The Press Continues to Look to Blame Anyone But Biden on the Ukraine Crisis
By Brad Slager +++ Of Course Vladimir Putin Invaded Ukraine Under Joe Biden's Watch
By Josh Hammer +++ Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Will Change the Face of Europe Forever
By Timothy Garton Ash via The Guardian Timothy Garton Ash writes that if Ukrainians resist, at scale, the invasion of their country by Russian forces, what could result is the largest war in Europe since 1945. He asserts that there are four ways the West can best support Ukraine in its struggle against an invasion of Russian forces: secure the defense of NATO territory, especially on its eastern frontiers with Russia, against all forms of attack; provide Ukrainians with all possible means—military and civilian—to defend their country; expand sanctions of Russian officials connected to Putin and expel them from NATO member countries; and be prepared to engage in a long conflict that might take several years to resolve. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Is Biden's reluctance to slap Putin down related to Hunter?
Peter Schweizer: Russian Oligarchs Holding Assets for Putin ‘Probably Have Very Embarrassing Material on Hunter Biden’
https://www.breitbart.com/radio/2022/02/26/peter-schweizer-russian-oligarchs-holding-assets-for-putin-probably-have-very-embarrassing-material-on-hunter-biden/
++++++++++++++++++++++ I will just throw these in for fun:
++++++++++++++++++++ Ukraine crisis shows Israel the international community won't rescue you. By Stephen Flatow
Even though Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria is fully supported by history and international law, and Russia illegally occupies large parts of Ukraine, accusations against Israel will continue.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has only just begun, yet the lessons for Israel are already obvious and they’re not very encouraging.
Lesson #1: The international community will not rescue you.
If ever there was a situation in which the international community would be totally justified to come to the armed defense of a beleaguered ally, this is it.
Ukraine is the innocent victim of Russian aggression. Ukraine is a democracy; Russia is de-facto totalitarian. Ukraine’s location makes it strategically vital to the West. Yet, none of that matters.
Not a single country is willing to take up arms to defend Ukraine against the Russian assault. Every one of the reasons cited above and many more would apply if Israel was again invaded by its Arab neighbors. And not a single country, including Israel’s closest allies, would pick up a gun if Israel faced annihilation.
For years, the Jewish Left and the United States (US) State Department crowd have been proposing that US peacekeeping troops should be stationed in Judea-Samaria and the Golan Heights. The idea is to lure Israel into surrendering those territories, based on the assumption that a Palestinian state or its allies would never attack American troops.
Israeli patriot missiles intercept rockets fired from Hizballah in Lebanon into the Golan heights, northern Israel and Israeli artillery forces retaliate fire towards them. August 2021. (credit: MICHAL GILADI/MEDIA LINE)Israeli patriot missiles intercept rockets fired from Hizballah in Lebanon into the Golan heights, northern Israel and Israeli artillery forces retaliate fire towards them. August 2021. (credit: MICHAL GILADI/MEDIA LINE)
However, the American peacekeepers would flee the moment war seemed imminent, exactly as the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping troops fled from the Sinai on the eve of the 1967 war and exactly as the UN troops in southern Lebanon have proven to be completely helpless in the face of Hezbollah’s de facto control of that region.
Israelis watching the unfolding of the Ukraine crisis undoubtedly recall Israel’s own bitter experiences with international indifference in the face of Arab aggression.
When Arab armies invaded the newborn Jewish state in 1948, the Truman administration declared an arms embargo and refused to give Israel a single bullet.
When Arab armies surrounded Israel in 1967 and prepared to attack, the Johnson administration refused to lift a finger.
When Arab armies prepared to invade Israel in 1973, secretary of state Henry Kissinger pressured the Israelis not to strike first and then withheld weapons for ten days in order to prevent Israel from achieving a decisive victory.
When Israel defended itself against mass rocket attacks by Hezbollah in 2006 and by Hamas in 2008, 2014, and 2021, the US pressured the Israelis to end their operations prematurely, thus granting de facto victories to the terrorists.
Lesson #2: The hypocrisy will never end. Regardless of Russia’s own behavior, Russia and its allies will continue to falsely accuse Israel of illegally occupying Arab territory.
Even though Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria is fully supported by history and international law, and even though Russia illegally occupies large parts of Ukraine, the accusations against Israel will continue.
Human rights groups will continue to obsessively focus on the Israeli occupation, while paying little or no attention to Russia’s occupation of Ukraine. The UN will continue to adopt mountains of resolutions condemning Israel and will ignore Ukraine.
Lesson #3: Appeasers will look for ways to appease. World leaders who see appeasement as the easy way out will continue look for ways to appease dictators rather than confront them.
The entire world heard President Biden’s initial statement that a “minor incursion” by Russia into Ukraine would not result in a serious western response. In the face of intense criticism, the administration retracted that position. But the whiff of appeasement was clearly in the air.
Others have been more explicit. Italy’s foreign minister has declared that international penalties against Russia should not include “the energy sector.” Inevitably, other European leaders will soon look for ways to weaken or evade imposing real sanctions on Russia.
Lesson #4: It matters who your neighbors are. Throughout history, dictators have constantly assaulted their neighbors. Sometimes they have been motivated by religion or nationalism; sometimes they have wanted to distract their own population from domestic problems. Usually, some combination of those motives has been involved. Whatever their motives, the indisputable fact is that authoritarian regimes often turn aggressive.
Israel is right to be concerned about the fact that the Palestinian Authority and Hamas (in Gaza) are dictatorships, not democracies. And Israel is right to worry about the fact that those regimes are deeply corrupt, deny civil rights to their citizens and refuse to hold truly democratic elections. Democracies tend to be peaceful neighbors, dictatorships tend not to be.
Thus, the Ukraine crisis is a reminder to Israel that this is what happens when you have a hostile, fascist dictatorship next door. And when a hostile Palestine and its Arab allies prepare to attack, nobody will come to Israel’s rescue.
The writer is an attorney and the father of Alisa Flatow, who was murdered in an Iranian-sponsored Palestinian terrorist attack in 1995. He is the author of “A Father’s Story: My Fight for Justice Against Iranian Terror,” and a new Israeli citizen.
And:
Biden Ignoring Budapest Memorandum Commitments to UkraineBy Salena Zito
PHILIPSBURG, Pennsylvania-
“Cultural attitudes have changed in the past few years. It began when the pandemic went from something we should be mindful of to a power that we should succumb to, making people who would not lean center-right lean in that direction when they began to question other power moves they never questioned before.”
Click here for the full story. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ |
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From my eloquent friend and fellow memo reader:
Far Away Places Brief Commentary By Lloyd Thompson
Sitting within the comfort and security of our den, while watching the terrible events
unfold in Ukraine, a song popped into my head…Those far away places with strange sounding names, far away over the sea, those far away places I’ve been reading about are calling, calling me.
Those calls are screams for help from a sovereign nation under attack by the megalomaniacal leader of Russia, Vladimir Putin.
This modern day Czar,Vlad the Mad, has distorted visions of rebuilding the “grandeur” of the Soviet Union, and will trample every obstacle in his bloody path to get there.
After the takeover of Crimea and the invasion of the Donbas, Russia began an incremental process of integrating the “stolen territory” into Russia’s sphere of influence.
Clearly, Putin understands that Ukrainian statehood and the Ukrainian national idea pose a threat to his imperialistic ambitions.
Madmen are capable and clever as Europe and the world have witnessed repeatedly.
This one is armed with nuclear weapons and has recently made veiled threats to use them if anyone interferes.
Maybe this was the siren that awakened most of NATO.
Vlad, as we know, has some of them by the short hairs; those who are now dependent on Russian oil…which leads us to the Biden White House and his green policies that have made us somewhat dependent on Russian oil.
And, these fiats are directly responsible for this criminal invasion of Ukraine.
‘Ole Joe’s first move was to cripple our energy independence and save us from the existential threat of climate change.
Was it John Kerry’s brilliant advice that drove this, or was it something that Vlad’s agents uncovered and are dangling over the heads of the corrupt Biden family?
The political blackmail and a totally inept Administration with an anti-American bias have created the perfect storm for Vlad Backed by Chinese President Xi, Vlad believes the world is his oyster…smothered, of course, with hoisin sauce.
These are extreme times for our country.
Threats from abroad and from the Bidenites are increasing daily.
A partial solution lies in the November elections, if liberty-loving citizens value our freedoms and want to keep and strengthen them.
Although the Democrats have outlawed miracles, what would happen if Devine lightning struck at 1600 Pennsylvania?
In a single day he could: re-authorize all of President Trumps policies regarding petroleum drilling, and distribution, place an immediate freeze on federal gasoline taxes, and begin an immediate flow of weapons and goods to Ukraine.
This invasion, if successful, could easily spread.
Yesterday, Turkey announced a naval blockade of Russian ships on the Black Sea.
Day two: charge Vladimir Putin with conducting a war of aggression, labeling him as a war criminal as set forth in the Nuremberg Trials.
Freeze all of his assets and those of his henchmen, and take whatever measures necessary to prevent his access to
funding, and reaffirm our strong commitment to Article 5 of the NATO agreement.
There are more, but this essay is short.
Make no mistake about it…never dismiss the ravings of a madman or woman in a powerful position.
We should not do that with Vlad or with ‘Ole Joe.
"Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and to repulse it." ~ ThomasPaine +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ See any connections? Biden and mass media do not. In less than a year we have been subjected to: ,
a) shut down of American energy. b)increased inflation
c) defund police d) increase in crime
e) spend on greening climate f) become energy dependent g) buy energy from Russia because theirs' is greener h) Putin has more money to spend on military. i) America reduces military spending, Biden projects weakness j) Putin invades Ukraine.
k) no bail, no jail, no laws l) more crime, more smash and grab
m) No Russian, Ukraine collusion. n) Hunter enriches self, pop gets cut. o) mean tweets. p) Trump impeached.
q) mail in ballots jump r) laws changed illegally before election s) increased distrust of voting
t) Biden increased incoherence u) Kamala sent to improve image and clarify policies v) Allies depressed.
w) Southern borders flooded with illegal immigrants x) more Americans die from drugs
y) Fouci and CDC confused and lie about COVID z) School children forced to wear masks, politicians visit fancy restaurants, go maskless, teachers protest having to teach, increased depression among youth.
Bonus) Israel defends against terrorist attacks and rockets, increased U.N criticism z) more in anti-Semitism.
And:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++ Good news Israel (edited.)
While most of us may be catching our breath at this difficult time, Israel continues to breathe new life into its positive activities. In medicine this includes a portable device for lung function tests; high pressure oxygen to cure Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; cancer-detecting breathing devices; and relaxed breathing to boost radiation therapy benefits. One can only gasp in amazement as Israel again demonstrates its inclusive democratic values; plus the skills of its pilots landing in storm winds and the empathy of volunteers going to the aid of Filipino typhoon victims. Israel is clearing the air with ecological projects to create new nature reserves, protect wildlife, maintain forests and generate power from the Sun. We hold our breath as paramedics get a heart-attack victim breathing again, and fly into a turbulent war zone to save untold lives.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS Innovative heart treatment. After 68 years, Yair’s complex congenital heart defect finally caught up with him. Luckily, the years also brought new advances and, for the first time in Israel, instead of open-heart surgery, his irregular pulse could be resolved at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center using cardiac catheterization. https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-698121 Portable lung tests. Israel’s PulmOne (see here previously) has developed the MiniBox+, a revolutionary lung function device about the size of a desktop computer. It has the potential to help diagnose many of the half a billion people around the world who suffer from lung disease. The MiniBox+ is FDA approved. https://www.timesofisrael.com/spotlight/portable-lung-tests-help-patients-breathe-easier/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvUadvOJb3U https://www.pulm-one.com/ Hyperbaric oxygen relieves PTSD. Israeli scientists are the first to have used hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to reduce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The pressurized pure oxygen treatment successfully relieved IDF veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD that had lasted for at least four years. https://www.timesofisrael.com/world-first-israeli-study-shows-oxygen-therapy-can-dramatically-reduce-ptsd-symptoms/ https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-698327 Electric pulses to fight cancer. Technion Professor Yoram Palti has been awarded the Israel Prize in the Field of Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation. Prof Palti founded Israel’s Novocure (see here previously) that developed a groundbreaking cancer treatment (especially brain cancer) using electric pulses. https://www.timesofisrael.com/yoram-palti-awarded-israel-prize-for-groundbreaking-cancer-treatment/ https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-novocure-uses-electrodes-to-treat-brain-tumors-1001120662 Using nanotech to create the impossible. (TY WIN) Great feature by VeryGoodNewsIsrael subscriber Diana Bletter about Technion Professor Hossam Haick (see here previously). His expertise in nanotechnology has led to 42 patents and the inventions of the cancer SniffPhone, NaNose, molecular sutures, skin sensors and more. https://www.israel21c.org/the-scientist-using-nanotech-to-create-the-impossible/ Robots to help rehabilitation. Ben Gurion University’s 46th Webinar Wednesday featured BGU Professor Shelly Levy-Tzedek, who discussed how robots can help in the process of rehabilitation. This includes physical assistance (e.g., post-stroke, Parkinson’s, or aging) and social assistance. The video also stars Pepper the robot. https://americansforbgu.org/video/future-of-rehabilitation/# https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms6wFLmnqNg https://shelly453.wixsite.com/levy-tzedek-lab Relaxation to boost radiation benefits. (TY UWI) Neuroscientist Amir Amedi from Israel’s Reichman University, has invented multisensory devices to relax patients awaiting cancer radiation therapy at Israeli hospitals. These include 3D VR glasses, smart tables and chairs, breathing sensors, and in-ear recordings. https://www.israel21c.org/futuristic-tech-brings-healing-relaxation-to-radiotherapy/ Siblings of special needs children may be more empathic. Researchers at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University studied 1,657 families of twins born in 2004/5. In 63 cases, one of the twins had a development delay or disability. The other twin was found to have a higher cognitive empathy than those with a normal twin. https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-698420 https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cdev.13740 How the immune system sets priorities. Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute discovered some remarkable actions of the immune system when faced with multiple viral or bacterial infections. Two mechanisms – innate and adaptive immunity are deployed and may change vaccines production and autoimmune disease therapies. https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/life-sciences/matter-survival-how-immune-system-sets-priorities Nearly his last shot. Ilan, the official photographer for the Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team, suffered a heart attack shortly before his team’s hoops game with Hapoel Tel Aviv. With only minutes of life left, Gal, an MDA paramedic, used a defibrillator to restart his heart. Great story for National Public Defibrillator Awareness Day. https://www.timesofisrael.com/photographer-meets-medic-who-saved-his-life-at-basketball-game/ https://defi.co.il/#/map ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL Helping minorities enter the hi-tech market. The mission of Israeli NGO itworks (see here previously) is to fill some of the 18,500 vacancies in Israeli hi-tech with talented single mothers, Arabs, ultra-Orthodox Jews, people with disabilities and citizens in Israel’s periphery. https://www.israel21c.org/helping-israels-minorities-find-jobs-in-high-tech/ Front & Center – Arabs & Muslims in Israel. (TY UWI) New video on Israeli Arabs who include 14 members of Parliament, 9% of judges (one in the Supreme Court), 26% of undergraduates, 1,500 Muslim IDF volunteers, and the captain of the Israeli soccer team. NIS 30 billion is budgeted for Arab sector development. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-DkHEKr3L4 Diversity in the Supreme Court. (TY Algemeiner) Israel has appointed four new Supreme Court justices, among them the court’s first Muslim (Khaled Kabub) and first Mizrahi (West Asian) Jewish woman (Gila Kanfi-Steinitz). https://www.timesofisrael.com/muslim-man-mizrahi-woman-picked-to-serve-as-supreme-court-justices-both-firsts/ Minorities champion Israeli co-existence. Israeli-Arab Yoseph Haddad (see here previously) is preparing to present the truth about Israeli minorities at the Parliament of Ireland. Another social activist, Israeli Druze Lorena Khateeb describes how Muslims, Christians, Druze, and Jews enjoy equal rights. https://worldisraelnews.com/irish-lawmakers-opposed-to-hosting-arab-israeli-who-denies-apartheid-myth/ More democratic than 143 countries. The prestigious Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Democracy Index ranked Israel at 23 out of 167 countries, ahead of Spain, Portugal, Italy, and the United States. Last year, Israel was ranked 27 and it has improved steadily since 2006. The next highest Middle East country is Tunisia at 75. https://www.thejc.com/news/israel/israel-ranks-above-spain-italy-and-us-for-democracy-in-new-ranking-5thm78K0h6XhdVKV066TwE El Al pilot lands in UK storm. (TY INN) Plane spotters at London’s Heathrow airport were impressed with the skill of the Israeli pilot who landed his El Al plane during Storm Eunice. Other planes had more difficulty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghv6xOOjD88 More aid to the Philippines. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, until recently only three local IsraAID workers were able to help Philippine victims of Typhoon Odette (see here previously). Now five more experts from the Israeli NGO have arrived to help with relief work. Some of this involves cutting-edge Israeli technology. https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-aid-experts-reach-typhoon-hit-philippines/ SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Israel’s talented scientists. The winners of the 2022 Blavatnik Awards for Israel’s top young scientists are Noam Stern-Ginossar (Weizmann – viral gene profiling), Menny Shalom (BGU - alternative energy sources), and Ronen Eldan (Weizmann - math probability & machine learning). Each laureate also won $100,000. http://blavatnikawards.org/honorees/israel-laureates/ $1 million for IDF cyber training for women. The Friends of the IDF and the Zalik Foundation have raised $1 million to fund a new program that integrates young women into IDF cyber units. The IDF Mamriot (taking off) program aims to increase the number of women in IDF tech units and in Israel’s tech sector overall. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-696886 Growing Israeli talent in the lab. Four times a year, Israel’s AION Labs (see here previously) invites teams of scientists to Rehovot to solve a treatment development challenge. The winning team gets 4 years of funding to set up a startup, plus mentoring. Israelis living abroad are finding this an attractive reason to return home. https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-698534 New Mediterranean nature reserve. Israel has established the Evtach Marine Reserve, a protected offshore nature reserve, between Ashdod and Ashkelon. The site is 10km wide and extends 7km out to sea. Its purpose is to protect 700 species, including dolphins, rays, and flying fish. https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-mediterranean-reserve-planned-to-protect-creatures-from-sand-to-sea/ Keeping an eye on wildlife. The ATLAS wildlife reverse GPS telemetry system tracks animals as small as 15g to help reduce conflicts with humans and protect endangered species. ATLAS was jointly developed by Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Professor Ran Nathan and Tel Aviv University’s Professor Sivan Toledo. http://move-ecol-minerva.huji.ac.il/page/3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdLdMt9mmHg Israel’s foresters of the future. Israeli charity KKL-JNF has launched a program “Forester of the Future” that is training young adults (mostly women) in ecosystem management and then putting them in the field. They learn the use of modern tools to prevent, detect fires, and assess and repair damage to the vegetation. https://www.jns.org/israels-future-foresters-are-mostly-women/ Long-life, vertical Basil for Europe. Israeli-Dutch startup Future Crops (see here previously) is commercially producing high-yielding, long-lasting basil crop at its vertical farm in Westland, Netherlands. The proprietary seeds were developed at Israel’s Volcani Agricultural Research Organization near Tel Aviv. https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/future-crops-sowing-proprietary-basil-seeds-of-growth-882799077.html Good news for Chilean cherries. The automated modified atmosphere packaging solutions from Israel’s StePac (see here previously) are bringing major benefits to farmers in Chile. They require less manual labor, use less plastic, reduce food waste, lower shipping costs, and increase the shelf-life of the cherries. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stepacs-automated-packaging-formats-reign-on-the-chile--china-route-301487260.html The fastest possible recovery. Israel’s Salvador Technologies markets a product that provides a 30-second recovery from cyber-attacks (e.g., ransomware) or IT failures. The innovative patented technology, designed for critical systems, is based on sophisticated data corruption detection and “air-gapped” protected storage. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3929918,00.html https://www.salvador-tech.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I67THkRPvqw A secure bubble around your network. Israel’s Zero Networks has developed a scalable method to prevent unauthorized access to computer assets. Each piece of equipment is protected with Multi-Factor Authentication that makes them impervious to ransomware attacks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdbuD1XV2Q4 https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hyd9bwmgq https://zeronetworks.com/ More reliable vehicles. Israel’s Aurora Labs (see here previously) use machine learning, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity to improve car software quality, safety, and security. Its products Auto Detect, Auto Validate, and Auto Update are able to reduce the numbers of vehicle recalls and lower production costs. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3929897,00.html https://www.auroralabs.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-Ub3yYKt2E Self-driving EV shuttles for the US. Israel-based Mobileye has announced plans to deploy its systems on self-driving electric vehicles in the US during 2024. Mobileye and its partners Germany’s Benteler EV Systems and Florida’s Beep will launch driverless on-demand 12-14 seater shuttles, with no steering wheel or pedal. https://www.timesofisrael.com/mobileye-mobility-partners-to-launch-autonomous-shuttles-in-us-by-2024/ https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-696469 Solar power for Spain. Israel’s Solaer Renewable Energies has connected its Alizursun solar power bank, in the Aragon region of central Spain, to the Spanish national electricity grid. Alizursun is the inaugural project of Solaer’s 1,362 MW project pipeline. Solaer expects to generate a GigaWatt of power by the end of 2023. https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/energy-and-infrastructure/article-696505 https://www.solaer.co.il/?lang=en ECONOMY & BUSINESS Still A+ with Fitch. Fitch Ratings has reaffirmed Israel’s A+ rating with a stable outlook. It noted the huge 8.1% increase in GDP for 2021, and a reduced budget deficit from 11.4% of GDP in 2020 to 4.5% in 2021. https://www.timesofisrael.com/fitch-affirms-israels-a-rating-citing-strong-2021-economic-performance/ https://www.fitchratings.com/research/sovereigns/fitch-affirms-israel-at-a-outlook-stable-29-07-2021 Developing trade ties with Morocco. Israel’s Economy Minister, Orna Barbivai, visited Morocco to sign "a historic cooperation agreement", aiming to establish the economic foundations of trade relations between the two countries. Barbivai (see here previously) is an ex-IDF Major General. Her husband was born in Morocco. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-hopes-to-increase-trade-with-morocco-to-500m-says-economy-minister/ More gas for Egypt. (TY UWI) Israel to begin exporting gas to Egypt via Jordan. The new route, in addition to the existing Ashkelon-El Arish pipeline, will increase current 5 billion cubic meters of gas exports to Egypt by more than 50% It will generate an extra NIS 100 million of annual revenue. https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-to-begin-exporting-gas-to-egypt-via-jordan-1001402590 UAE bank buys Israeli anti-fraud tools. Mashreq Bank in the United Arab Emirates is to use the fraud detection tools of Israel’s ThetaRay (see here previously) to secure cross-border payments between financial institutions. Mashreq is the Emirates’ oldest private banking institution and ThetaRay’s first UAE customer. https://www.timesofisrael.com/uae-bank-taps-israeli-fintech-firm-thetaray-for-fraud-detection-tools/ Google to help diversify Israeli workforce. Google is investing $25 million over 5 years, to extend its existing initiatives for attracting minorities to Israel’s hi-tech sector. They include Adva, a two-year computer science training program for Jewish seminary girls, and a new Tsofen program to integrate Arab engineering students. https://www.timesofisrael.com/google-to-fund-25m-tech-skills-programs-for-israels-underrepresented-communities/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3929936,00.html Winning incubators. Israel’s Innovation Authority has awarded a total of NIS 500 million to five Israeli incubators operating in the fields of health tech, food tech, space tech and energy. Startups operating in each incubator will each receive up to NIS 6.5 million per project. It will promote early-stage technical projects. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/ryzd4hfx9 Incubating space-tech startups. Israeli satellite communications provider Spacecom and its partners are investing NIS 400 million to launch its “Earth & Beyond” incubator to support Israeli startups developing deep tech space technology. The Israeli government will also fund up to 85% of the costs of those startups. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bjnkma4gq Lego to open its first Israeli store. (TY Hazel & NoCamels) Danish toymaker Lego has announced plans to open its first store dedicated to Legos in Tel Aviv “before the summer”. There are 628 Lego stores worldwide, planned and designed by Lego in a consistent way. Israeli stores will be identical to those overseas. https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-lego-to-open-first-israel-store-1001403168 The latest Israeli Unicorn. Israel’s Cheq (see here previously) has joined the Unicorn club by raising $150 million at a valuation of $1 billion. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rkq00augg9 Investment in Israeli startups to 27/2/22: Cheq raised $150 million; Pontera (FeeX) raised $45 million; anecdotes.ai raised $25 million; Aporia raised $25 million; Zero Networks raised $20.3 million; Valerann raised $17 million; Astrix Security raised $15 million; Kenbi raised $5 million; Varos raised $4 million; Salvador Technologies raised $3 million; Island.io raised 0.5 million. CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT` The Israel Museum. There is so much to see currently at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. In addition to those reported previously, you can visit exhibits on Divine food, Abstract art, Market Day in Europe, works by Dani Karavan, Painted eggs by Hilla Havkin, Islamic art, Gold & gemstones, and works by Jasper Johns. https://www.imj.org.il/en/current-exhibitions Very Mature. Israeli industrial designers Adi Azar and Yotam Shifroni have created quirky, but useful, upcycled and repurposed household objects. The collection, including light fixtures, musical instruments, toys, furniture and accessories, can be seen at the “Very Mature” exhibit at Holon’s Hava Gallery, Feb 19 to May 31. https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-design-couple-quirky-and-clever-creations-all-hinge-on-a-tiny-detail/ https://www.studioknob.com/en/ Israel Opera. The 2022 Season at the Israeli Opera includes Pagliacci (Feb-Mar), Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro (Mar-Apr), Handel’s Alcina (May), and Verdi’s Aida (Jun-July) and La Traviata (July/Aug). https://www.israel-opera.co.il/eng/?CategoryID=1262 A mature young spirit. Whisky magazine has just named Israeli whisky distillery Milk & Honey (see here previously) as Brand Innovator of the year (Rest of the World) in its Icons of Whisky 2022 awards. Last year, Milk & Honey won the magazine’s Craft Producer of the Year award. https://www.youtube.com/embed/p0ir5ZME3YE?start=1068&end=1097 https://mh-distillery.com/ https://whiskymag.com/taste-bottling/milk-honey-classic THE JEWISH STATE Shipwreck reveals ancient trade. Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers examining a shipwreck off the Israeli coast have been able to trace 3,200-year-old trade links. Lead ingots show that Cyprus imported metals from Western Mediterranean ports 1,500+ miles away, to create luxury goods for sale throughout the Levant. https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-698175 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352409X21005332?via%3Dihub Look what the rains uncovered. Two Israeli policemen spotted an object protruding from the Ashdod beach after recent heavy rains. What eventually emerged was an impressive, 1,500-year-old marble pillar that was probably part of a Byzantine church originally on that site. https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-police-discover-1500-year-old-marble-treasure-on-the-beach/ The most US immigrants in decades. 2021 saw 4,000 US Olim (new immigrants to Israel) – the most since 1973. The 3,500 arrivals from France were the most in the last 4 years. Other large increases were from Russia (7,500), Ukraine (3,000), Ethiopia (1,636), Argentina (900) UK (650), Brazil (550) and South Africa (550). https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/12/23/2021-sees-record-breaking-immigration-from-us-to-israel/
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