.webp)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Feeding bullies remains in vogue. How stupid can we be.
+++
The cruel lessons of the Oslo debacle remain unlearned
Three decades ago, belief in “land for peace” was rooted more in wishful thinking than nobility. From Arafat to Abbas and Hamas, the Palestinians still have a different goal.
By JONATHAN S. TOBIN - INS
We’ve seen this movie before. Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas says something awful and anti_Semitic. Some in the international community, and even Jews who are ardent supporters of the peace process with the Palestinians, express dismay and demand an apology. That was the reaction to Abbas’s latest outrage in which, among other disgusting comments, he justified Adolf Hitler’s persecution of Jews.
It’s horrific, but it’s no different from similar instances of Abbas displaying his hatred for Jews, denial of Jewish history, and complete and utter lack of interest in peace. The same qualities were on display last year when, while visiting Berlin, he deflected a question about his involvement in the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre by falsely accusing Israel of committing “50 holocausts.” Or, in 2018, when in a speech to the Palestinian National Council he repeated the same anti-Semitic conspiracy theories about the Holocaust. That even prompted a New York Times editorial that called for Abbas to resign, acknowledging that it was hardly surprising that a man who had authored a doctoral thesis drenched in Holocaust denial. We’ve seen this movie before. Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas says something awful and anti-Semitic. Some in the international community, and even Jews who are ardent supporters of the peace process with the Palestinians, express dismay and demand an apology. That was the reaction to Abbas’s latest outrage in which, among other disgusting comments, he justified Adolf Hitler’s persecution of Jews.
It’s horrific, but it’s no different from similar instances of Abbas displaying his hatred for Jews, denial of Jewish history, and complete and utter lack of interest in peace. The same qualities were on display last year when, while visiting Berlin, he deflected a question about his involvement in the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre by falsely accusing Israel of committing “50 holocausts.” Or, in 2018, when in a speech to the Palestinian National Council he repeated the same anti-Semitic conspiracy theories about the Holocaust. That even prompted a New York Times editorial that called for Abbas to resign, acknowledging that it was hardly surprising that a man who had authored a doctoral thesis drenched in Holocaust denial.
But Abbas’s latest excursion into traditional tropes of Jew-hatred was particularly timely since it came just before the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Oslo Accords on the White House Lawn on Sept. 13, 1993. That event is best remembered by the photograph of President Bill Clinton stage managing a handshake between a clearly reluctant Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and a smug Yasser Arafat. But it was Abbas and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres who signed the document that day.
Abbas’s antisemitism and rejectionism should be at the forefront of any discussion of the impact of Oslo because it helps explain why the high hopes for peace that were shared that day were destroyed by years of terrorism.
But as we’ve seen with the recent push by the Biden administration to make more Israeli concessions to the Palestinian part of the “price” that Israel is being asked to pay for normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia, those in power have learned nothing from the history of the last three decades. Though it’s far from clear an expansion of the Abraham Accords is likely in the near future, the exercise is being pushed by some veteran Oslo cheerleaders like New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman specifically as a ploy to topple an Israeli government that he considers too right-wing and to preserve the hopes for a two-state solution. To the Biden foreign-policy team and foreign-policy establishment mandarins who have been wrong about everything for decades, nothing should be allowed to interfere with their continued pursuit of an idea that was the product of delusional policymakers who didn’t understand the nature of the problem they were trying to solve. The date of the Oslo signing ought to be seared into the collective memory of the Jewish people. But there will be few, if any, commemorations of the event, which was feted at the time among Israeli and American Jews with celebrations that could only be described as euphoric.
Even the most stubborn believers in land for peace have long since stopped lauding the accords. In Israel, the overwhelming majority of people learned over the following years of terrorism and bloodshed that rather than a historic reconciliation, the negotiations and the accords they produced proved an epic disaster rooted in wishful thinking. Even in the United States, where most liberal Jews and the Democratic administration still cling to the failed Oslo formula of “land for peace,” the accords are regarded with a degree of embarrassment. True believers in the peace process still stubbornly look for explanations for its failure other than the obvious one about the Palestinian lack of interest in ending their century-old war on Zionism and the Jews.
The empowerment of Arafat and the Palestinians was intended by Oslo’s Israel architects to be a way to get them to give up their hopes for Israel’s destruction in exchange for an independent state. But instead of trading land for peace, all Israel had done was exchange territory for terrorism. That was something that should have become abundantly clear even to the most obtuse observers when the years after September 1993 led to more attacks rather than fewer. That realization should have been sealed by Arafat’s rejection of the offer of statehood in the Gaza Strip, almost all of Judea and Samaria, and a share of Jerusalem made to him by Clinton and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak at Camp David in 2000. Instead, he answered it with a terrorist war of attrition that came to be known as the Second Intifada, which lasted five blood-soaked years.
Rather than stopping his Hamas rivals from continuing terrorism as Rabin believed he would, Arafat never ceased fomenting, planning and paying for terrorism against Israelis and Jews. His successor, Abbas, who was initially thought to be far more reasonable than his former boss, has done the same. Jewish blood continues to be spilled as a result of the mistakes made by the architects of Oslo.
That’s not to say that there still aren’t some who rationalize Oslo.
They argue, not without some justice, that handing over the administration of much of Judea and Samaria to the Palestinian Authority relieved Israel of the difficult job of governing the Arab population. The same argument is used to justify Ariel Sharon’s decision in the summer of 2005 to remove every Israeli soldier, settler and Jewish community from Gaza.
At least in theory, both decisions have strengthened the case against future Israeli concessions. Prior to Oslo, the arguments in favor of land for peace were much stronger than they are now that Arafat and Abbas demonstrated that no matter what they were offered or given, they were still unwilling to accept the legitimacy of a Jewish state, no matter where its borders were drawn.
No peace, no matter what …
The consequences of Oslo and the Gaza withdrawal, which allowed the strip to be transformed into a terror fortress as well as an independent Palestinian state in all but name, have been calamitous for Israelis. Time and again, they are forced to grab children and herd the elderly, and run full-stop to bomb shelters during rocket and missile barrages launched from the Strip. That’s a steep price to pay for a debating point.
But both Oslo and the Gaza withdrawal are held up by some as necessary, despite the horror they produced, because anything must be tried in the pursuit of peace, even if lives are lost in the process.
As much as supporters of Israel should have learned that the willingness of the Palestinians to end the conflict was misjudged, they should also have absorbed that the international community, mainstream press and foreign-policy leaders aren’t any more sympathetic to Israel as a result of the risks it ran and sacrifices it made than they were before 1993.
Indeed, it is entirely possible that they are less sympathetic to an Israel that was willing to gamble with the likes of a veteran terrorist like Arafat. Instead of saluting their courage for opening themselves up to the perils of empowering terrorists for the sake of peace, the world interpreted Oslo very differently. Rather than a generous gesture in which tangible assets and territory to which Israel had at least as good a claim as the Arabs were given up in exchange for the hope of some quietude, the international community viewed it as an Israeli admission of guilt for holding onto stolen goods.
To a large extent, most Israelis have absorbed these lessons as the election results that repeatedly put Oslo opponent Benjamin Netanyahu in the prime minister’s office have proved. But the success of the movement against judicial reform to some extent illustrates that the Israeli left is far from dead or understands how wrong they were 30 years ago when they were in charge of the country’s fate.
And as long as the United Nations still pushes the lying Palestinian narrative about Israel’s illegitimacy and its being an “apartheid state,” the international community still acts as if Oslo hadn’t demonstrated the Palestinians’ unwillingness to make peace no matter what they were offered.
That’s also true with respect to the United States where the Biden foreign-policy team remains undeterred by Abbas’s expressions of hate. They are still financially supporting a Palestinian government led by a Holocaust denier and anti-Semite, and trying to undermine Netanyahu in the vain hope that Abbas or a successor will finally vindicate their policy of pressuring Israel to weaken its security and give up its rights to parts of the ancient Jewish homeland.
Three decades of proof of Palestinian rejectionism hasn’t lessened the clamor for more land for peace trades that will lead to even more harm for Israel.
Thinking back 30 years ago, one can’t blame those who celebrated what they were told was a deal that would end the conflict. But we can fault those who refuse to draw conclusions from what followed. The pursuit of peace is an honorable calling, but when such efforts lead to more violence rather than conflict resolution and empower anti-Semites—as was the case with Oslo—then honoring the good intentions of those involved isn’t justified. In a world in which antisemitism is on the rise specifically because of the hatred for Israel that Abbas helps incite, actions that strengthen anti-Semites who are responsible for the murder of Jews shouldn’t be seen as noble or worthwhile. Much as we might want to still honor those who were prepared to gamble on peace, Sept. 13, 1993 should be remembered as a day of infamy for Israel and the Jewish people.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ordman - Good News Israel (edited.)
What contributions have the Palestinians, Hamas and Hezbellah made to world unity/peace/welfare?
+++
"Return" is the call broadcast to Jews in the days leading up to the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashana until Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement. The New Year also marks the birthday of humanity and there are many "happy returns" in this week's news of Israeli innovations and achievements to benefit everyone.
Israelis are constantly working hard to return patients back to health, especially from cancer, Parkinson's and dementia. Also to early-diagnose these life-threatening conditions.
Israel has seen good returns for its diplomatic missions; including the Arab countries who signed the Abraham Accords, plus Cyprus, Greece, and especially Papua New Guinea which opened its new embassy in Jerusalem to show solidarity with Israel's return to the Promised Land. Israeli doctors are even helping Pakistan return normal vision to children with deadly eye cancer in Afghanistan.
Two Israeli energy startups are providing good returns for dozens of Kibbutz communities by installing solar fields and energy storage facilities. Excess electricity is then returned to the national grid. Another Israeli startup is helping install a micro power grid in Australia. And a new thermal energy system at Wolfson Medical Center in Holon will certainly give a good return on investment both financially and to the environment.
Sporting success has returned to Israelis, winning international gold medals at karate and flag football. Many ancient buried artifacts have been discovered and returned to the Jewish people, including an aqueduct, four captured Roman swords and 2,200-year-old garbage!
The Israeli flag has returned to space, worn on the spacesuit of the wife of an Israeli. And an Israeli inflating wristband being developed aims to return swimmers to the surface if they are at risk of drowning. Last week saw millions of Israeli children return to school, allowing their parents to return to a few weeks of normality before the festive season begins.
Wishing those that celebrate it a Happy and Healthy New Year and a Very Good 5784.
My next newsletter returns after Rosh Hashana, on Weds 20th Sept.
Please recommend www.verygoodnewsisrael.
In the 10th Sep 23 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Once-a-day injection to treat Parkinson’s. Israel’s Pharma Two B (see here previously) is presenting the full results of its Phase 3 trial of its once-a-day injection of its P2B001 treatment for Parkinson’s disease. P2B001 combines low-dose pramipexole with low-dose rasagiline. It relieves PD symptoms with few side effects.
https://nocamels.com/2023/08/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Sheba implements fast cancer diagnosis. Sheba Medical Center has deployed a new accelerated, AI-powered cancer diagnostics research platform to improve patient diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. It utilizes solutions of various Israeli startups, including that of Imagene (see here previously).
https://www.
Detecting ovarian cancer. Israel’s Nevia Bio (previously Gina Life) specializes in women’s health, using its innovative machine-learning platform to detect diseases while they are still curable. Nevia is initially targeting ovarian cancer, which has a less than 20% survival rate at stage 3 and currently has no early detection.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Accurately predicting the genetic risk of cancer. Researchers at Tel Aviv University (TAU) have developed a computational model that makes it possible to predict an individual woman’s genetic risk of developing breast cancer based on her genetic profile. It means women at risk can be tested earlier and more frequently.
https://www.aftau.org/news_
Treating Basal Cell Carcinoma. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s MediWound (see here previously) announced positive data from its Phase I/II study of MW005 for non-surgical treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) – a form of slow-growing skin cancer. MW005 is safe, well-tolerated and completely cleared the BCC lesions.
https://ir.mediwound.com/news-
Nanotechnology improves photodynamic cancer therapy. Researchers at Israel’s Ariel University have enhanced the ability of Photodynamic cancer therapy (PDT) to reach tumors deep inside the body. They used nanoparticles of barium titanate, curcumin (turmeric) and pulsed lasers to optimize the Near Infrared Light.
https://www.jpost.com/health-
https://www.sciencedirect.com/
US approval for biodegradable balloon. Israel’s BioProtect (see here previously) has received US FDA's clearance for its biodegradable balloon spacer that protects healthy tissue against damage during prostate cancer radiation therapy. BioProtect already has approval for the European market.
https://bioprotect.com/ https://www.youtube.com/
https://www.prnewswire.com/il/
Using music to test for dementia. Israel’s Neurosteer (see here previously) has developed a musical test for the early detection of Parkinson’s Disease as well as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Patients conduct a series of musical tasks while sensors connected to an EEG device record their brain activity.
https://nocamels.com/2023/08/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
US approval for acne scar treatment. Israel’s Sofwave Medical (see here previously) has received US FDA approval for its treatment for acne scars. 88% of patients reported an improvement in a clinical study of Sofwave’s Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam (SUPERB) technology.
https://nocamels.com/2023/08/
Understanding early placental development. Joint Israeli & US research has revealed crucial insights into the early development of specialized tissues that protect the fetus during human pregnancy. The findings can potentially help prevent dangerous pregnancy complications, like pre-eclampsia and preterm birth.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
Better health for aging Americans. (TY OurCrowd) Healthcare app Together by Renee is integrating the video-based biomarker check technology from Israel’s Binah.ai (see here previously). The platform allows US seniors to easily check and share vital signs with caregivers and family, using their smartphone cameras.
https://www.prweb.com/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
A haredi border policewoman. Sgt. Maj. Avishag Shiran Malka is Israel’s only haredi female Border Police officer. She consults her Rabbi who supports her work, which involves Shabbat and even Yom Kippur duties. 17 years in the force, Malka serves in a mostly female unit that regularly patrols Afula in case of terrorist attack.
https://worldisraelnews.com/
$843 million for Eastern Jerusalem. Israel has approved a five-year, 3.2-billion-shekel ($843 million) plan to invest in eastern Jerusalem. It aims to reduce economic and social disparities for Arab residents in Israel’s capital city. It should improve infrastructure, health, welfare, personal security, employment, and education.
https://www.jns.org/israel-
https://www.gov.il/en/
A small medical center makes a big difference. (TY Ruth) Tzafon Medical Center near Tiberias cares for 300,000 residents of Northern Israel. Staff and patients represent a mosaic of Israelis: Christian and Muslim Arabs, Bedouin, Druze, Circassians, and all kinds of Jews. It has just begun implanting LVAD heart devices.
https://blogs.timesofisrael.
https://www.jpost.com/health-
US University teaches Israeli innovation. Florida University has been running its “Innovation Nation: The Global Influence of Israeli Technology and Entrepreneurship” course for three years. This year it was oversubscribed. Students learn how to pitch, to think through different angles, teamwork, and “failure”.
https://www.israel21c.org/
https://honors.fiu.edu/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Israel, Cyprus, Greece alliance to include India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed interest in joining the Eastern Mediterranean alliance between Israel, Cyprus, and Greece and to establish a cargo route from India to the Med. All three leaders approved and will invite the Indian Premier to the next summit.
https://www.jns.org/israel-
The Abraham Accords dream is coming true. Two very positive articles, to mark the 3rd anniversary of the signing of the original Abraham Accords by Israel, the UAE, Bahrain, and the USA.
https://www.jns.org/column/
https://www.jns.org/jns/
Saving the sight of Afghan children. (TY WIN) The Retinoblastoma Silk Road Project treats young Afghan children with the potentially deadly eye cancer Retinoblastoma. Ophthalmologists from Israel’s Sheba Medical Center check images on Zoom and WhatsApp and refer children for treatment in Lahore, Pakistan.
https://www.israel21c.org/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Clean water for Cameroon and Kenya. (TY Stuart Palmer & I24 News) Israeli NGO Innovation: Africa (see here previously) is installing clean water systems in 35 remote villages in Northern Cameroon. And in Kenya, IsraAID is installing similar solar-powered pumps to extract water from the boreholes they drill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
How Israel became a cyber and technology superpower. This article describes Israel’s security priority, the IDF recruitment and training process, venture capital funding, accelerator programs, and post-IDF service training. It explains how the hi-tech industry has become the engine that pulls the Israeli economy.
https://www.jns.org/israel-
The classroom of the future. (TY UWI) Gordon Academic College in Haifa is an innovation center for educating the next generation of teachers. Augmented Reality of an X-ray tee shirt; touchscreens that launch puzzles, quizzes, and tours; studying on an exercise bike. The school has also adopted Mistake-based Learning.
https://www.israel21c.org/a-
https://en.gordon.ac.il/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Cutting hospital emissions. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Finance Ministry has allocated NIS 14 million for Israel’s Brenmiller (see here previously) to build a Thermal Energy system for the Wolfson Medical Center in Holon. The aim is to cut carbon emissions by 3,900 tons and reduce energy costs by up to $1.3 million annually.
https://www.jpost.com/
It’s about thyme. Israel’s BotanoHealth has created BH-B spray - an organic formula for protecting plants against insects and fungi using thyme oil. BotanoHealth uses nano-emulsion to reduce thyme oil’s base ingredient thymol to a safe 1% and act as a natural antimicrobial agent by killing bacteria and fungi.
https://om/2023/08/essential-
Preventing peanut allergies. Israel’s Ukko (see here previously) is developing a therapy for those with severe allergies to peanuts. Ukko separates the parts of the peanut protein that trigger an allergic reaction from those that help train the immune system. Ukko then reintroduces the training part until the patient develops immunity.
https://nocamels.com/2023/08/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
95% reduction in loneliness. (TY OurCrowd) Data from New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) shows that the smart ElliQ robot companion from Israel’s Intuition Robotics (see here previously), has reduced loneliness in 800 elderly residents by 95%. NYSOFA is now extending its partnership with Intuition Robotics.
https://www.prnewswire.com/
Wristband to prevent drownings. Israel’s NeoMare is developing a wristband that inflates on command, potentially saving dozens of Israelis from drowning every year. NeoMare’s LifSsaver armband contains a chemical that inflates an 8-liter floatation balloon, to become a personal buoy if there is a danger of drowning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Tech competition for teens. (TY I24 News) Non-profit Unistream (see here previously) organized a unique tech competition for teens from periphery communities in Israel. They got a chance to showcase their innovations and enhance their prospects of entering the hi-tech industry in the future.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/
Increasing the power of AI while reducing the cost. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s NeuReality (see here previously) aims to make AI systems easy to use, increase its performance tenfold and reduce its cost by 90%. All while reducing its carbon footprint.
https://www.eejournal.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Natural gas revenues soar. (TY Hazel) The latest report shows Israel earned over NIS 1 billion from its natural gas deposits in the first six months of 2023 – a rise of 22.8% compared to the same period last year. Almost half of the gas produced (6 BCM) was exported to neighboring countries - mostly to Egypt and Jordan.
https://english.news.cn/
An incubator for Israeli-Arab innovators. (TY Hazel) The Hasoub (Arabic for “computer”) Garage incubator (see here previously) in Wadi Ara in the Arab town of Ar’ara comprises Hasoub Angels, an investment arm for early-stage startups, and Hasoub Labs, an innovation hub to transform ideas into reality.
https://nocamels.com/2023/08/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Microgrid in Australia. (TY OurCrowd) Australia’s Endeavour Energy is adopting the Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) platform from Israel’s mPrest (see here previously). It will be part of a new micro power grid in New South Wales, delivering electricity to tens of thousands of customers.
https://www.prnewswire.com/
ItsMine is a Cool Vendor. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s ItsMine (see here previously) has been named a Cool Vendor in Garner’s “The “Cool Vendors in Data Security” report. ItsMine’s Agentless Beyond platform is designed to prevent data loss and leakage that can lead to devastating ransomware attacks.
https://itsmine.io/cool-
More innovation than ever. An interview with Israeli top tech influencer Hillel Fuld (brother of Ari Fuld z”l) who says that start-ups in the Jewish State are stronger than ever. “People don’t know this, but in absolute numbers, Israel’s ecosystem is number two in the world after the United States for food tech.”
https://unitedwithisrael.org/
Simulating clinical trials. Over 90% of treatments that reach the clinical trials stage fail to make it to market - an annual $50 billion waste. It is mostly due to major gaps in the research needed to support clinical trials. QuantHealth.ai bridges these gaps by simulating large scale trials to accelerate development.
https://quanthealth.ai/ https://www.calcalistech.com/
The sun is shining on the kibbutz. Many kibbutzim have invested millions in setting up solar power systems and large storage facilities. Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak (3.5km from Gaza) stores energy in batteries during the day and sells it back to the grid during peak demand. Also Doral Energy and Nofar Energy’s many initiatives.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Pitango’s 2nd Healthtech fund. Pitango VC has closed its $175 million second dedicated healthcare fund (see first fund here). Pitango HealthTech II. will invest in decentralized healthcare, personalized medicine, medical devices and diagnostics, AI, etc. It has already invested in QuantHealth.ai and Nevia Bio (see previously).
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Another Unicorn. The $155 million raised by Israel’s AI21 Labs last week gave it a valuation of $1.4 billion and financial Unicorn status. https://www.calcalistech.com/
Exits, takeovers & mergers to 10/9/23. Israel’s Check Point Systems is acquiring Israel’s Atmosec for a few million dollars. Jared Kushner’s Saudi-backed Affinity Partners is investing $150 million for an 18% stake in Israel’s Shlomo Group.
Investment in Israeli startups to 10/9/23: ThetaRay raised $57 million; Ibex Medical raised $55 million; Upwind raised $50 million; Intuition Robotics raised $25 million; Harmonya raised $20 million; QuantHealth.ai raised $15 million; Pynt raised $6 million; Nevia Bio raises $3 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Piano festival in the desert. The 32nd annual Tel-Hai International Piano Master Classes at Midreshet Sde Boker in the Negev, attracted 78 budding pianists from 17 countries. Hopefuls are meticulously screened for their skills, ensuring that the event remains a true celebration of talent rather than a numbers game.
https://israfan.com/2023/08/
The flamingos are back. (TY UWI) The first sign of autumn (fall) in Israel was signified by the arrival of dozens of flamingos at the Hula Lake in Northern Israel. The first migrating birds also include egrets, hummingbirds, and different species of herons. https://www.israel21c.org/
Israeli flag flies high. (TY WIN & ILTV) Keisha Schahaff and her daughter Anastasia Mayers made history when they won a trip to become the first mother and daughter to go to the edge of space. Keisha, who is married to an Israeli, proudly wore the Israeli flag on her spacesuit aboard Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity.
Israelis are constantly working hard to return patients back to health, especially from cancer, Parkinson's and dementia. Also to early-diagnose these life-threatening conditions.
Israel has seen good returns for its diplomatic missions; including the Arab countries who signed the Abraham Accords, plus Cyprus, Greece, and especially Papua New Guinea which opened its new embassy in Jerusalem to show solidarity with Israel's return to the Promised Land. Israeli doctors are even helping Pakistan return normal vision to children with deadly eye cancer in Afghanistan.
Two Israeli energy startups are providing good returns for dozens of Kibbutz communities by installing solar fields and energy storage facilities. Excess electricity is then returned to the national grid. Another Israeli startup is helping install a micro power grid in Australia. And a new thermal energy system at Wolfson Medical Center in Holon will certainly give a good return on investment both financially and to the environment.
Sporting success has returned to Israelis, winning international gold medals at karate and flag football. Many ancient buried artifacts have been discovered and returned to the Jewish people, including an aqueduct, four captured Roman swords and 2,200-year-old garbage!
The Israeli flag has returned to space, worn on the spacesuit of the wife of an Israeli. And an Israeli inflating wristband being developed aims to return swimmers to the surface if they are at risk of drowning. Last week saw millions of Israeli children return to school, allowing their parents to return to a few weeks of normality before the festive season begins.
Wishing those that celebrate it a Happy and Healthy New Year and a Very Good 5784.
My next newsletter returns after Rosh Hashana, on Weds 20th Sept.
Please recommend www.verygoodnewsisrael.
In the 10th Sep 23 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
- Six positive stories about Israeli detection or treatments for cancer.
- Israel invests billions to help East Jerusalem Arabs.
- Israeli and Pakistani doctors save children in Afghanistan.
- An innovative Israeli college is creating the next generation of teachers.
- Israeli kibbutzim are producing huge amounts of sustainable energy.
- See the Israeli flag at the edge of space.
- More Israeli sporting gold medals.
- More embassies open – Israel’s in Bahrain and Papua New Guinea’s in Jerusalem.
If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Once-a-day injection to treat Parkinson’s. Israel’s Pharma Two B (see here previously) is presenting the full results of its Phase 3 trial of its once-a-day injection of its P2B001 treatment for Parkinson’s disease. P2B001 combines low-dose pramipexole with low-dose rasagiline. It relieves PD symptoms with few side effects.
https://nocamels.com/2023/08/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Sheba implements fast cancer diagnosis. Sheba Medical Center has deployed a new accelerated, AI-powered cancer diagnostics research platform to improve patient diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. It utilizes solutions of various Israeli startups, including that of Imagene (see here previously).
https://www.
Detecting ovarian cancer. Israel’s Nevia Bio (previously Gina Life) specializes in women’s health, using its innovative machine-learning platform to detect diseases while they are still curable. Nevia is initially targeting ovarian cancer, which has a less than 20% survival rate at stage 3 and currently has no early detection.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Accurately predicting the genetic risk of cancer. Researchers at Tel Aviv University (TAU) have developed a computational model that makes it possible to predict an individual woman’s genetic risk of developing breast cancer based on her genetic profile. It means women at risk can be tested earlier and more frequently.
https://www.aftau.org/news_
Treating Basal Cell Carcinoma. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s MediWound (see here previously) announced positive data from its Phase I/II study of MW005 for non-surgical treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) – a form of slow-growing skin cancer. MW005 is safe, well-tolerated and completely cleared the BCC lesions.
https://ir.mediwound.com/news-
Nanotechnology improves photodynamic cancer therapy. Researchers at Israel’s Ariel University have enhanced the ability of Photodynamic cancer therapy (PDT) to reach tumors deep inside the body. They used nanoparticles of barium titanate, curcumin (turmeric) and pulsed lasers to optimize the Near Infrared Light.
https://www.jpost.com/health-
https://www.sciencedirect.com/
US approval for biodegradable balloon. Israel’s BioProtect (see here previously) has received US FDA's clearance for its biodegradable balloon spacer that protects healthy tissue against damage during prostate cancer radiation therapy. BioProtect already has approval for the European market.
https://bioprotect.com/ https://www.youtube.com/
https://www.prnewswire.com/il/
Using music to test for dementia. Israel’s Neurosteer (see here previously) has developed a musical test for the early detection of Parkinson’s Disease as well as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Patients conduct a series of musical tasks while sensors connected to an EEG device record their brain activity.
https://nocamels.com/2023/08/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
US approval for acne scar treatment. Israel’s Sofwave Medical (see here previously) has received US FDA approval for its treatment for acne scars. 88% of patients reported an improvement in a clinical study of Sofwave’s Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam (SUPERB) technology.
https://nocamels.com/2023/08/
Understanding early placental development. Joint Israeli & US research has revealed crucial insights into the early development of specialized tissues that protect the fetus during human pregnancy. The findings can potentially help prevent dangerous pregnancy complications, like pre-eclampsia and preterm birth.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
Better health for aging Americans. (TY OurCrowd) Healthcare app Together by Renee is integrating the video-based biomarker check technology from Israel’s Binah.ai (see here previously). The platform allows US seniors to easily check and share vital signs with caregivers and family, using their smartphone cameras.
https://www.prweb.com/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
A haredi border policewoman. Sgt. Maj. Avishag Shiran Malka is Israel’s only haredi female Border Police officer. She consults her Rabbi who supports her work, which involves Shabbat and even Yom Kippur duties. 17 years in the force, Malka serves in a mostly female unit that regularly patrols Afula in case of terrorist attack.
https://worldisraelnews.com/
$843 million for Eastern Jerusalem. Israel has approved a five-year, 3.2-billion-shekel ($843 million) plan to invest in eastern Jerusalem. It aims to reduce economic and social disparities for Arab residents in Israel’s capital city. It should improve infrastructure, health, welfare, personal security, employment, and education.
https://www.jns.org/israel-
https://www.gov.il/en/
A small medical center makes a big difference. (TY Ruth) Tzafon Medical Center near Tiberias cares for 300,000 residents of Northern Israel. Staff and patients represent a mosaic of Israelis: Christian and Muslim Arabs, Bedouin, Druze, Circassians, and all kinds of Jews. It has just begun implanting LVAD heart devices.
https://blogs.timesofisrael.
https://www.jpost.com/health-
US University teaches Israeli innovation. Florida University has been running its “Innovation Nation: The Global Influence of Israeli Technology and Entrepreneurship” course for three years. This year it was oversubscribed. Students learn how to pitch, to think through different angles, teamwork, and “failure”.
https://www.israel21c.org/
https://honors.fiu.edu/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Israel, Cyprus, Greece alliance to include India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed interest in joining the Eastern Mediterranean alliance between Israel, Cyprus, and Greece and to establish a cargo route from India to the Med. All three leaders approved and will invite the Indian Premier to the next summit.
https://www.jns.org/israel-
The Abraham Accords dream is coming true. Two very positive articles, to mark the 3rd anniversary of the signing of the original Abraham Accords by Israel, the UAE, Bahrain, and the USA.
https://www.jns.org/column/
https://www.jns.org/jns/
Saving the sight of Afghan children. (TY WIN) The Retinoblastoma Silk Road Project treats young Afghan children with the potentially deadly eye cancer Retinoblastoma. Ophthalmologists from Israel’s Sheba Medical Center check images on Zoom and WhatsApp and refer children for treatment in Lahore, Pakistan.
https://www.israel21c.org/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Clean water for Cameroon and Kenya. (TY Stuart Palmer & I24 News) Israeli NGO Innovation: Africa (see here previously) is installing clean water systems in 35 remote villages in Northern Cameroon. And in Kenya, IsraAID is installing similar solar-powered pumps to extract water from the boreholes they drill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
How Israel became a cyber and technology superpower. This article describes Israel’s security priority, the IDF recruitment and training process, venture capital funding, accelerator programs, and post-IDF service training. It explains how the hi-tech industry has become the engine that pulls the Israeli economy.
https://www.jns.org/israel-
The classroom of the future. (TY UWI) Gordon Academic College in Haifa is an innovation center for educating the next generation of teachers. Augmented Reality of an X-ray tee shirt; touchscreens that launch puzzles, quizzes, and tours; studying on an exercise bike. The school has also adopted Mistake-based Learning.
https://www.israel21c.org/a-
https://en.gordon.ac.il/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Cutting hospital emissions. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Finance Ministry has allocated NIS 14 million for Israel’s Brenmiller (see here previously) to build a Thermal Energy system for the Wolfson Medical Center in Holon. The aim is to cut carbon emissions by 3,900 tons and reduce energy costs by up to $1.3 million annually.
https://www.jpost.com/
It’s about thyme. Israel’s BotanoHealth has created BH-B spray - an organic formula for protecting plants against insects and fungi using thyme oil. BotanoHealth uses nano-emulsion to reduce thyme oil’s base ingredient thymol to a safe 1% and act as a natural antimicrobial agent by killing bacteria and fungi.
https://om/2023/08/essential-
Preventing peanut allergies. Israel’s Ukko (see here previously) is developing a therapy for those with severe allergies to peanuts. Ukko separates the parts of the peanut protein that trigger an allergic reaction from those that help train the immune system. Ukko then reintroduces the training part until the patient develops immunity.
https://nocamels.com/2023/08/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
95% reduction in loneliness. (TY OurCrowd) Data from New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) shows that the smart ElliQ robot companion from Israel’s Intuition Robotics (see here previously), has reduced loneliness in 800 elderly residents by 95%. NYSOFA is now extending its partnership with Intuition Robotics.
https://www.prnewswire.com/
Wristband to prevent drownings. Israel’s NeoMare is developing a wristband that inflates on command, potentially saving dozens of Israelis from drowning every year. NeoMare’s LifSsaver armband contains a chemical that inflates an 8-liter floatation balloon, to become a personal buoy if there is a danger of drowning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Tech competition for teens. (TY I24 News) Non-profit Unistream (see here previously) organized a unique tech competition for teens from periphery communities in Israel. They got a chance to showcase their innovations and enhance their prospects of entering the hi-tech industry in the future.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/
Increasing the power of AI while reducing the cost. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s NeuReality (see here previously) aims to make AI systems easy to use, increase its performance tenfold and reduce its cost by 90%. All while reducing its carbon footprint.
https://www.eejournal.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Natural gas revenues soar. (TY Hazel) The latest report shows Israel earned over NIS 1 billion from its natural gas deposits in the first six months of 2023 – a rise of 22.8% compared to the same period last year. Almost half of the gas produced (6 BCM) was exported to neighboring countries - mostly to Egypt and Jordan.
https://english.news.cn/
An incubator for Israeli-Arab innovators. (TY Hazel) The Hasoub (Arabic for “computer”) Garage incubator (see here previously) in Wadi Ara in the Arab town of Ar’ara comprises Hasoub Angels, an investment arm for early-stage startups, and Hasoub Labs, an innovation hub to transform ideas into reality.
https://nocamels.com/2023/08/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Microgrid in Australia. (TY OurCrowd) Australia’s Endeavour Energy is adopting the Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) platform from Israel’s mPrest (see here previously). It will be part of a new micro power grid in New South Wales, delivering electricity to tens of thousands of customers.
https://www.prnewswire.com/
ItsMine is a Cool Vendor. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s ItsMine (see here previously) has been named a Cool Vendor in Garner’s “The “Cool Vendors in Data Security” report. ItsMine’s Agentless Beyond platform is designed to prevent data loss and leakage that can lead to devastating ransomware attacks.
https://itsmine.io/cool-
More innovation than ever. An interview with Israeli top tech influencer Hillel Fuld (brother of Ari Fuld z”l) who says that start-ups in the Jewish State are stronger than ever. “People don’t know this, but in absolute numbers, Israel’s ecosystem is number two in the world after the United States for food tech.”
https://unitedwithisrael.org/
Simulating clinical trials. Over 90% of treatments that reach the clinical trials stage fail to make it to market - an annual $50 billion waste. It is mostly due to major gaps in the research needed to support clinical trials. QuantHealth.ai bridges these gaps by simulating large scale trials to accelerate development.
https://quanthealth.ai/ https://www.calcalistech.com/
The sun is shining on the kibbutz. Many kibbutzim have invested millions in setting up solar power systems and large storage facilities. Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak (3.5km from Gaza) stores energy in batteries during the day and sells it back to the grid during peak demand. Also Doral Energy and Nofar Energy’s many initiatives.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Pitango’s 2nd Healthtech fund. Pitango VC has closed its $175 million second dedicated healthcare fund (see first fund here). Pitango HealthTech II. will invest in decentralized healthcare, personalized medicine, medical devices and diagnostics, AI, etc. It has already invested in QuantHealth.ai and Nevia Bio (see previously).
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Another Unicorn. The $155 million raised by Israel’s AI21 Labs last week gave it a valuation of $1.4 billion and financial Unicorn status. https://www.calcalistech.com/
Exits, takeovers & mergers to 10/9/23. Israel’s Check Point Systems is acquiring Israel’s Atmosec for a few million dollars. Jared Kushner’s Saudi-backed Affinity Partners is investing $150 million for an 18% stake in Israel’s Shlomo Group.
Investment in Israeli startups to 10/9/23: ThetaRay raised $57 million; Ibex Medical raised $55 million; Upwind raised $50 million; Intuition Robotics raised $25 million; Harmonya raised $20 million; QuantHealth.ai raised $15 million; Pynt raised $6 million; Nevia Bio raises $3 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Piano festival in the desert. The 32nd annual Tel-Hai International Piano Master Classes at Midreshet Sde Boker in the Negev, attracted 78 budding pianists from 17 countries. Hopefuls are meticulously screened for their skills, ensuring that the event remains a true celebration of talent rather than a numbers game.
https://israfan.com/2023/08/
The flamingos are back. (TY UWI) The first sign of autumn (fall) in Israel was signified by the arrival of dozens of flamingos at the Hula Lake in Northern Israel. The first migrating birds also include egrets, hummingbirds, and different species of herons. https://www.israel21c.org/
Israeli flag flies high. (TY WIN & ILTV) Keisha Schahaff and her daughter Anastasia Mayers made history when they won a trip to become the first mother and daughter to go to the edge of space. Keisha, who is married to an Israeli, proudly wore the Israeli flag on her spacesuit aboard Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1st class hypocrisy.
+++
The Chicago Teachers Union Chief Sends Her Son to Catholic School
Stacy Davis Gates wants choice for her son, but not for everyone else.
The Editorial Board
Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates has called school choice racist and made it her mission to kill an Illinois scholarship program for low-income children. So how did Ms. Gates try to explain herself this week after press reports that she has enrolled her son in a private Catholic high school?
“Dear Union Sibling,” began her email to fellow teachers. She said that black students have “limited” options on the city’s south and west sides: “It forced us to send our son, after years of attending a public school, to a private high school so he could live out his dream of being a soccer player while also having a curriculum that can meet his social and emotional needs.”
Ms. Gates’s desire to do what’s best for her child is laudable. What’s not is to do that while denying other families the same choice. The school where her son is enrolled reportedly costs her $16,000 a year. What about those who can’t afford such a school? Illinois’s Invest in Kids program funds about 9,000 scholarships, and last year it had 31,000 applications. But the program is scheduled to sunset, and that’s exactly what the teachers unions have demanded.
“Here is the truth: If you are a Black family living in a Black community, high-quality neighborhood schools have been the dream, not the reality,” Ms. Gates’s email says. There’s no arguing about that. For some schools on the south side, the percentage of students who can read or do math at grade level is in the single digits. But then she insists, as the teachers unions always do, that the answer is spending yet more money to “undo the decades of systemic underinvestment.”
The operating budget for the Chicago public schools has grown to $8.5 billion in 2024, from $6.3 billion in 2020, according to the Illinois Policy Institute. Yet enrollment is down 80,000 students from a decade ago, and many schools are underutilized. Don’t dare try to consolidate, though.
“School closings is a racist and failed policy,” Ms. Gates argued in 2018. “You do not close schools in environments that need investment.” Is it any wonder that among the first things to go are extracurricular programs like orchestras and soccer teams?
Ms. Gates’s son deserves a quality education, but so do his neighbors. With any luck this controversy will improve the odds of renewing the Invest in Kids program. But the real moral and political scandal remains the same: that thousands of Chicago’s children are locked into failing public schools as part of a political job-protection program for the teachers union.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No comments:
Post a Comment