERICANS PUT IN LONGEST WORK HOURS (2/28) In comparison, Germans spend 20 percent less time than Israelis at their work place; the French 16 percent less; Norwegians, some 30 percent less. However, the TAU researchers also showed that productivity in Israel is far lower than that in other countries surveyed. Productivity - measured as output per hour of labor - in Germany is 26 percent higher than in Israel. In the United States, it is 20 percent higher. SIGNATURE AUTHENTICATION MADE
EASY (2/27) As ISRAEL 21c has pointed out, banks are primary users of this system. With it, an entire banking chain, rather than one branch, has access to a customer's legitimate signature. The customer signs on a signature tablet and the bank's central computer will verify that signature immediately. Government agencies, military industries, and communications companies also find the signature verification system of considerable value. DELIVERANCE FROM DRY MOUTH ON
THE WAY (2/27) According to ISRAEL21c, now a treatment has been developed that stimulates the salivary glands. A device called the GenNarino has been developed at Israel's Assuta Medical Centers in Tel Aviv as part of a project known as Saliwell. The device, which can be set comfortably into the mouth, applies gentle electronic stimulation to the nerves that lead to the salivary glands. Trials in three hospitals show that it indeed does work and that users are well satisfied with results. In fact, the nerve stimulation sometimes also reduces dry eyes, which accompany dry mouth in certain syndromes. BEST
INTERNET INVENTION IN YEARS (2/27) YAD
VASHEM HONORS Palatucci served as a commissioner for foreigners in the northern Italian town of Fiume - now part of Croatia - and worked to prevent implementation of Mussolini's racial laws. He foiled German plans to deport Jews in 1939 by issuing them permits to remain in Italy, and providing them with food, shelter and money. Giovanni Palatucci was arrested by the Gestapo and sent to Dachau where he died a month before his 36th birthday. GERMAN
PRESIDENT KOEHLER Koehler, speaking in Hebrew, said he was "grateful" and "deeply moved" to have been invited to address the Knesset in Jerusalem. He then continued his speech in German, detailing the ties between the countries. "Germany will always stand by Israel and its people," he said in a gentle voice that shook when he spoke about the victims of the Holocaust. He said Germany would ensure that Israel can "live within internationally recognized borders, free of fear and terror." Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin said the occasion was "not easy" for many members of Knesset. He termed the relations between the countries as "complicated, warm, and close." The German president noted that there could never be "normality" in ties between the two countries. The visit by Koehler comes only a week after the 60th anniversary commemoration of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, where Kohler took part in the ceremonies. CHANOCH
NISSANI The Israeli has had four tests with F1 teams - two with Jordan and two with Minardi - before landing the Minardi post. "This is a genuinely historic moment and we are immensely proud to be signing the first ever Israeli test driver in Formula One and we look forward to enhancing it as a sport in Israel," Minardi's Australian owner Paul Stoddart said. Nissani said he realized his signing was only the first small foray for Israel into F1. "From the Israeli viewpoint I hope this will be a breakthrough for the young generation who I'm sure will go much further than me in the sport," he said. ISRAEL EMBARKS ON
LONG TERM TSUNAMI AID CAMPAIGN (1/31) "We are obligated to fulfill this humanitarian mission and in doing so, demonstrate that we are indeed a light unto the nations," Katsav said. "We, the children of the Jewish people who have witnessed so many hardships in our own history, do not have the right to deny assistance when we see the recurring scenes of tragedy that are the outcome of the tsunami disaster," Katsav stressed. He expressed pride in the fact that so many Israeli institutions, organizations and individuals had instantly undertaken to help on the first day of the calamity, which has claimed close to 300,000 lives. "The government and people of Sri Lanka are grateful to the government and people of Israel for their spontaneous and generous assistance," declared Sri Lankan Ambassador Tissa Wijeratne at the ceremony. Acting Indian Ambassador Satish Mehta noted the "unprecedented international solidarity" in providing much-needed relief. This was a "manifestation of the international community's shared pain and responsibility," he said, adding that the work of Israeli volunteer organizations needed to be applauded. Thai Ambassador Kasivat Paruggamanont commented that in good times Thailand was a favorite destination for Israelis, "and in the darkest days," he said, "you stood beside [us] offering a helping hand." PRESIDENT
KATSAV DELIVERS AUSCHWITZ ADDRESS (1/27) Katsav stressed that, "At this place, the Nazis carried out their non-stop industry of genocide. The industry of killing the Jewish people in Europe. And then the Jewish people rose from the ashes and returned home [in Israel]." "We are a proud and determined people, looking forward in hope and faith. Our strong ties with nations whose leaders stand here today, provide some sort of comfort and security," Katsav concluded. WIESEL ADDRESSES UN SPECIAL
SESSION (1/25) Wiesel's speech was one of the highlights of the special session that was initiated by Israel, promoted by the United States and energetically undertaken by Secretary General Kofi Annan as an important event meant to remember "the Jews and others" who were murdered at Auschwitz and throughout Europe during the Nazi reign of terror. While UN protocol prohibits any prayer from being recited in the plenum, Annan decided that the unique nature of the event and its special character made it possible to break the rules and allow the chanting of El Maleh Rahamim, a traditional Jewish memorial prayer. UN
MARKS 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF AUSCHWITZ LIBERATION (1/24) The special all-day session was to be attended by the representatives of 30 senior UN members and leading intellectuals. Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom represented Israel, while U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was there on behalf of the United States. Among the speakers were U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos and Nobel Peace Prize winner Eli Wiesel, both Holocaust survivors. The climax of the session was a cantor chanting the Hebrew mourning prayer "El Malei Rachamim" - the first time a Jewish prayer was uttered in the General Assembly. The cantor also sang Israel's national anthem, "Hatikvah." In an extraordinary step, Annan called a special press conference together with General Assembly President Jean Ping from Gabon and Israel's UN ambassador, Dan Gillerman. The press conference was viewed as a special effort on Annan's part to stress the importance of the General Assembly session and the reason for holding it, "since the United Nations was founded as the world was learning the full horror of the camps." On Monday evening a special two-part exhibit entitled "Auschwitz - the Depth of the Abyss," sponsored by the Foreign Ministry and curated by Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Authority in Jerusalem, opened in the visitors' lobby of the UN headquarters. The first part of the exhibit, presents photos from the Auschwitz Album taken by SS personnel and representing the only surviving visual evidence of the process of the mass murders at the death camp. The other part of the exhibit is a series drawings by Ukrainian artist Zinovii Tolkatchev, who painted scenes from the Majdanek extermination camp in the fall of 1944 as the official artist of the Russian Army. ANTISEMITISM
INCREASED IN 2004 (1/24) ONLINE
COURSE TEACHES The curriculum offers a comprehensive overview of the current conflict in Israel, background information to understand Palestinian propaganda and media bias, and the means to explain Israel's policy. The initiative, which aims to train Israel's supporters to become effective advocates on behalf of the country, is geared towards students of all ages. Those who successfully complete the course will receive a joint certificate from the Education Department of the Jewish Agency and the Israeli Foreign Ministry. For more information, visit www.jacontact.org/courses/is-am/index.phtml TOURISM UP SIGNIFICANTLY (1/19) ISRAELI
AID ARRIVES IN SRI LANKS AND INDONESIA (1/12) The plane landed in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Monday, January 10, where equipment for emergency food kitchens donated by the National Council for Voluntarism, Koah Latet, and the United Kibbutz Movement. The kitchens will provide hot meals for some 5,000 people a day. In addition, these organizations and Magen David Adom contributed medical equipment to set up a clinic. From Colombo the plane continued to Indonesia, where 75 tons of equipment for the victims of the tsunami disaster were unloaded. The cargo included 16 tons of baby food donated by Remedia and Materna, 30 tons of rice, flour, water, sugar and grains donated by the National Council for Voluntarism, Koah Latet, as well as the Sugat and Osem Israeli food manufacturers, five tons of plastic sheeting donated by Hovav Plastica and Haogenplast, and 20 tons of medicines produced by Teva Pharmaceuticals, donated through the Latet organization. In addition, Israeli manufacturer Netafim donated a water purification system valued at $20,000. An additional system was funded through donations from the Ted Arison Family Foundation and the Shira Hadasha congregation in Jerusalem. WESTERN WALL IS
MOST VISITED TOURIST SITE IN ISRAEL (1/12) The poll also reveals that 75 percent of tourists visited Israel independently, while 13 percent came on organized tours. Eighty percent of tourists said their trip to Israel was very good, or excellent. On a scale of 1 to 5, the average score for overall satisfaction from a trip to Israel stood at 4.2. Ninety-five percent of tourists said they would encourage their friends to visit Israel, and 73 percent said they had no security concerns during their visit there. IsraAID SETS UP RELIEF
CAMP IN SRI LANKA (1/11) The group's plan involves three main components: a field kitchen manned by local cooks, a field infirmary, and an area for orphaned and lost children to receive the care and attention they need. Lousky said the group's concept was unique in that no other organization in Sri Lanka was involved in covering every single aspect of the relief effort. IsraAID is collecting donations, sending people, and cooking food all by itself. She said that the efforts would focus mainly on the children's welfare, and getting 5,000 people fed per day. The funding for the campaign is being provided by Israelis, and European and American Jewish communities. TOURISTS RANK ISRAEL 4.2 OUT 0F 5 (1/9) Tourism Minister Gideon Ezra says the survey proves that Israel is an attractive destination for travelers and that tourism is the fastest growing sector of the economy. Interestingly, 80 per cent of visitors from Britain described their visit as "excellent" or "very good" according to a new survey conducted by the firm Geocartographia during the first half of 2004. This followed a recent survey by the UK Daily Telegraph that showed Britons have a largely negative opinion of Israel. Statistics were compiled from a sample of 1769 British visitors. Thirty-six per cent of British respondents stated their visit was "excellent", 44 per cent said it was "very good", 17 per cent described their experience as "good" and three per cent called it "reasonable" or "poor". In 2004, 140,000 tourists arrived from the United Kingdom, a 44 per cent rise over 2003. In total, 14,000 tourists from around the world participated in the survey. Eight per cent of all tourists also described their visit to Israel as either "excellent" or "very good" and on average, assigned their satisfaction a value of 4.2 out of 5. The survey reveals that 73 per cent of all tourists were not concerned about traveling to Israel and 95 per cent of them would encourage their friends to also visit the country. ISRAELIS SEND TONS OF
FOOD TO DISASTER ZONE (1/5) The mobilization, which began on Monday [January 3], was organized by Magen David Adom (MDA) with backing by MDA's American support organization ARMDI (American Red Magen David for Israel). At the end of the first day, MDA reported that the Israeli public in both Jewish and Arab sectors donated 2.5 tons of flour, 4 tons of rice, 920 liters [about 972 quarts] of oil, 2.5 tons of sugar, 1.5 tons of plain pasta, 39,000 liters [about 41, 211 quarts] of mineral water, 900 kilograms [about 1,984 pounds] of dried beans, and 700 kilograms [about 1,543 pounds] of jams and conserves. "We had initially chosen just two days for the food drive, but the response has been so incredible that we've decided to extend it for another two days and ship the goods on Friday [January 7] from Ashdod port", said Israeli Magen David Adom's international director, Yoni Yagodovsky. Working closely with the International Red Cross and the Red Crescent, more than 4,000 MDA workers and volunteers stood outside the supermarkets and shopping malls collecting the food. "MDA is known to every Israeli for being there to save lives during times of emergency," said an ARMDI representative in New York City. "The impulse to provide some relief to the victims of this horrible tragedy gripped the Israeli public, and MDA was able to translate those feelings into instant tangible assistance." 1,200
PARTICIPATE IN STUDIES FAIR AT TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY (1/3) Aaron Goldberg, the associate director of the Hillel Jewish campus organization's Israel department, said many American universities made it hard for Jewish students who wanted to study here. He said universities were concerned about providing insurance coverage for students living in Israel, but that pressure from Jewish student groups had helped several universities revise such policies. PROPOSED
ISRAELI LAW ISRAEL SENDS AID TO
THAILAND, SRI LANKA (12/28) Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom said an immediate decision to send $100,000 worth of food and medical supplies had been made. Israel will ship10 tons of relief aid to Sri Lanka. The Health Ministry dispatched an Israeli medical mission to Thailand on Monday. Headed by associate director-general Boaz Lev, it includes five physicians and four nurses from Ichilov, Ha'emek, Beilinson and Kaplan hospitals. Israel dispatched a 15-person medical team, including nine army doctors, to Phuket, Thailand, Monday night to assist rescue operations. HUNDREDS
OF ISRAELIS MISSING Foreign Ministry officials and doctors flew to Southeast Asia today to search for missing Israeli tourists and provide assistance to countries struck by the massive earthquake and tidal waves. Israeli army doctors are to offer medical assistance in Thailand and Sri Lanka, and army teams will look for missing Israelis in southern India. Foreign Ministry Director-General Ron Prosor said that Israel would dispatch $100,000 worth of medicine and food to Thailand and India. In addition, a Foreign Ministry delegation including three top doctors from the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem and an officer from the Home Front Command departed for the area to provide emergency assistance. Minister of Foreign Affairs Shalom said Israel would assist its citizens in every way possible and also offered Israel's assistance to the nations struck by the natural disaster. ISRAELIS
TO RECEIVE NOBEL PRIZE TONIGHT IN STOCKHOLM (12/10) Ciechanover, 57, Hershko, 67 - the first Israelis to win the prestigious chemistry prize - along with Irwin Rose, 78, were honored by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for their work in the 1980s that discovered one of the cell's most important cyclical processes, regulated protein degradation. The three scientists will share the prize of $1.25 million. Ciechanover, Hershko and Rose found that proteins that could cause disease are "labeled" for destruction with a molecule called ubiquitin that dispatches them to the body's "waste disposal" units, called proteasomes. The marked proteins are then chopped to pieces. When such degradation fails to work correctly, the result can be diseases like cervical cancer and cystic fibrosis. Lars Thelander of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry said the trio's work was highly relevant for cancer research. Ciechanover said it had already "led to development of numerous drugs for degenerative diseases and malignancies that big pharmaceutical companies are busy working on." ISRAEL MAY BE PART OF WIDER
EUROPE (12/10) Israel has been negotiating its terms of entrance for months, with the talks stuck for weeks on one section dealing with weapons of mass destruction. A Foreign Minister spokesman said that Israel would have to decide on whether to accept the plan before Minister of Foreign Silvan Shalom attends the Israel-EU Association Council meeting next Monday where the plan will be brought for approval. UN RECOGNIZES ANTI-SEMITISM (11/23) NATO INVITES ISRAEL FOR
JOINT EXERCISES (11/17) Meanwhile, while on an official visit to Poland, Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz invited today Poland's Minister of Interior Ryszard Klisz to send a delegation to Israel to study the steps and technologies used by the Israel Defense Forces to secure Israel's borders, including the security fence separating the West Bank from Israel. Mofaz's offer came during a meeting with Klisz who stressed the importance of securing his country's eastern border and setting up border control checkpoints and 30 control centers, which he described as necessary steps Poland must take in light of its recent acceptance as a member of the European Union. Earlier today, Mofaz signed a memorandum with Jerzy Hausner the Polish Minister of Finance, to enhance industrial ties between the two countries. At an official ceremony in Warsaw on Tuesday, Mofaz handed over to his Polish counterpart the first of 2765 Israeli-made Spike LR antitank rockets Poland has purchased for its army over a 10-year period. ISRAEL HAS HIGHEST BIRTH
RATE IN WEST (11/17) Women represent 50.7 percent of Israel's population, meaning that for every 100 men there are 103 women, whereas in the world at large there are 99 women for every 100 men. The average marrying age for Jewish women is 24.5, and for Muslim women 20.5. In Europe the average marrying age for women is 27. PALESTINIAN CONFLICT
IS COSTLY (11/15) In the comparative study conducted by BDI, the company compared the Israeli monetary loss to the Palestinian Authority's over the same period. It showed that the economic damage to the PA came to approximately US $4.5 billion. BDI explained that relative to the per capita gross domestic product, damage to the Palestinians was three times that of the average Israeli. The statistics revealed that the Palestinian GDP per capita dropped by some 30 percent. However, when taking into account the respective economies' potential growth over the four-year period, it was the Israelis who took the harder knock with the current per capita GDP of US $16,700 11 percent lower than the previously forecast level of US $18,500. The loss of potential growth incurred by the Palestinians was US $1,200. Besides the monetary loss, BDI said the Palestinian violence has had a further marked effect on Israeli business. The business-risk rating is 33 percent higher in October 2004 than it was before the outbreak of terror in 2000, when the country's rating was in line with the global average. NEW ULTRA-MODERN
AIRPORT TERMINAL INAUGURATED (10/29) Full operation will begin Tuesday afternoon when an El Al flight departs the facility for New York. An hour later, a Swiss Airlines flight will be the first foreign carrier to arrive at the terminal. At a cost of $1 billion, Terminal 3 is for all purposes a new airport. The old terminal will cease to function and all non-domestic activities will be relocated to the new terminal's concourses. Encompassing 270,000 square meters, Terminal 3 offers 133 check-in counters, three concourses, 22 moving sidewalks, all in one of the world's most advanced airport facilities. ISRAEL REMEMBERS YITZHAK RABIN (10/27) Dalia Rabin-Pelosoff, Rabin's daughter, called out to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon: "Today we are with you and are concerned for your welfare." Referring to the Knesset decision on Tuesday to approve the Gaza Strip disengagement plan, Rabin-Pelosoff noted that, "again we hear the bitter sounds of incitement and threats and curses. The rabbis have not changed their ways, and again Pulsa Dnura curses are in the air. The horror is still lurking out there with the handwriting in blood written on the wall." Sharon recalled his memories from the night of the assassination and paid respect to Rabin's devotion and unwavering loyalty to the State of Israel. "We walked a long path together, Yitzhak and I, dedicated and loyal to the protection of the State of Israel," Sharon said. "The darkness of that night has not left us and will never expire since the most unbelievable and unimaginable has happened." In his speech, standing over Rabin's grave, Sharon admitted that he and Rabin were constantly at odds but that their friendship was deeper than any of their arguments. "We had many arguments but they never took away from our deep friendship and were never personal," he said. "If however in the heat of the arguments, I said things that should not have been said, I am sorry." 10
YEARS SINCE PEACE TREATY BETWEEN ISRAEL AND JORDAN (10/26) Yishai Shorek, head of the Israel-Jordan chambers of commerce, said, "There is no doubt the economic ties between the countries are very beneficial to both. These are stable ties that are constantly being developed." One of the most notable achievements of the peace accord is the development of the industrial park where several dozen Israeli and Jordanian companies cooperate and export to the United States without tariffs. These companies are said to be a great boost to the Jordanian economy. The major obstacle to bilateral ties remains the Palestinian question. Many Jordanians fear that Palestinians might be tempted to cross the border to settle in Jordan. A mass demonstration by those opposed to normalization took place in Amman today, reflecting the extent of the opposition to a rapprochement with Israel. ISRAEL SENDS
EQUIPMENT TO HAITI (10/25) A few weeks ago, thousands of Haitians died or were declared missing in Gunayev, the country's third largest city, which was completely destroyed. The social and economic situation in Haiti in the wake of the hurricane has been declared a disaster. MDA Board Chairman Yohanan Gur said this donation is part of MDA's humanitarian activities around the world. RUSSIAN
TERROR VICTIMS ARRIVE IN ISRAEL FOR TREATMENT (9/20) Igor Leib of Moscow underwent tests and assessment at Hadassah's trauma and surgical departments after being flown to Israel. Leib and his mother, Zoya Budman, were five meters from the terrorist when the bomb exploded. Hadassah Medical Organization deputy director-general Prof. Shmuel Shapira said Hadassah was happy to respond positively to the request by the Moscow Jewish community to help the family, and it was willing to treat other victims of Chechen terror from the attack on the school in Beslan. MADONNA FEELS SAFE AND
WELCOME IN ISRAEL (9/20) Madonna arrived in Israel on Wednesday to take part in the 2,000-person conference coinciding with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. Madonna said the people she met during her trip "have one thing in common - we want to create peace in the world." "We want to put an end to chaos and suffering," she said, "but most of all we want to put an end to hatred with no reason." Madonna, who recently adopted the Hebrew name Esther and wears a trademark Kabbalah red string on her wrist, has said she is serious about her belief in Jewish mysticism and is irritated by accusations her faith is nothing more than a celebrity fad. Early Sunday, Madonna and her husband, Guy Ritchie, went to the Kiryat Shaul cemetery outside Tel Aviv to visit the grave of the kabbalist sage Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag. ISRAELI FILMS WIN
AT MONTREAL, VENICE FESTIVALS (9/14) The brother-sister directing team Shlomi and Ronit Elkabetz took home two prizes from Venice for their film 'To Take a Wife', in which Ronit plays the lead. The pair received the Gan Award of the Public for a film from the International Critics' Week, and the Isvema Award for a film also from the International Critics' Week. Also in Venice, Amos Gitai's 'Promised Land' won the Emblem of Peace Award. Montreal and Venice are two of the most prestigious and influential film festivals in the world. POPULATION OF ISRAEL IS 6.8
MILLION (9/14) According to CBS data, the population's growth rate has dropped and stands at 1.6 percent only, in comparison with 1.8 percent recorded in 5763. During the past year, Israel's population increased by 110,000 people. The reason for the decline is the lower rate of immigration. Only 22,000 olim chose Israel as their new home in the past year, in comparison with 27,000 during 5763. About half arrived from the CIS, 15 percent from Ethiopia and 9 percent from France. ISRAEL
BEATS CYPRUS 2-1 Playing in front of 20,000 fans at the Ramat Gan national stadium, the Cypriots took the lead with a 58th minute strike by Michael Konstantinou. But they conceded an equalizer five minutes later when Israeli forward Yossi Benayoun made an impressive individual run through the defense before putting the ball in the net. Midfielder Walid Badir scored the victory goal in the 71st minute. Israel's victory comes after a 0-0 draw Saturday against the Group 4 favorites, France. BESLAN
SIEGE VICTIMS TO BE FLOWN TO ISRAEL FOR TREATMENT (9/8) Terrorists seized the Beslan school on September 1st, a day after a suicide bombing in Moscow killed 10 people and just over a week after two Russian passenger planes exploded killing all 90 people aboard - two attacks authorities suspect were linked to the war in Chechnya. The official death toll of the three-day siege, which ended in deadly explosions and gunfire, stood at 335 - 156 of whom children - plus 30 attackers. EXODUS OF ARABS (9/7) In a related item, some 45,000 Arabs from "the territories" - Judea and Samaria - have moved to within pre-1967 Israeli borders in the past four years. This is the conclusion of a study carried out by an Israeli Arab student who is "close" to the situation. The Telegraph reports that parents in cities such as Hebron, a center of Hamas recruitment for recent "martyrdom" operations, are increasingly fearful of losing their children to the terrorists. For instance, the Al-Jama neighborhood - described in the paper as featuring "large spacious houses, smart cars, and vineyards spread out over undulating hills...a pocket of relative prosperity" - has seen no fewer than 11 of its young men die while carrying out suicide bombings and other attacks against Israelis. Among them were the two who murdered 16 Israelis last week in Beersheva. The Telegraph reports that dozens of young men are choosing to leave for the United States and France, rather than remain in Hebron and face being "brainwashed" by Hamas. ISRAELI
LIONS FIND NEW HOME IN PALESTINIAN ZOO (9/7) The lions came to the zoo in Qalqiliya with an ibex desert goat and two zebras to replace animals that died of tear gas inhalation during a violent demonstration near the zoo years ago. Only two days before the hostilities broke out in September 2000, veterinarians from the two sides completed a deal including the transfer of animals. On Sunday, four years later, they were finally able to carry it out. NEW FIND FUELS
ISRAEL'S ECONOMY (9/6) In other Israeli fuel news, the director general of the Prime Minister's Office, Ilan Cohen, decided on August 5 to advance the construction of a 28-kilometer (17-mile) sea transport system to link the Tethys sea partnership's gas platform to the desalination plant south of Ashkelon, currently in advanced stages of construction. The desalination plant will thus be able to operate by means of natural gas as soon as next year. The use of natural gas is expected to minimize damage to the environment caused by power plants, and will also lead to a reduction in electricity costs. The Prime Minister's Office reports that in 2002, a natural gas field was discovered off the Ashkelon coast; in 2003, a production platform and natural-gas sea pipeline were built off the Ashkelon coast to transport the gas to Ashdod; and in January 2004, Ashdod's Eshkol gas-fired power plant - which produces approximately 10 percent of Israel's electricity - began operations. The introduction of natural gas for use in Israel has led to savings of approximately US $15 million per annum. The Israeli electricity sector is expected to complete the transition to natural gas by 2012, when approximately 50 percent of Israel's electricity will be produced by natural gas. ISRAELI
OLYMPIC DELEGATION RETURNS HOME (8/31) WINDSURFER
FRIEDMAN WINS ISRAELS FIRST EVER GOLD MEDAL (8/25) Also today, Roei Yellin qualified for the Men's K1 1,000-meter final, after finishing third in the semifinal. The final will take place next Tuesday. KNESSET
COMMITTEE APPROVES FIVE-DAY SCHOOL WEEK (8/25) EILAT JAZZ FESTIVAL OPENS (8/23) The non-mainstream end of the festival program also features French trumpeter Erik Truffaz, who mixes modern dance rhythms with drum 'n' bass, hip hop as well as rock 'n' roll, and American trumpeter Russell Gunn, who weaves Cuban, Brazilian and African sentiments with rap and progressive jazz, liberally laced with urban noise. The festival also provides some homegrown artists a chance to play in front of big audiences, as well as rub shoulders with their better-known counterparts. Musicians such as trombonist Avi Lebovich, guitarist Yottam Silberstein and saxophonist Tevet Sela will be among the Israeli musicians to play during the festival. DIPLOMAT PRAISES
MOVE BY TWO TIME WORLD JUDO CHAMPION (8/20) In a message to Mir-Esmaeili, Mehdi Mohtashami said, "On behalf of all institutions and Iran`s embassy staff in Greece, I congratulate you on your courageous move to refuse to compete with a judoka from the Zionist regime. Certainly, the Iranian nation considers Mir-Esmaeili as the real champion of 2004 Olympic Games." Mir-Esmaeili, Iran`s under-66 kg judoka was scheduled to meet a representative from Israel in the opening round on August 15. Talking to an IRNA reporter, Mir-Esmaeili said, "Although I have trained for months and now enjoy an in-form build, I refused to face my Israeli rival in sympathy with the oppressed Palestinian people." ISRAELI
JUDOKA ZEEVI WINS OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDAL (8/19) In other Olympic news, tennis pair Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich's quest for an Olympic medal came to an end on Wednesday after losing 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 to German pair Nicolas Kiefer and Rainer Schuettler. ISRAELI TENNIS
PAIR REACHES OLYMPIC QUARTERFINALS (8/18) Also today, Israel's Pavel Gofman will be among the 24 gymnasts competing in the men's all-round gymnastics final. Gofman reached the 12th place in the qualifying rounds, and is hoping for a similar placing in the finals. IRANIAN
REFUSES TO COMPETE AGAINST ISRAELI AT OLYMPICS (8/16) In an attempt to evade punishment to athletes who opt out for political considerations, Mir-Esmaeili weighed on Sunday morning two kilos over the 66-kg weight limit in his class. The International Olympics Committee declined to comment on the incident. Olympic judo officials are investigating the issue but have reached no conclusions so far. 36 ISRAELI
ATHLETES WILL COMPETE IN 2004 OLYMPICS (8/13) Judoka Arik Ze'evi will carry the Israeli flag at the opening ceremony of the 2004 Olympics tonight. Ze'evi, a three-time European champion in the under-100 kilo category, will march at the head of an Israeli delegation that is widely considered the best the country has ever sent to the Games. Windsurfer Gal Friedman is expected to compete for a gold medal, along with Ze'evi, Greco-Roman wrestler Gocha Tsitsiashvili and pole-vaulter Alex Averbukh. Since it first competed at the Games in Helsinki in 1952, Israel has won a total of four medals. ISRAELI
COMPANIES Israeli companies that specialize in the construction of warning fences and security systems will participate in tenders to build hundreds of kilometers of fences along the EU's new eastern border. Magal Security Systems is expected to sign a cooperation agreement with a major Western company for building fences as well as command and control systems in Eastern Europe. El-Far Electronics also plans to participate in the tender through a large international partner. Defense industry sources estimate the potential business at several hundred million dollars. Based on the experience of building Israel's fence, each kilometer of fence costs $1 million to build. Bases, sophisticated transit points, and observation and command and control systems cost $2 million per kilometer. ISRAEL RANKS
3RD IN THE WORLD FOR U.S. PATENT FILINGS (8/13) The number of U.S. patents filed from Israel rose by 20 percent in 2003, compared with 2002, despite the recession. 1,265 patents were filed in 2003, compared with 1.042 in 2002, 1,023 in 2001, and 748 in 1999. EU TO DISCUSS
INCLUSION OF ISRAEL INTO WIDER EUROPE (8/10) Before admission to the Wider Europe is granted, a country's political and economic issues must be assessed and approved. Israeli officials have admitted that the Wider Europe initiative would open many doors currently closed to Israel and would further improve Israeli-EU relations. The EU has openly made clear that one of the goals of the initiative is to offer deeper economic ties in return for political dialogue and democratic reform with countries that have little chance of full EU membership. ACCORDING
TO NEW PA TEXTBOOKS, ISRAEL IS PALESTINE (7/22) The PA history books state that the Palestinian people have rights to the "country" [Israel] as they settled in it before the Jews. Some texts claim that Palestinians have resided in the area since the Stone Age while others express the "injustice in the establishment of the Jewish State" and state that Palestine gained independence in 1948, after the British Mandate ended. Zionists are also defined as "settlers" who emigrate from a strong country to a weaker country and take control of its land. The PA does not teach pupils about co-existence or peace and the overall policy "appears to be one of de-legitimization of the State of Israel and Zionism." ISRAEL
RANKS 22ND ON The first 20 spots include the European states, North America, Australia and Japan. The last 23 spots are African states. The Arab states are located towards the lower end of the list. Lebanon was ranked 80, Jordan was in the 90th spot, the Palestinian Authority came in at 102, Syria was at 106 and Egypt at 120. Sierra Leone was ranked 177th and last. ISRAEL WINS COMPUTER CHESS
CHAMPIONSHIP (7/14) In this tournament, which has been held in many cities across the world for the past 30 years, the best computerized chess programs from various countries compete for the title of World Computer Chess Champion. The Israeli teams program, called Deep Junior, previously won the tournament several times, including two consecutive times in 2001 and 2002. Deep Junior is most famous for its man vs. machine match against the highest rated human chess player, Garry Kasparov, which was held last year in New York. That match finished with the result of 3-3. Deep Junior and Kasparov each won one game, and for games ended in a |