Middle East

Good News from Israel (July 11, 2021)

-In the July 11, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include: 
–Israeli breakthroughs in transplantation and medical device technology.
–Israel provides running water to Tanzanians and Native Americans.
–Israel’s Technion is Europe’s top institute for Artificial Intelligence.
–Israel has begun producing pure water from the Jordan River.
–A face-recognition tech startup is Israel’s latest $1 billion company.
I–sraelis won medals at informatics and acrobatics.
–Stunning discoveries revealed during excavations in Jerusalem.
[Michael Ordman]

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Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Travel and Food, USA

Major Rally Against Antisemitism on Sunday, July 11, in Washington D.C.

American Jews were expected to gather on Sunday (July 11) outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., to hear a line-up of more than 20 speakers in a rally co-hosted by prominent Jewish organizations – all to confront the overwhelming levels of antisemitism that have evolved in America and worldwide. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA

Recent Iran blast appears ‘designed to disrupt supply of centrifuges to nuclear sites’

By Yaakov Lappin (July 6, 2021 / JNS) The reported June 23 blast that rocked a building linked to Iran’s nuclear program in the city of Karaj, west of Tehran, appears to have disrupted the ability of the Islamic Republic to feed key nuclear program sites with new centrifuges. According to international media reports, an

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Middle East

At US Embassy in Jerusalem, Bennett Reiterates Return of Bipartisan Support for Israel

By Dmitriy Shapiro (July 7, 2021 / JNS) A bipartisan group of members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Israeli officials celebrated Independence Day on Tuesday at a small event hosted by the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was on hand to welcome the visitors—the first official congressional delegation to

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Middle East, USA

Israeli Company Installs Water-From-Air Test Project for Navajo Nation

The Israeli company Watergen has implemented a pilot project, installing a GEN-M water generator at Rocky Ridge Gas & Market (RRGM), located in the Hard Rock Community of the Navajo Nation. The project was facilitated by store owner Germaine Simonson, Tó Nizhóní Ání (TNA), StandWithUs, Bright Path Strong (BPS), and 4D Products & Services (4D), in coordination with Arlando Teller, former Arizona State Representative and current Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs for the U.S. Department of Transportation. Arizona State Representative Alma Hernandez (LD3) assisted with the launch of this joint effort as well. [StandWithUs news release]

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Business & Finance, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, USA

S.D. Synagogues Welcome Palestinian Speaker, Executive Director

Activities and staffing are returning to pre-pandemic levels at various San Diego County synagogues, with Temple Emanu-El in the San Diego State University area hosting a Palestinian refugee who is highly critical the Palestinian Authority’s human rights record. Tifereth Israel Synagogue in the San Carlos neighborhood, meanwhile, has announced it has hired a new executive director. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

Israel’s new government fails to renew disputed citizenship law

Published by Reuters JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel’s parliament failed on Tuesday to renew a disputed law that bars granting citizenship or residency to Palestinians from the occupied West Bank or Gaza who are married to Israeli citizens, dealing a setback to the new coalition government. An early-morning vote in the Knesset (parliament) tied at 59-59, short

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Middle East

Israel sees drop in Pfizer vaccine protection against infections, still strong in severe illness

Published by Reuters JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel reported on Monday a decrease in the effectiveness of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in preventing infections and symptomatic illness but said it remained highly effective in preventing serious illness. The decline coincided with the spread of the Delta variant and the end of social distancing restrictions in Israel.

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Middle East

Flag Raising Marks Reopening of House of Israel in Balboa Park

After more than a year absence because of the coronavirus pandemic, the House of Pacific Relations in Balboa Park reopened to visitors over the July 4th weekend.  So named because relations among nations should be “pacific” or “peaceful” — and not a reference to the ocean that washes San Diego’s shores — The House of Pacific Relations includes the House of Israel (HOI), which marked the reopening with a flag raising ceremony. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

Herzog Steps Down from Jewish Agency, Becomes Israel’s President on Wednesday

A party was held for Isaac Herzog on Monday, July 5, the day he officially retired as chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, and two days before he assumes office as the next president of the nation of Israel, succeeding Reuven Rivlin. Among those joining the celebration were Metadel Sisai, 14, an immigrant from Ethiopia, and Oliana Goodim, an 11 year old immigrant from the Ukraine. ““Even if your new surroundings seem unfamiliar to you, just remember it is your home in the same way that Israel is our home,” the two youngsters advised the incoming President. [Based on material from Jewish Agency for Israel]

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Middle East

Renewed COVID-19 Concerns Focus on Israel’s Main Airport

– There are a lot of questions in the air, along with hopes of some stability in both politics and health. It’s not easy to summarize, but here we go: Most of our news is about the upturn in revealed cases of COVID-19. We’re at several hundred per day, but with few hospitalizations and deaths. There’s some cases of infection among those who’ve received two inoculations, but most of those are not serious. Most infections seem to have begun with people arriving from overseas, infecting kids in schools, and then onward. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East