Monday, November 2, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Israeli medical team to join relief effort for Typhoon Ketsana in the Philippines
Article published in Jerusalem Post on October 9, 2009
By Brian Blondy
An Israeli medical team was set to leave for the Philippines on Thursday night, to aid the victims of Typhoon Ketsana.
By Brian Blondy
An Israeli medical team was set to leave for the Philippines on Thursday night, to aid the victims of Typhoon Ketsana.
On September 26 the storm devastated the country, leaving an estimated 300 people dead, hundreds of thousands homeless and about 2.5 million people affected as a result.
The Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid (IsraAID), which is currently coordinating the Israeli assistance, will hold meetings with the local Red Cross, the UN and international aid agencies upon arrival at the coordination center for the relief efforts.
On Friday a team of six Israeli doctors, nurses and paramedics from the organization F.I.R.S.T. (an IsraAID partner) will begin working within the Laguna and Marikina districts, areas that in recent days have seen a rise of food- and water-borne diseases such as leptospirosis, dengue and diarrhea, due to the six-meter-high flooding. Both districts, located in the vicinity of Manila, have suffered a major part of the aftereffects of the disaster.
On the morning of October 2, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared the whole country under a state of calamity.
Typhoon Ketsana brought heavy rains which caused severe flooding in Manila, the Cordillera region and 25 provinces on the northern island of Luzon.
With a 45 cm. rainfall in 24 hours, Manila and the surrounding region have experienced 1.8-meter-high flood waters, which have disabled the city's health and electrical infrastructure.
The IsraAID relief mission is a joint Israeli-Jewish collaboration with partners such as the American Jewish Committee, B'nai B'rith International, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto and the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Ancient synagogue found in Israel
Article published on CNN September 11, 2009
By Kevin Flower
In what was slated to be the site of a new 122-room hotel, archaeologists say they have discovered one of the world's oldest synagogues in Northern Israel.
The site, which was unearthed as preparations were being made for construction of the hotel near the Sea of Galilee, is believed to date back some 2000 years from 50BCE to 100CE.
In the middle of the 120 square meter main hall of the synagogue archaeologists discovered an unusual stone carved with a seven branched menorah . "We are dealing with an exciting and unique find," said excavation director and Israeli Antiquities Authority archaeologist Dina Avshalom-Gorni.
The menorah engraving is the first of its kind to be discovered from the Early Roman period according Avshalom-Gorni who said the site joins just six synagogue locations that are know to date from the same time.
She said synagogues from this period were extremely rare in part because many Jews during that time were in the habit of visiting the main temple in Jerusalem three times a year as opposed to attending local houses of worship.
Avshalom-Gorni posited that the engraved menorah was done by an artist who had visited the main synagogue in Jerusalem known as the Second Temple where the actual menorah was believed to be kept.
In addition to the engraved stone Avshalom-Gorni said they discovered preserved frescoes on the walls with "vivid" colors.
The synagogue was discovered in area called Migdal, historically an important settlement along the Sea of Galilee, which researchers say was mentioned in ancient Jewish texts as playing a prominent role during what is known as the Great Revolt, when Jews attempted to rebel against Roman rule. Migdal also figures in early Christian writings as the place where Mary Magdalene accompanied Jesus and the Apostles.
Jose Miguel Abat, a legal representative for the company developing the land, Ark New Gate, said the company was thrilled at news of the find and planned to establish a multi-cultural and multi-religious center at the location.
"We are sure this finding and the planned center will attract tourists and visitors from Israel and from around the World," Abat said in a statement.
By Kevin Flower
In what was slated to be the site of a new 122-room hotel, archaeologists say they have discovered one of the world's oldest synagogues in Northern Israel.
The site, which was unearthed as preparations were being made for construction of the hotel near the Sea of Galilee, is believed to date back some 2000 years from 50BCE to 100CE.
A large carved stone found during excavations of the recently uncovered synagogue.
In the middle of the 120 square meter main hall of the synagogue archaeologists discovered an unusual stone carved with a seven branched menorah . "We are dealing with an exciting and unique find," said excavation director and Israeli Antiquities Authority archaeologist Dina Avshalom-Gorni.
The menorah engraving is the first of its kind to be discovered from the Early Roman period according Avshalom-Gorni who said the site joins just six synagogue locations that are know to date from the same time.
She said synagogues from this period were extremely rare in part because many Jews during that time were in the habit of visiting the main temple in Jerusalem three times a year as opposed to attending local houses of worship.
Avshalom-Gorni posited that the engraved menorah was done by an artist who had visited the main synagogue in Jerusalem known as the Second Temple where the actual menorah was believed to be kept.
In addition to the engraved stone Avshalom-Gorni said they discovered preserved frescoes on the walls with "vivid" colors.
The synagogue was discovered in area called Migdal, historically an important settlement along the Sea of Galilee, which researchers say was mentioned in ancient Jewish texts as playing a prominent role during what is known as the Great Revolt, when Jews attempted to rebel against Roman rule. Migdal also figures in early Christian writings as the place where Mary Magdalene accompanied Jesus and the Apostles.
Jose Miguel Abat, a legal representative for the company developing the land, Ark New Gate, said the company was thrilled at news of the find and planned to establish a multi-cultural and multi-religious center at the location.
"We are sure this finding and the planned center will attract tourists and visitors from Israel and from around the World," Abat said in a statement.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
City of David archeologists discover ancient fortification
Article published on The Global News Service of the Jewish People September 2, 2009
Israeli archeologists uncovered a large fortification likely used by the Canaanites and dating to the Middle Bronze period. The 26-foot-high and very thick wall was likely used by the Canaanites to protect the path to an important water source, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority.
The discovery, in the “Walls Around Jerusalem" National Park in the City of David, is "the first time that such massive construction that predates the Herodian period has been discovered in Jerusalem,” according to a news release from the authority.
Israeli archeologists uncovered a large fortification likely used by the Canaanites and dating to the Middle Bronze period. The 26-foot-high and very thick wall was likely used by the Canaanites to protect the path to an important water source, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority.
The discovery, in the “Walls Around Jerusalem" National Park in the City of David, is "the first time that such massive construction that predates the Herodian period has been discovered in Jerusalem,” according to a news release from the authority.
A small section of the wall was discovered in 1909, but the recent excavations determined how large the wall actually is. Nearly 80 feet of the wall has now been uncovered, but it is believed that it continues to run westward beyond the part that was exposed.
The fortification will be revealed to the public for the first time Thursday as part of the 10th Annual Archaeological Conference on the discoveries in the City of David.Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Gap to open Tel Aviv store in February
Article published on Ynetnews.com August 25, 2009
By Navit Zomer
Elbit Trade and Retail announces plans to open 5,651 square feet store in Azrieli Center Mall early next year.
After the opening of American fashshion label Gap's first store at the Mamilla pedestrian shopping mall in Jerusalem on Monday, the company will be preparing for the opening of its second store at the Azrieli Center Mall in Tel Aviv in February.
Azrieli Center CEO Arnon Toren said talks regarding opening additional Gap store's in other Azrieli Group shopping centers were ongoing.
By Navit Zomer
Elbit Trade and Retail announces plans to open 5,651 square feet store in Azrieli Center Mall early next year.
After the opening of American fashshion label Gap's first store at the Mamilla pedestrian shopping mall in Jerusalem on Monday, the company will be preparing for the opening of its second store at the Azrieli Center Mall in Tel Aviv in February. Elbit Trade and Retail, the company that holds franchise rights for Gap in Israel announced on Thursday the opening of the Azrieli store, which will span an area of 525 square meters (5,651 square feet).
The new store will make the mall the first in Israel to house both a Gap store and the international Swedish fashion chain H&M, which is slated to open next April.
The Gap store in the Azrieli Center Mall will be opened on half of the area of the mall's Mango clothing store, which is also run by Elbit Trade and Retail, and in place of the mall's Lucci and Mac stores, which will be relocated to other areas in the shopping center.
Azrieli Center CEO Arnon Toren said talks regarding opening additional Gap store's in other Azrieli Group shopping centers were ongoing.
In addition to the Mamilla and Azrieli Center stores, a Gap branch will also be opened at the Arena Mall in the Herzliya Marina, as well as in other locations.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Latin American Jews building in Jerusalem's Har Nof
Article published on GLOBES [online] August 18, 2009
By Ariel Rosenberg
Latin American Jews building in Jerusalem's Har Nof. Most of the members of the buyers group are Jews from Venezuela and Mexico who are planning to immigrate to Israel soon.
A buyers group of Latin American Jews will build two nine-floor residential buildings in Jerusalem's Har Nof neighborhood.
The Pninat Har Nof will exploit the hilly topography of the site to build 70 terraced apartments of three to six rooms each. The project will also include a synagogue and Beit Midrash, spa, fitness rooms, sports fields, a banquet hall, underground parking, and a park.
Most of the members of the buyers group are Jews from Venezuela and Mexico who are planning to immigrate to Israel soon. The buyers group was organized by Moises Benarroch, a resident of the neighborhood who immigrated to Israel 13 years ago.
By Ariel Rosenberg
Latin American Jews building in Jerusalem's Har Nof. Most of the members of the buyers group are Jews from Venezuela and Mexico who are planning to immigrate to Israel soon.
A buyers group of Latin American Jews will build two nine-floor residential buildings in Jerusalem's Har Nof neighborhood.
The Pninat Har Nof will exploit the hilly topography of the site to build 70 terraced apartments of three to six rooms each. The project will also include a synagogue and Beit Midrash, spa, fitness rooms, sports fields, a banquet hall, underground parking, and a park.Most of the members of the buyers group are Jews from Venezuela and Mexico who are planning to immigrate to Israel soon. The buyers group was organized by Moises Benarroch, a resident of the neighborhood who immigrated to Israel 13 years ago.
Monday, July 27, 2009
IDF: More than 300,000 settlers live in West Bank
Article published in HAARETZ July 27, 2009
By Chaim Levinson, Haaretz Settlements Correspondent
There are now more than 300,000 residents living in Jewish West Bank settlements, according to a Israel Defense Forces Civil Administration report covering the first half of 2009.
As of June 30, the settlements had 304,569 residents, an increase of 2.3 percent since January.
Most of the growth was in the most religious communities, including the ultra-Orthodox settlements. Modi'in Ilit gained 1,879 residents, a 4.5 percent increase. Beitar Ilit gained 1,074 residents, a 3.1 percent jump.
Excluding these two communities, the growth rate in the other Jewish settlements was 1.75 percent.
Generally, growth rates are higher in the second half of the year, because many families move over the summer.
Among local councils, Har Adar (near Jerusalem) saw 5.7 percent growth, and Alfei Menashe (near the Sharon region, north of Tel Aviv) reported a 2.7 percent increase. Kedumim recorded 2.1 percent; Emanuel, 1.2 percent; and Kiryat Arba, 0.9 percent.
The report also reflects government restrictions on settlement construction. Population growth in settlements in high demand was relatively low. Ma'aleh Adumim, home to many young couples, saw a population increase of just 1 percent, as did Efrat, where professionals and American immigrants often seek housing.
The population of Hashmonaim, also a destination for many American newcomers, increased by 1.1 percent. Ofra grew by 1.2 percent. Karnei Shomron had a population increase of 0.2 percent - another 15 residents. Ariel grew by less than 0.1 percent.
The report also noted a 4.4 percent increase - 425 people - in settlers living outside municipal areas.
However, these figures do not include all of the residents of unauthorized outposts, as some are regarded as residents of adjoining settlements. The highest growth rates by percentage were in small settlements such as Itamar, Elon Moreh and Kfar Tapuah.
By Chaim Levinson, Haaretz Settlements Correspondent
There are now more than 300,000 residents living in Jewish West Bank settlements, according to a Israel Defense Forces Civil Administration report covering the first half of 2009.
As of June 30, the settlements had 304,569 residents, an increase of 2.3 percent since January.
Most of the growth was in the most religious communities, including the ultra-Orthodox settlements. Modi'in Ilit gained 1,879 residents, a 4.5 percent increase. Beitar Ilit gained 1,074 residents, a 3.1 percent jump.
Excluding these two communities, the growth rate in the other Jewish settlements was 1.75 percent.
Generally, growth rates are higher in the second half of the year, because many families move over the summer.
Among local councils, Har Adar (near Jerusalem) saw 5.7 percent growth, and Alfei Menashe (near the Sharon region, north of Tel Aviv) reported a 2.7 percent increase. Kedumim recorded 2.1 percent; Emanuel, 1.2 percent; and Kiryat Arba, 0.9 percent.The report also reflects government restrictions on settlement construction. Population growth in settlements in high demand was relatively low. Ma'aleh Adumim, home to many young couples, saw a population increase of just 1 percent, as did Efrat, where professionals and American immigrants often seek housing.
The population of Hashmonaim, also a destination for many American newcomers, increased by 1.1 percent. Ofra grew by 1.2 percent. Karnei Shomron had a population increase of 0.2 percent - another 15 residents. Ariel grew by less than 0.1 percent.
The report also noted a 4.4 percent increase - 425 people - in settlers living outside municipal areas.
However, these figures do not include all of the residents of unauthorized outposts, as some are regarded as residents of adjoining settlements. The highest growth rates by percentage were in small settlements such as Itamar, Elon Moreh and Kfar Tapuah.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Israel holds 18th Jewish Olympics
Article published on China View July 13, 2009
Editor: Zhang Xiang
RAMAT GAN, Israel, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The 18th Maccabiah Games, known as the Jewish Olympics, officially kicked off on Monday night in this central Israeli city.
Editor: Zhang Xiang
RAMAT GAN, Israel, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The 18th Maccabiah Games, known as the Jewish Olympics, officially kicked off on Monday night in this central Israeli city.
Some 30,000 spectators, including Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, attended the opening ceremony, and watched 65 delegations from different countries and regions march into the National Stadium.
During the 11-day sports meet, over 7,000 amateur and professional athletes will compete in 31 events, including Olympic ones such as track and field, basketball and swimming, and non-Olympic ones such as golf, karate, lawn bowls and chess.
The contests are divided into three different categories, namely Open, Junior and Master. The Junior games are open to athletes aged from 15 to 18, and the Master ones are for older competitors.
In light of the record high number of participants in the quadrennial event, a regional games recognized by the International Olympic Committee, the Jewish state has mobilized resources nationwide, and matches will take place at different venues across the country.
The Maccabiah Games debuted in 1932, and has been held in Israel reguarly since 1953. Named after an ancient Jewish hero, the event is open to every Jew across the world and every non-Jewish citizen of Israel.
In order to guarantee the safety of the participants, Israeli authorities have beefed up security measures across the nation.
P.S. Official Macabiah Games website: http://www.maccabiah.com/
Monday, July 6, 2009
Israel's biggest mall to be built in Beersheba
Article published on Ynetnews.com July 6, 2009
By Ilana Curiel
County's first green shopping center to be built in southern city at total investment of NIS 700,000. Construction scheduled to be completed in 2012
"This is my life's work," entrepreneur Eli Lahav, CEO of the Lahav Group, stated last week in reference to the Beersheba Mall, which is planned to stretch over an area of about 100,000 square meters at an investment of NIS 700 million (about $180.5 million).
Alongside the green design, which saves on energy, the mall's appearance is also aimed at making an impression and breaking the city's desert-like appearance.
By Ilana Curiel
County's first green shopping center to be built in southern city at total investment of NIS 700,000. Construction scheduled to be completed in 2012
"This is my life's work," entrepreneur Eli Lahav, CEO of the Lahav Group, stated last week in reference to the Beersheba Mall, which is planned to stretch over an area of about 100,000 square meters at an investment of NIS 700 million (about $180.5 million).
According to Lahav, the mall – which is scheduled to be ready in three years – will be the biggest in Israel and the first green shopping center in the country.
Shem Tov Tzruya, head of the architects' team at the Moore Yasky Sivan company, spoke of the mall's green characteristics, which will be a consumption, recreation and social center for residents of the Negev's capital and its surroundings.
Alongside the green design, which saves on energy, the mall's appearance is also aimed at making an impression and breaking the city's desert-like appearance.
Simulation of new mall
Lahav and Tzruya made the remarks at a ceremony held Sunday in the Negev's capital to expose the project.
The mall's main entrance will have three waterfalls. "The water expresses prosperity and life," explained Tzruya. In addition, the mall will include a pool for collecting rain water and air-conditioner water and reusing it for irrigation, as well as use of natural illumination and solar energy.
A green park will be built near the mall on an area of about 8,000 square meters. Special bicycle lanes will be developed around the mall.
"On the roof we'll have thousands of photo-volt cells in order to save on energy. A special glass will be installed at the entrance to the mall which will be transparent without absorbing the sun's energy," explained Tzruya.
According to the entrepreneurs, the mall will be twice bigger than the Ramat Aviv Mall in Tel Aviv. It will have 40,000 square meters of commercial area for rental, 1,800 parking spots, and about 5,000 square meters for recreation and leisure.
The transfer of the IDF bases to the Negev and the fact that the land reserves in central Israel are increasingly disappearing have led Lahav to realize that Beersheba could be the next economic center.
'A huge youth cultural center'
The mall will be built on the ruins of the nostalgic (Neot Midbar) Desert Inn Hotel. The recreation and leisure center created is expected to serve hundreds of thousands of the region's residents.
"When I was offered to buy Neot Midbar, it took me a few second to realize the deal's potential, and within 24 hours everything was already signed," explained Lahav, who was born in Beersheba.
"They asked me 'why Beersheba?', and I said, 'The news will come out of Beersheba.' This is one of the leading consumers' cities in Israel, a district city with half a million people. This is the next great thing. This is a world view, a concept, a center combining recreation and leisure and a communal center. This is in fact a huge youth cultural center."
Lahav aspires to turn the mall into the residents' second home. The mall will take part in activity for the communal life together with municipality bodies for all layers of the population, including hosting classes encouraging local handiwork, a center for youth movements and soldiers' meeting, a recreation center for children, and a golden age club. The army is also a key part of the business. "There will be shuttles from the bases to the mall. Those going on leave won't escape. In the night the soldiers will be driven back to the bases." "People will come and learn from us. The mall will be a source of inspiration," said Lahav. "We are creating a public center." The mall's construction is expected to being in 2010, but the earth works have already begun. The construction is expected to end in 2012. In the area near the mall the municipality is interested in setting up a hotel, and the Lahav Group is competing for the area in a tender. 'Mall will be a source of inspiration'
However he is still asked, "Why Beersheba?"
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
IAI and Airbus to Develop Environmentally Conscious Taxiing System
Article published on Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd website, June 17, 2009
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Airbus have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the 2009 International Paris Air Show to jointly develop and test an innovative environmentally friendly pilot-controlled towing semi-robotic system.
The Taxibot Dispatch Towing system, designed by IAI, allows both wide and narrow body commercial airplanes to taxi to and from the gate and the runway without the use of their jet engines.
The revolutionary Taxibot Dispatch Towing concept represents a potential to reduce annual fuel costs from $8 billion to less than $2 billion, CO2 emissions from 18 billion tons to less than 2 million tons per year, and noise emissions by a significant margin.
Yehushua (Shuki) Eldar, IAI's Corporate VP of Business Development and Subsidiaries says: "We are excited to work on the development of this eco-efficient taxiing dispatch system. The project demonstrates our commitment to the environment and utilizes IAI's robotics capabilities and technological experience.”
IAI and Airbus are studying the performance, operational, commercial, and safety aspects of the system on a series of ground taxiing tests on Airbus' A-340-600 airplane in Toulouse. The companies have agreed that following successful test period results, they may establish a Joint Venture (JV) to develop and certify the Taxibot and market the program.
According to plans, the Taxibot operational system is expected to be ready for first deliveries by the third quarter of 2011.
The special design of the Taxibot gives the pilot full control of the system during the taxiing process, and uses the existing airplane controls in the same way that the pilot is accustomed to when taxiing using the airplane's engines. The use of the Taxibot system requires no modification to the airplane and minimal modifications to the airport infrastructure which will not affect existing taxiways and runways.
For the last three years, IAI has invested R&D resources in environmentally conscious programs, including the development of renewable energy technologies, as part of a strategic plan to increase its civilian activities. Taxibot is a significant step forward that can modify the taxiing process in airports to save fuel, decrease noise levels and air pollution in comparison with today's ground operational processes.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Airbus have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the 2009 International Paris Air Show to jointly develop and test an innovative environmentally friendly pilot-controlled towing semi-robotic system.
The Taxibot Dispatch Towing system, designed by IAI, allows both wide and narrow body commercial airplanes to taxi to and from the gate and the runway without the use of their jet engines.
The revolutionary Taxibot Dispatch Towing concept represents a potential to reduce annual fuel costs from $8 billion to less than $2 billion, CO2 emissions from 18 billion tons to less than 2 million tons per year, and noise emissions by a significant margin.Yehushua (Shuki) Eldar, IAI's Corporate VP of Business Development and Subsidiaries says: "We are excited to work on the development of this eco-efficient taxiing dispatch system. The project demonstrates our commitment to the environment and utilizes IAI's robotics capabilities and technological experience.”
IAI and Airbus are studying the performance, operational, commercial, and safety aspects of the system on a series of ground taxiing tests on Airbus' A-340-600 airplane in Toulouse. The companies have agreed that following successful test period results, they may establish a Joint Venture (JV) to develop and certify the Taxibot and market the program.
According to plans, the Taxibot operational system is expected to be ready for first deliveries by the third quarter of 2011.
The special design of the Taxibot gives the pilot full control of the system during the taxiing process, and uses the existing airplane controls in the same way that the pilot is accustomed to when taxiing using the airplane's engines. The use of the Taxibot system requires no modification to the airplane and minimal modifications to the airport infrastructure which will not affect existing taxiways and runways.
For the last three years, IAI has invested R&D resources in environmentally conscious programs, including the development of renewable energy technologies, as part of a strategic plan to increase its civilian activities. Taxibot is a significant step forward that can modify the taxiing process in airports to save fuel, decrease noise levels and air pollution in comparison with today's ground operational processes.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Israeli UAVs expected to steal the show at Paris expo
Article in Jerusalem Post June 14, 2009
By Yaakov Katz
A hovercraft designed to evacuate wounded soldiers from an urban battlefield, an unmanned helicopter and a kamikaze drone will be unveiled to the public on Monday at Israel's official pavilion at the 48th Paris Air Show.
Twelve Israeli companies - including Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael, Urban Aeronautics and Elbit Systems - will present their wares at the Israeli national pavilion, which cost over NIS 6 million to erect at the Le Bourget expo center.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak flew to Paris on Sunday to attend the opening.
One new platform that will be on display is the MULE medical evacuation unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under development by Urban Aeronautics, based in Yavne.
The IDF has expressed interest in the MULE, which the company has said is capable of delivering supplies and ferrying casualties within a battle zone. The MULE can carry approximately 317 kilograms over an 80-kilometer radius. The speed of the MULE is expected to be in the range of 100 knots, with a maximum operating altitude of 3,660 meters.
Another UAV slated to be unveiled on Monday is the Picador, an unmanned helicopter developed by Aeronautics Defense Systems. The Picador has already made its first flight test and is designed for naval and land-based operations. It has a range of 200 km. and is reportedly capable of carrying a 180-kg. payload.
HAROP being launched and hitting the target
Another drone on display is the HAROP loitering munition, a self-destructing drone that can be used to detect and destroy missile launchers, anti-aircraft systems and naval craft. Developed by IAI, the HAROP can be launched from various platforms.
By Yaakov Katz
A hovercraft designed to evacuate wounded soldiers from an urban battlefield, an unmanned helicopter and a kamikaze drone will be unveiled to the public on Monday at Israel's official pavilion at the 48th Paris Air Show.
Twelve Israeli companies - including Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael, Urban Aeronautics and Elbit Systems - will present their wares at the Israeli national pavilion, which cost over NIS 6 million to erect at the Le Bourget expo center.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak flew to Paris on Sunday to attend the opening.
One new platform that will be on display is the MULE medical evacuation unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under development by Urban Aeronautics, based in Yavne.
The IDF has expressed interest in the MULE, which the company has said is capable of delivering supplies and ferrying casualties within a battle zone. The MULE can carry approximately 317 kilograms over an 80-kilometer radius. The speed of the MULE is expected to be in the range of 100 knots, with a maximum operating altitude of 3,660 meters.
Another UAV slated to be unveiled on Monday is the Picador, an unmanned helicopter developed by Aeronautics Defense Systems. The Picador has already made its first flight test and is designed for naval and land-based operations. It has a range of 200 km. and is reportedly capable of carrying a 180-kg. payload.
HAROP being launched and hitting the targetAnother drone on display is the HAROP loitering munition, a self-destructing drone that can be used to detect and destroy missile launchers, anti-aircraft systems and naval craft. Developed by IAI, the HAROP can be launched from various platforms.
Rather than carrying a separate missile or warhead, the HAROP drone itself is the weapon and is designed to be a hunter and killer by loitering above a battlefield and attacking targets. It was specifically designed to suppress enemy air defense systems.
IAI recently signed a $100 million contract to supply the HAROP to a foreign customer, reportedly India.
"This is a state-of-the-art loitering munition system which features accurate detection capabilities and minimizes collateral damage to the surrounding area," IAI CEO Itzhak Nissan said.
In related news, Deputy Chief of General Staff Maj.-Gen. Dan Harel has decided to purchase the Iron Fist active-protection system developed by Israel Military Industries for the army's new "Namer" armored personnel carriers (APC). Currently in its final development stages, the Iron Fist is capable of intercepting and destroying a wide range of anti-tank missiles, from old RPGs and standard tank shells to the Russian-made advanced missiles in Hizbullah's and Syria's arsenals.
The Iron Fist consists of a radar and passive optical system that detects incoming threats and destroys them within a fraction of a second using a combustible blast interceptor. Unlike similar active-protection systems, which fire off a large number of projectiles, the Iron Fist intercepts incoming threats by using a rocket the shape of a mortar shell. The rocket destroys the threat with a blast that crushes its soft components or deflects the missile or kinetic projectile in flight.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Israel-US Team Kills Breast Cancer in the Dark
Article on Arutz Sheva June 12, 2009
By by Karin Kloosterman
With the alarming incidence of breast cancer in America -- one in eight women can expect to get it sometime in their life -- new solutions for women, their mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters and friends, cannot come fast enough. An Israeli-American research team has stumbled onto a new and interesting find - a non-radiation based therapy that may provide relief for an aggressive and hard to treat breast cancer cell known as HER2+, but which could also have wider applications for treating all kinds of cancer.
Breast cancer alone is the most common form of cancer among U.S. women, and the second leading cause of death after lung cancer. About 200,000 women in the U.S. alone had breast cancer in 2008, and about 40,000 will die from it each year.
Prof. Zeev Gross, from the Technion / Israel Institute of Technology has played no small role in the new research paper that shows positive results for the new non-radiation based therapy based on the chemical compound gallium corroles.
Published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Israel-U.S. team, including scientists from the California Institute of Technology and the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center were able to show positive pre-clinical results on the new treatment that homes in on HER2+.
By by Karin Kloosterman
With the alarming incidence of breast cancer in America -- one in eight women can expect to get it sometime in their life -- new solutions for women, their mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters and friends, cannot come fast enough. An Israeli-American research team has stumbled onto a new and interesting find - a non-radiation based therapy that may provide relief for an aggressive and hard to treat breast cancer cell known as HER2+, but which could also have wider applications for treating all kinds of cancer.
Breast cancer alone is the most common form of cancer among U.S. women, and the second leading cause of death after lung cancer. About 200,000 women in the U.S. alone had breast cancer in 2008, and about 40,000 will die from it each year.
Prof. Zeev Gross, from the Technion / Israel Institute of Technology has played no small role in the new research paper that shows positive results for the new non-radiation based therapy based on the chemical compound gallium corroles.
Published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Israel-U.S. team, including scientists from the California Institute of Technology and the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center were able to show positive pre-clinical results on the new treatment that homes in on HER2+.
Using a new-to-science organic chemical called a corrole, described about 10 years ago, Gross was able to develop a powerful method that synthesizes these chemicals for practical use in medicine. From being able to make a couple of milligrams in two years, Gross' team could produce two grams in two days.
Lights up and kills cancer
The beauty of the new chemical compound, waiting for an investment in order to go to clinical trials, is that it not only works in diagnostics, lighting up and showing doctors where the cancer cells are, it is also somehow able to kill the cancer at the same time. Gross has also found it works for treating arterial sclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, which leads to heart disease.
"We started in cancer wanting to take advantage of a property of this compound," Gross tells ISRAEL21c. "They are highly florescent and we wanted to use them to detect cancer. We found at the cellular level [gallium corroles were] useful for imaging, but also found it could kill cancer with high specificity and could be an alternative to chemotherapy.
"We were surprised," he continues. "It could be used for selective killing of cancer cells. Focusing on breast cancer cells, our collaborators developed a vector, a virus based gene delivery protein, and we said let's use it for corroles."
Testing this idea, the researchers were pleased to see the dual effects of this chemical. Gross explains: "In most cases, if people want to get a closer look at a drug in vivo, they have to attach a fluorescent probe to it - and that turns it into a different molecule.
"But in our case, the active molecule we're tracking does the fluorescing. We get to track the original, unmodified molecule and are hence able to follow its distribution among different organs in live animals."
Fewer side effects than chemotherapy
In the new study the international team combined a gallium corrole with a protein carrier so that the corrole would show an affinity to cancer cells. According to the researchers, when tried on mice with breast cancer, it became a targeted cancer therapy able to both detect and eliminate tumors in mice. They report fewer side effects compared to other breast cancer treatments.
Corroles are similar in structure to porphyrin molecules used today in a well-researched cancer treatment called photodynamic therapy, or PDT. Porphyrin compounds are injected into the body and are then exposed to specific wavelengths of laser light. The light causes the porphyrins to create tumor-killing oxygen radicals.
The difference between porphyrins and the team's corroles, explain researchers, is that corroles don't need laser light to be activated, in effect it's killing "cancer cells in the dark," they say.
In the study on mice corroles, the Israel-U.S. team was able to shrink breast cancer tumors at doses five times lower than standard chemo treatments (based on a drug called doxorubicin). Also, the corroles could be injected straight into the bloodstream and not into the tumor, making the treatment, if developed clinically, easier to administer.
"Using lower concentrations means less toxicity. Doxorubicin tends to have significant heart toxicity; this therapy seems likely to be much less damaging to the heart," Daniel Farkas, a co-researcher in the study and the director of Cedar-Sinai's Minimally Invasive Surgical Technologies Institute tells ISRAEL21c.
Putting statins out of business?
But the Israeli team finds it could work in heart disease as well: iron corroles are also able to provide reversal effects of arterial sclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, says Gross. With a different mode of action than gallium corroles, "We took mice prone to develop arterial sclerosis and treated them with the same family of compounds. It's a very potent antioxidant," he says. "It's interfering with the process causing arterial sclerosis."
"We already know about green tea, red wine, or pomegranate," he explains, noting that his innovation is better than natural antioxidants that at same stage can also attack vital biomolecules. The therapy was shown to work in successful pre-clinical studies, while the medicinal value of corroles, says Gross, was something his Technion lab initiated 10 years ago.
"We discovered how to synthesize corroles and are the main people pushing forward the fundamentals of science," says Gross, noting the applications are wide and three-fold in catalysis, in medicine, and in renewable energy.
The Technion lab's senior scientist Dr. Atif Mahammed, an Israeli Arab is "a leading figure in this whole project," says Gross, who says his lab is also enriched with a team of gifted scientists from the former Soviet Union.
Funding for the research was provided by the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation, the National Science Foundation in the US, the National Institutes of Health, the US Department of Defense, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the Donna and Jesse Garber Award, the Gurwin Foundation, and the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tel Aviv celebrates 'White Night'
Article on Ynetnews May 28, 2009
By Josh Lichtenstein
Third annual festival honoring city's status as World Heritage Site marked with night of partying. Restaurants, bars, cafés remain open all night, with free concerts and cultural activities across city.
On Wednesday night Tel Aviv celebrated its third annual “White Night” festival with parties and special events throughout the city. Bars, restaurants, and cultural institutions kept their doors open late into the night creating a vibrant atmosphere across the city.
By Josh Lichtenstein
Third annual festival honoring city's status as World Heritage Site marked with night of partying. Restaurants, bars, cafés remain open all night, with free concerts and cultural activities across city.
On Wednesday night Tel Aviv celebrated its third annual “White Night” festival with parties and special events throughout the city. Bars, restaurants, and cultural institutions kept their doors open late into the night creating a vibrant atmosphere across the city. The city has been holding the event for the past three years to celebrate its UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) status as a World Heritage Site.
Tel Aviv has been recognized around the world for its beautiful Bauhaus style architecture and rich cultural heritage. Lining Rothschild Boulevard and Bialik Street, buildings were illuminated with special lighting. The city offered guided tours of the architecture along Bialik street. The streets were filled with people, many dressed in white, all joining together to party in beautiful Tel Aviv.
So much to see
Throughout Tel Aviv cultural events took place late into the night. Most of the events were free to the public , which allowed more people to take part. In the station complex of the Neve Tzedek neighborhood, the Gesher Theatre company performed selected acts from William Shakespeare's “The Twelfth Night”. In the Sharon Garden of Hahashmal Park, Israeli Opera soloists performed a special concert of Israeli songs accompanied by piano. Elsewhere, the Tel Aviv Opera House presented a midnight showing of a selection of popular operas.
The flea market in Jaffa stayed open late allowing shoppers to wonder through art galleries, restaurants, and cafes. The biggest parties took place along the beach where people danced and partied to the sound of live music and deejays. Mante Ray beach held a huge free party sponsored by Club Med with free music and dancing. Bars and cafes near the water were packed with people. There was an amazing amount of energy in the air with the all the activities going on throughout the city.
Incredible nightlife
Gabriel Rosenberg, a Tel Aviv resident who recently moved to the city, described his first “White Night” experience to Ynet saying, “White night is an unbelievable event where people from all around Tel Aviv can get together and enjoy incredible nightlife and an atmosphere that compares to no other place on earth. Where else can you find so many beautiful people and live music in one place, together with such amazing weather?“
The city of Tel Aviv invested NIS 350,000 (roughly $90,000) in this year's events. Surprisingly, the Florentine neighborhood, which is a major party hub during Purim and Independence Day celebrations, did not hold any events.Monday, May 18, 2009
Elbit Systems wins €25m order from Austrian Army
Article on GLOBES [online] May 18, 2009
By Globes' correspondent
The company will supply 12.7mm remote controlled weapon stations for jeeps.
Elbit Systems Ltd. has won a €25 million contract from the Austrian Army for the company's new 12.7mm unmanned electrically remote controlled weapon stations. Deliveries will be made over the next four years.
The weapon stations include day and night detection systems and a multi-threat detection system that can detect, categorize and pinpoint laser, radar, and radio-frequency sources of threats. The weapon stations are designed for light combat vehicles, adding sensors and firepower, without greatly increasing the vehicle's weight.
Elbit Systems Land and C4I Tadiran general manager Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis said, "We are proud to have been selected to take part in this important project for the Austrian Armed Forces. Elbit Systems' co-operation with Iveco Defence Vehicles reflects the level of recognition we have achieved with our customers and international partners. The selection of our systems constitutes a breakthrough in an emerging international market emanating from a shift in the modern battlefield."
By Globes' correspondent
The company will supply 12.7mm remote controlled weapon stations for jeeps.
Elbit Systems Ltd. has won a €25 million contract from the Austrian Army for the company's new 12.7mm unmanned electrically remote controlled weapon stations. Deliveries will be made over the next four years.
This is Elbit Systems' third international contract within a week.
Elbit Systems Ltd. logo
Elbit Systems signed the contract with Fiat Group SpA (Milan: F) subsidiary Iveco SpA, the prime contractor for the program. The weapon stations will be integrated into Iveco Defense Vehicles' 4x4 Light Multi-role Vehicles jeeps.The weapon stations include day and night detection systems and a multi-threat detection system that can detect, categorize and pinpoint laser, radar, and radio-frequency sources of threats. The weapon stations are designed for light combat vehicles, adding sensors and firepower, without greatly increasing the vehicle's weight.
Elbit Systems Land and C4I Tadiran general manager Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis said, "We are proud to have been selected to take part in this important project for the Austrian Armed Forces. Elbit Systems' co-operation with Iveco Defence Vehicles reflects the level of recognition we have achieved with our customers and international partners. The selection of our systems constitutes a breakthrough in an emerging international market emanating from a shift in the modern battlefield."
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Arad takes a personal approach to promote itself as 'recycling city'
Article on The Jerusalem Post May 16, 2009
By Ehud Zion Waldoks
Arad has launched a project to rebrand itself as the "recycling city." The Negev town has begun to encourage all forms of recycling, from paper and plastic to old clothes.
Yet what is unique about the project are not the technical aspects. Their tools are the same as in other Israeli cities: cages for plastic bottles, containers for batteries and cylinders for paper. There are no advanced technological elements.
Instead, the focus of the project is on the people: on cooperation and collaboration.
The idea was first raised by Jay Ruderman, president of the Ruderman Family Charitable Foundation out of Boston. Ruderman runs all of his family foundation's day-to-day activities from Israel, having made aliya three-and-a-half years ago.
"Where I lived [in Boston] we were recycling everything. So I tried to think of a way to improve recycling in Israel," he told The Jerusalem Post recently. "We approached the JNF because they have a project to develop the Negev. We shopped the idea around and Arad was the most interested."
This is the foundation's first foray into an environmental education endeavor, but Ruderman hopes it will become a model which can be replicated across the Negev and throughout Israel.
The foundation has been active in other types of educational activities both here and in the Boston area.
For Ruderman, the partnership aspects were critical.
"Partnerships maximize what you can do," he said.
JNF CEO Russell Robinson sees a similar potential in the program.
"The Negev is the new frontier for the 21st century. The Negev is languishing. Arad went from a middle-class city to a depressed one. Beersheba was losing its population until two years ago.
"You need to bring 500,000 people in the next 10 to 15 years. People need to take pride in their community and their city and this kind of project could do that.
"Recycling is very tangible - the visual of all the plastic bottles collected brings better understanding. And of course, if it works in Arad, it can be replicated elsewhere," he told the Post.
All across the South, Robinson pointed out, environmental projects are beginning to sprout up in the scattered communities. The JNF has invested significant sums in various projects and plans to continue to invest in the upcoming years.
"There's the Timna National Park which brings in 250,000-300,000 visitors. Kibbutz Lotan is an environmental showcase. There's a farmers market in Yahel and our idea is to create a bike path from Yahel to Eilat with kiosks at every stop," he said.
The JNF plans to invest $2m.-$3m. in that project.
Nitzana has also moved to adopt ecological principles with a recycling teaching center and other aspects.
In addition to the collaborative nature of its conception and inception, the Arad recycling program focuses on tailoring recycling to the needs of the city's individual communities. Instead of just placing cages and containers around the city and running a PR campaign, the planners have involved the public from the very first.
"We started off by holding a public hearing about the project. There were 750 seats and every one of them was filled," Ayala Guber-Avrahamy of the Eastern Negev Environmental Unit recalled. The unit services Arad, Tamar, and Yeroham.
Since the hearing, the public has been involved with every aspect of planning and execution. It's a bottom-up model, rather than top down, Guber-Avrahamy said.
"Our success is measured by our ability to involve the community, to get them to understand the value added," she said. A community-based process is considered more sustainable in the long run, according to community organizing professionals.
Moreover, since recycling is largely based on citizens' willingness to participate and separate their garbage at home, it's particularly amenable to the planners' strategy.
"We met with every community in order to understand what their needs were," said Svivotichnun's Hagit Naalei Yosef, whose firm was brought in to plan the program.
"Sometimes the community doesn't connect to the collection receptacles, and sometimes they are in the wrong place," she noted.
"When we talked to the community of people with disabilities, for example, they mentioned that the holes in the cages for plastic bottles were too high for them," Guber-Avrahamy said.
"They also suggested that pupils who have to fulfill their community service obligations could come by their houses on a regular basis to pick up all sorts of plastic to recycle," Naalei Yosef said.
The local haredi community is also involved.
"In the Gur Hassidic community, they recycle pregnancy clothes. At one of the local schools, we've started a uniform-shirt recycling program, where pupils bring the shirts they've outgrown for the younger ones," Guber-Avrahamy added.
To the best of her knowledge, Guber-Avrahamy said, a community involvement model like this hasn't been tried anywhere else in Israel to encourage recycling.
Looking to the future, Guber-Avrahamy said they were in talks with a plastic recycling company about recycling types of plastic other than plastic bottles.
"They work with a lot of factories, but they've never worked with a municipality before," she said, "We're thinking about having the sorting done by people with special needs."
By Ehud Zion Waldoks
Arad has launched a project to rebrand itself as the "recycling city." The Negev town has begun to encourage all forms of recycling, from paper and plastic to old clothes.
Yet what is unique about the project are not the technical aspects. Their tools are the same as in other Israeli cities: cages for plastic bottles, containers for batteries and cylinders for paper. There are no advanced technological elements.
Instead, the focus of the project is on the people: on cooperation and collaboration.
Arad Municipality building
The project began as an unusual collaboration among a foreign donor, the Jewish National Fund (JNF), the Environmental Protection Ministry, the local environmental unit, the municipality and the Or Movement, which seeks to encourage settlement in the Negev.The idea was first raised by Jay Ruderman, president of the Ruderman Family Charitable Foundation out of Boston. Ruderman runs all of his family foundation's day-to-day activities from Israel, having made aliya three-and-a-half years ago.
"Where I lived [in Boston] we were recycling everything. So I tried to think of a way to improve recycling in Israel," he told The Jerusalem Post recently. "We approached the JNF because they have a project to develop the Negev. We shopped the idea around and Arad was the most interested."
This is the foundation's first foray into an environmental education endeavor, but Ruderman hopes it will become a model which can be replicated across the Negev and throughout Israel.
The foundation has been active in other types of educational activities both here and in the Boston area.
For Ruderman, the partnership aspects were critical.
"Partnerships maximize what you can do," he said.
JNF CEO Russell Robinson sees a similar potential in the program.
"The Negev is the new frontier for the 21st century. The Negev is languishing. Arad went from a middle-class city to a depressed one. Beersheba was losing its population until two years ago.
"You need to bring 500,000 people in the next 10 to 15 years. People need to take pride in their community and their city and this kind of project could do that.
"Recycling is very tangible - the visual of all the plastic bottles collected brings better understanding. And of course, if it works in Arad, it can be replicated elsewhere," he told the Post.
All across the South, Robinson pointed out, environmental projects are beginning to sprout up in the scattered communities. The JNF has invested significant sums in various projects and plans to continue to invest in the upcoming years.
"There's the Timna National Park which brings in 250,000-300,000 visitors. Kibbutz Lotan is an environmental showcase. There's a farmers market in Yahel and our idea is to create a bike path from Yahel to Eilat with kiosks at every stop," he said.
The JNF plans to invest $2m.-$3m. in that project.
Nitzana has also moved to adopt ecological principles with a recycling teaching center and other aspects.
In addition to the collaborative nature of its conception and inception, the Arad recycling program focuses on tailoring recycling to the needs of the city's individual communities. Instead of just placing cages and containers around the city and running a PR campaign, the planners have involved the public from the very first.
"We started off by holding a public hearing about the project. There were 750 seats and every one of them was filled," Ayala Guber-Avrahamy of the Eastern Negev Environmental Unit recalled. The unit services Arad, Tamar, and Yeroham.
Since the hearing, the public has been involved with every aspect of planning and execution. It's a bottom-up model, rather than top down, Guber-Avrahamy said.
"Our success is measured by our ability to involve the community, to get them to understand the value added," she said. A community-based process is considered more sustainable in the long run, according to community organizing professionals.
Moreover, since recycling is largely based on citizens' willingness to participate and separate their garbage at home, it's particularly amenable to the planners' strategy.
"We met with every community in order to understand what their needs were," said Svivotichnun's Hagit Naalei Yosef, whose firm was brought in to plan the program.
"Sometimes the community doesn't connect to the collection receptacles, and sometimes they are in the wrong place," she noted.
"When we talked to the community of people with disabilities, for example, they mentioned that the holes in the cages for plastic bottles were too high for them," Guber-Avrahamy said.
"They also suggested that pupils who have to fulfill their community service obligations could come by their houses on a regular basis to pick up all sorts of plastic to recycle," Naalei Yosef said.
The local haredi community is also involved.
"In the Gur Hassidic community, they recycle pregnancy clothes. At one of the local schools, we've started a uniform-shirt recycling program, where pupils bring the shirts they've outgrown for the younger ones," Guber-Avrahamy added.
To the best of her knowledge, Guber-Avrahamy said, a community involvement model like this hasn't been tried anywhere else in Israel to encourage recycling.
Looking to the future, Guber-Avrahamy said they were in talks with a plastic recycling company about recycling types of plastic other than plastic bottles.
"They work with a lot of factories, but they've never worked with a municipality before," she said, "We're thinking about having the sorting done by people with special needs."
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Stolen 2,000-Year-Old Hebrew Papyrus Recovered
Article on Arutz Sheva May 6, 2009
By Hillel Fendel
A 2,000-year-old Hebrew document has been recovered by police and antiquities authorities, shedding light on post-Temple Jewish life in the Land of Israel.
Amir Ganor, director of the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery in the Israel Antiquities Authority, told Israel National News, “We heard about this papyrus several months ago, and after investigation by the police and the other units involved, we finally reached the right people this past week." Asked when it was found and removed from the ground, he said, "It still has pieces of earth on it, and since it was offered for sale in recent months, it is likely that it was found in the very recent past.”
Asked if he knew where it was found, Ganor said, “The best climatic conditions for preserving documents of this nature for so many centuries are in the Judean Desert, and so that is our assumption.” The investigation as to where and how the papyrus was found continues.
The recovery of the document was the culmination of an operation led by the Intelligence Office of the Zion [central Jerusalem] Region and the Undercover Unit of the Jerusalem Border Police, in cooperation with the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery and the Archaeological Staff Officer in the Civil Administration.
By Hillel Fendel
A 2,000-year-old Hebrew document has been recovered by police and antiquities authorities, shedding light on post-Temple Jewish life in the Land of Israel.
The 15x15 cm (6x6 inch) papyrus is 15 lines long, and is clearly dated, “Year 4 to the destruction of Israel.” Archaeologists say this refers to either 74 CE, four years after the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans, or the year 139 CE, after the destruction of rural settlement in Judah following the Bar Kokhba Revolt.
Amir Ganor, director of the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery in the Israel Antiquities Authority, told Israel National News, “We heard about this papyrus several months ago, and after investigation by the police and the other units involved, we finally reached the right people this past week." Asked when it was found and removed from the ground, he said, "It still has pieces of earth on it, and since it was offered for sale in recent months, it is likely that it was found in the very recent past.”
Asked if he knew where it was found, Ganor said, “The best climatic conditions for preserving documents of this nature for so many centuries are in the Judean Desert, and so that is our assumption.” The investigation as to where and how the papyrus was found continues.
The recovery of the document was the culmination of an operation led by the Intelligence Office of the Zion [central Jerusalem] Region and the Undercover Unit of the Jerusalem Border Police, in cooperation with the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery and the Archaeological Staff Officer in the Civil Administration.
“It appears that we are dealing with rare historic evidence regarding the Jewish people in their country from more than 2,000 years ago,” Ganor summed up.
The document is written in ancient Hebrew script characteristic of the Second Temple period. This style of the writing is primarily known from the Dead Sea scrolls and various inscriptions that occur on ossuaries and coffins. The papyrus is incomplete and was in all likelihood rolled up; pieces of it crumbled, mainly along its bottom and left sides. The name of a woman, “Miriam barat [Aramaic for ‘daughter of’] Yaakov” is also legible in the document, followed by a name that is likely to be that of the village in which she lived: Misalev, believed to be Salabim and possibly the present-day Kibbutz Shaalvim in the Ayalon Valley.
Also mentioned in the document are the names of other people and families, the names of a number of other villages from the Second Temple period, and legal wording dealing with the property of a widow and her relinquishment of it.
Ganor says that the document is "95%" believed to be authentic and ancient, “based on the epigraphic style, the material the document is written on, the state of preservation and the text, which includes a historic date that can be deciphered.” However, “since this object was not discovered in a proper archaeological excavation, it still must undergo laboratory analyses in order to negate the possibility it is a modern forgery.”
“The document is very important from the standpoint of historical and national research,” Ganor stated. “Until now, almost no historic scrolls or documents from this period have been discovered in proper archaeological excavations… The deciphering of the entire document by expert epigraphers and historians may shed light on how the people of the period managed their affairs and supplement our knowledge about their way of life. What we have here is rare historic evidence about the Jewish people in their country from more than 2,000 years ago, during the days following the destruction which sent the people of Israel into exile for a very long time – until the creation of the State of Israel.”
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Zenith turns an Israeli kibbutz solar
According to Solar Feeds website, ZenithSolar, an Israeli start-up company to license revolutionary solar energy technologies, will be launching its first “solar farm” in April 2009 based on Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) systems. Developed by Prof. David Faiman, Chairman of the Department of Solar Energy and Environmental Physics at the University’s Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, the system will harvest more than 70% of incoming solar energy (as compared to industry norms of 10% to 40%).Journalists are invited on March 22, 2009 to Kvuzat Yavne for the first site visit and briefing to learn firsthand how this unique technology will generate electricity and thermal energy (hot water) for the Kibbutz and ultimately other Israel neighborhoods.
ZenithSolar is set to develop and mass produce the most reliable cogeneration solar power system – with a full vertically integrated strategy – that can be deployed as a distributed energy network. Founded in 2006, The ZenithSolar system is price competitive with traditional forms of energy without government subsidies. ZenithSolar concentrated solar energy generation system is based on a new paradigm in optical design and high-efficiency solar cells.
Additional link: http://www.zenithsolar.com/
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
South Africans Make Aliyah at Western Wall
Article on Arutz Sheva Aprill 22, 2009
By Hillel Fendel
Over 85 new immigrants of all ages from South Africa and Zimbabwe arriving in Israel today (Wednesday) will receive their citizenship at a unique group ceremony at the Western Wall on Thursday.
By Hillel Fendel
Over 85 new immigrants of all ages from South Africa and Zimbabwe arriving in Israel today (Wednesday) will receive their citizenship at a unique group ceremony at the Western Wall on Thursday.
The arrival of the Jewish Agency flight at Ben Gurion International Airport will contribute to the increasing Aliyah numbers from South Africa. Some 340 Jews moved to Israel from the country in 2008, twice as many as in the year before. This flight is the third one bringing South African Jews this year.
South African Jews at Western Wall
The Jewish Agency will hold a special Absorption Day for the new Israelis at the Shalom Hotel in Jerusalem's Bayit V’gan neighborhood on Thursday morning. Representatives of various government and important offices, such as the National Insurance Institute, the health funds, phone companies, the Ministry of Absorption, and others, will be on hand.
At 4 p.m, the new immigrants will receive their ID cards in a unique ceremony at the Western Wall. Such cards are usually granted without fanfare in an Absorption Ministry office.
On hand for the occasion will be Jewish Agency Treasurer and former Meretz MK Haggai Merom, South African Jewry lay-leader Mendel Kaplan, and representatives of the Friendship Fund.
Some 65,000 Jews still live in South Africa, including 45,000 in Johannesburg and 15,000 in Capetown. Some 21,000 South African Jews have made Aliyah since the inception of the State of Israel.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Seeing through walls
Article by The Israel High-Tech & Investment Report
Published in April's issue.
The ability to see through solid, non-transparent walls is a capability that everyone can immediately find applications for. For people who operate in hostile environments this ability can be the difference between success and failure of an operation. Failure may spell out casualties. The need for this technology has existed for a long time and now the Xaver 800 is mature to deliver this capability in a compact, portable device.
The Xaver 800 system creates an operational unfair advantage to the one who operates it. It pretty much changes the rules of the game, allowing a real shift in operational paradigms. Forces can plan ahead and beyond the wall they stand in front of, significantly increasing their mission success probability while protecting their lives. The Xaver 800 is microwave radar that is capable of penetrating walls and creating an image of objects behind those walls by picking up the reflected energy from those objects. The system provides information regarding the number of people, their location and orientation, as well as the shape of the room.
The system is basically a radar system, but with several unique characteristics. First and foremost, the operational environment is very different than ordinary radars, for air traffic control. Ordinary radar operates in free space over large distances and transmits very high power levels. The xavier system needs to penetrate walls and provide high resolution over relatively short distances. In addition, due to the fact that there are people in the immediate vicinity of the system we must keep microwave radiation at safe levels. The design utilizes special antenna design and an ultra wideband (UWB) signal to cope with the challenge. The use of UWB signal provides design simplicity on one hand, but required innovative implementation on the other. The Xaver 800 can see through most commonly used wall materials, e.g. clay brick, cinder blocks, reinforced concrete, plaster dry wall, wood, adobe and stone.
The system provides situational awareness of a room or building by providing information of how many people are behind the wall or walls; it also provides information on the structure of the building or rooms. Getting information from behind solid walls allows better preparation of an operation: reducing surprises, ensuring efficient use of resources and eventually saving lives.
Applications include:
* Military urban operations
* Hostage rescue
* Victim search and rescue
The Xaver 800 is a portable system. It weighs 15Kg/33lb and it folds to a compact 47cmX47cmX15cm ( 19" x 19" x 6") that can be easily carried and operated by a single person. The system consists of two parts - Front end (FE), which is the sensor part and Back end (BE), which is the operating and display unit. The two parts may be either attached to each other or connected by cable. Unfolding the sensor and mounting the system on a tripod takes less than one minute. The Xaver 800 delivers images within 15 seconds from pressing the ON/OFF button.
Published in April's issue.
The ability to see through solid, non-transparent walls is a capability that everyone can immediately find applications for. For people who operate in hostile environments this ability can be the difference between success and failure of an operation. Failure may spell out casualties. The need for this technology has existed for a long time and now the Xaver 800 is mature to deliver this capability in a compact, portable device.
The Xaver 800 system creates an operational unfair advantage to the one who operates it. It pretty much changes the rules of the game, allowing a real shift in operational paradigms. Forces can plan ahead and beyond the wall they stand in front of, significantly increasing their mission success probability while protecting their lives. The Xaver 800 is microwave radar that is capable of penetrating walls and creating an image of objects behind those walls by picking up the reflected energy from those objects. The system provides information regarding the number of people, their location and orientation, as well as the shape of the room.
Xaver™400 Video Presentation
The system is basically a radar system, but with several unique characteristics. First and foremost, the operational environment is very different than ordinary radars, for air traffic control. Ordinary radar operates in free space over large distances and transmits very high power levels. The xavier system needs to penetrate walls and provide high resolution over relatively short distances. In addition, due to the fact that there are people in the immediate vicinity of the system we must keep microwave radiation at safe levels. The design utilizes special antenna design and an ultra wideband (UWB) signal to cope with the challenge. The use of UWB signal provides design simplicity on one hand, but required innovative implementation on the other. The Xaver 800 can see through most commonly used wall materials, e.g. clay brick, cinder blocks, reinforced concrete, plaster dry wall, wood, adobe and stone.
The system provides situational awareness of a room or building by providing information of how many people are behind the wall or walls; it also provides information on the structure of the building or rooms. Getting information from behind solid walls allows better preparation of an operation: reducing surprises, ensuring efficient use of resources and eventually saving lives.
Applications include:
* Military urban operations
* Hostage rescue
* Victim search and rescue
The Xaver 800 is a portable system. It weighs 15Kg/33lb and it folds to a compact 47cmX47cmX15cm ( 19" x 19" x 6") that can be easily carried and operated by a single person. The system consists of two parts - Front end (FE), which is the sensor part and Back end (BE), which is the operating and display unit. The two parts may be either attached to each other or connected by cable. Unfolding the sensor and mounting the system on a tripod takes less than one minute. The Xaver 800 delivers images within 15 seconds from pressing the ON/OFF button.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
IDF Makes Technological Advancements for Missile Defense System
Article published on April 7, 2009
By Israel Defense Forces
On Tuesday (April 7), the IDF carried out a test launch of the Arrow II Missile Defense System; this system is a part of a program that is designed to improve security methods in Israel and in the United States. During the test, a missile that simulates a possible threat to Israel was launched and shortly thereafter, the system's radar identified the missile and sent the data to the Data Management Center, who then fired the Arrow in order to intercept it.
Arrow Missile. Photo: IAF Website
During the test launch, representatives from the Ministry of Defense, the U.S. Department of Defense, and representatives from relevant industries, were present. Sources from within the Ministry of Defense clarified that the success of the project constitutes an important step in the long term plan to develop operational capabilities that are able to provide a solution to the threat of ballistic missiles being launched at Israel.
The Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak, was briefed regarding the results of the test launch and said, "This is a project that is important for the State of Israel. The integration of the Arrow System together with the 'Iron Dome,' which also produced successful results during a test launch last week, will provide the best protection for immediate strategic threats. The security apparatus works intensively in order to provide a defense system against missiles and thus to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens."
Two weeks ago, there was a successful test launch of the Iron Dome, which is designed to provide protection against short-range missiles and rockets such as Qassams and Grad rockets, while the Arrow system is intended for long-range, ballistic missiles that can come from enemy countries.
By Israel Defense Forces
On Tuesday (April 7), the IDF carried out a test launch of the Arrow II Missile Defense System; this system is a part of a program that is designed to improve security methods in Israel and in the United States. During the test, a missile that simulates a possible threat to Israel was launched and shortly thereafter, the system's radar identified the missile and sent the data to the Data Management Center, who then fired the Arrow in order to intercept it.
Arrow Missile. Photo: IAF WebsiteDuring the test launch, representatives from the Ministry of Defense, the U.S. Department of Defense, and representatives from relevant industries, were present. Sources from within the Ministry of Defense clarified that the success of the project constitutes an important step in the long term plan to develop operational capabilities that are able to provide a solution to the threat of ballistic missiles being launched at Israel.
The Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak, was briefed regarding the results of the test launch and said, "This is a project that is important for the State of Israel. The integration of the Arrow System together with the 'Iron Dome,' which also produced successful results during a test launch last week, will provide the best protection for immediate strategic threats. The security apparatus works intensively in order to provide a defense system against missiles and thus to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens."
Two weeks ago, there was a successful test launch of the Iron Dome, which is designed to provide protection against short-range missiles and rockets such as Qassams and Grad rockets, while the Arrow system is intended for long-range, ballistic missiles that can come from enemy countries.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Haifa to build biotech park
Article on GLOBES [online] March 30, 2009
By Gali Weinreb
Haifa Economic Corp expects to invest $1.5 billion in the new park over five years.
Haifa municipality-owned Haifa Economic Corporation plans to build a biotechnology park adjacent to Matam High-Tech Park at the southern entrance to the city. The company expects to invest $1.5 billion in the new park over five years.
The biotechnology park will be built on a 30-dunam (7.5-acre) site jointly owned by Haifa Economic Corporation and Property and Building Ltd. (TASE: PTBL). Haifa Economic Corporation intends to buy out Property and Building.
Research At Hi Tech Lab
Haifa is considered a focal point of Israel's biomedical industry, especially the medical device sector. IBM Corp. (NYSE: IBM) has a unit there that handles, among other things, healthcare. Technion Entrepreneurial Incubator Co. Ltd. (TEIC), which also supports biomedical start-ups, operates out of Matam.
Haifa Economic Corporation CEO Avi Feferkorn is in charge of the biotechnology park project.
"Globes": Is it possible to find tenants at reasonable prices for the biotech park during the current slump?
Feferkorn: "We conducted a large market survey, from which we concluded that there is sufficient demand for the biotech park. Half of biomedical start-ups are located north of Hadera.
"There is a real crisis now, so it is very cost-effective to build now, and market the biotech park in a few years, after the recovery. We have all the money we need to move forward on construction, so there is no need to raise capital or obtain loans."
By Gali Weinreb
Haifa Economic Corp expects to invest $1.5 billion in the new park over five years.
Haifa municipality-owned Haifa Economic Corporation plans to build a biotechnology park adjacent to Matam High-Tech Park at the southern entrance to the city. The company expects to invest $1.5 billion in the new park over five years.
The biotechnology park will be built on a 30-dunam (7.5-acre) site jointly owned by Haifa Economic Corporation and Property and Building Ltd. (TASE: PTBL). Haifa Economic Corporation intends to buy out Property and Building.
Research At Hi Tech LabHaifa is considered a focal point of Israel's biomedical industry, especially the medical device sector. IBM Corp. (NYSE: IBM) has a unit there that handles, among other things, healthcare. Technion Entrepreneurial Incubator Co. Ltd. (TEIC), which also supports biomedical start-ups, operates out of Matam.
Haifa Economic Corporation CEO Avi Feferkorn is in charge of the biotechnology park project.
"Globes": Is it possible to find tenants at reasonable prices for the biotech park during the current slump?
Feferkorn: "We conducted a large market survey, from which we concluded that there is sufficient demand for the biotech park. Half of biomedical start-ups are located north of Hadera.
"There is a real crisis now, so it is very cost-effective to build now, and market the biotech park in a few years, after the recovery. We have all the money we need to move forward on construction, so there is no need to raise capital or obtain loans."
Thursday, March 26, 2009
New GPS device makes schlepping around Eretz Yisroel easy
Article on www.jpost.com March 26, 2009
By Mel Bezalel
By Mel Bezalel
Oy gevalt! You can sure feel like a schlemiel getting around Eretz Yisroel sometimes. Especially if you're a kvetch who doesn't have the chutzpa to ask for directions because you only speak Yiddish. 
But there's no need to feel like a shmendrik anymore, because beginning this week, the iGO8 Judaism GPS is available in Yiddish - it's their latest shtick.
The machers at iGO, a subsidiary of Nav N Go, have designed the new device for the Orthodox market in Israel. Now Yiddish-speakers in areas such as Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Modi'in Illit and Ashdod can use the product to locate more than 10,000 unique Jewish interest points - including the addresses and telephone numbers of thousands of synagogues, mikves (ritual baths) and kosher restaurants.
What also distinguishes it from other GPS gadgets is that more secular points of interest - such as nightclubs, non-kosher restaurants and Internet cafes - are not in the database.
Even the interface is designed with the religious consumer in mind - when the device is switched on, the user is automatically shown the Travelers' Prayer. Instead of pressing "OK" to skip to the next screen, the option is instead "Amen."
It may give you naches to discover that the new Yiddish version was not based on any market research or overwhelming demand. David Wiernik, Nav N Go president, says the idea was born at an iGO press conference last month, when a technology journalist asked him if a Yiddish version was in the pipeline.
Upon answering "no," Wiernik realized he liked the suggestion.
"I looked at the journalist and thought, 'You got me. I'd never thought about it,' so I told him I would accept the challenge. My immediate response was 'yes,' without even looking at the consumer market."
A mensch, no?
Many in the know are positive about this new meshuggener gadget. Yossi Gur, manager of the Avis branch in the capital's Romema neighborhood, says: "We have a lot of Orthodox customers in this location, many of whom speak Yiddish, and two-thirds of them ask for a GPS. This new device is a great idea, and it would work really well in our station."
The Yiddish edition reaches stores one month and $20,000 (what it cost to develop) after the iGO8 Judaism Hebrew version, and is exclusively available with QUE navigation devices. It is priced at between NIS 1,200 and NIS 1,499.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
4,000-year-old 'Abraham's Gate' reopens
Article on Jerusalem Post March 18, 2009
By Etgar Lefkovits
The nearly 4,000 year-old "Abraham's Gate" at Tel Dan in northern Israel has been reopened to the public after a decade-long restoration project, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority said Wednesday.
'Abraham's Gate' under renovation at Tel Dan
Located in a nature reserve at the foot of Mount Hermon and the Golan Heights, the ancient structure, which is believed to have been constructed around 1750 BCE, during the Canaanite Period, is made of mud-bricks.
By Etgar Lefkovits
The nearly 4,000 year-old "Abraham's Gate" at Tel Dan in northern Israel has been reopened to the public after a decade-long restoration project, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority said Wednesday.
'Abraham's Gate' under renovation at Tel DanLocated in a nature reserve at the foot of Mount Hermon and the Golan Heights, the ancient structure, which is believed to have been constructed around 1750 BCE, during the Canaanite Period, is made of mud-bricks.
The gate, which could be named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO later this year, has been named after the Biblical patriarch since some people speculate it may have been used by Abraham during the rescue of his nephew Lot.
The gate, which is composed of three arches and constructed of sun-dried mud brick on a foundation of large basalt stones, has been restored to its original height of seven meters, the state-run authority said.
The arches of the gate are believed to be the oldest ever found in Israel.
"The exposure of the gate to the public at large is a holiday for anyone who holds dear the preservation of heritage in the State of Israel," said Eli Amitai, Director General of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.
The preservation work at the site was carried out in conjunction with the state-run Israel Antiquities Authority.
The site has recently become an attraction for Christian pilgrims.
The nature reserve encompasses the ruins and partially restored remains of an ancient Israelite city.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Tel Aviv Centennial
Founded on the sand dunes north of the old sea port of Jaffa 100 years ago, Tel Aviv has become the bustling cultural and economic heart of Israel.
Envisioned as the main gateway into Israel, the city has developed into an exciting and dynamic city that's always on the go. Three million pass through the city every day.
In 2003, UNESCO declared it a world heritage site because of the restoration work to the city's many Bauhaus buildings, and the New York Timesrecently labeled it "the capital of Mediterranean cool".
In honor of the city's centennial, dozens of celebrations are planned for the year ahead, from city marathons, to white nights, art exhibitions, and cultural events.
Organizers hope the centennial festivities will do for Tel Aviv what the Beijing Olympics did for China's capital.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion named top Middle East airport
Article on www.globes.co.il March 10, 2009
By Orli Peleg-Mizrahi
Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion named top Middle East airport
This is the second successive year that Ben Gurion Airport has achieved this ranking.
Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport came top in the Middle East region in the Airports Council International (ACI) airport survey. The rankings were announced today. Ben Gurion came second in the world for airports with annual passenger traffic of 5-15 million. This is the second successive year in which Ben Gurion Airport has achieved these rankings.
The ACI survey captures passengers’ perception of the quality of more than 30 aspects of service that they have experienced at an airport. Interviewing covers every day of the week and every month of the year to ensure coverage of all seasons and all peaks and troughs.
For the fourth successive year, the top three performing airports in the world were in the Asia-Pacific Region, with Incheon International Airport in South Korea winning the Best Airport Award. Passenger satisfaction with the new Terminal 3 promoted Singapore Changi Airport into 2nd place this year, with Hong Kong International Airport coming in at a close 3rd place.
ACI director general Angela Gittens said, "Survey results show that overall passenger satisfaction continues to improve year-on-year. This reflects the importance airports are placing on customer satisfaction and the innovation in services that we are seeing worldwide. The program continues to grow which demonstrates that airports care very much about their customers, no matter how tough the economic situation.”
The survey found that comfortable waiting areas, good signage, and clean, readily accessible washrooms are the most important elements to a passenger.
By Orli Peleg-Mizrahi
Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion named top Middle East airport
This is the second successive year that Ben Gurion Airport has achieved this ranking.
Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport came top in the Middle East region in the Airports Council International (ACI) airport survey. The rankings were announced today. Ben Gurion came second in the world for airports with annual passenger traffic of 5-15 million. This is the second successive year in which Ben Gurion Airport has achieved these rankings.The ACI survey captures passengers’ perception of the quality of more than 30 aspects of service that they have experienced at an airport. Interviewing covers every day of the week and every month of the year to ensure coverage of all seasons and all peaks and troughs.
For the fourth successive year, the top three performing airports in the world were in the Asia-Pacific Region, with Incheon International Airport in South Korea winning the Best Airport Award. Passenger satisfaction with the new Terminal 3 promoted Singapore Changi Airport into 2nd place this year, with Hong Kong International Airport coming in at a close 3rd place.
ACI director general Angela Gittens said, "Survey results show that overall passenger satisfaction continues to improve year-on-year. This reflects the importance airports are placing on customer satisfaction and the innovation in services that we are seeing worldwide. The program continues to grow which demonstrates that airports care very much about their customers, no matter how tough the economic situation.”
The survey found that comfortable waiting areas, good signage, and clean, readily accessible washrooms are the most important elements to a passenger.
Monday, March 9, 2009
KFC Israel going kosher
Article on http://www.ynetnews.com/ March 09, 2009
By Meirav Crystal
International fast food chain taking steps to turn its branches in Israel kosher, including replacing milk-powder chicken coating with kosher soy-powder coating, said to be identical in taste.
Going kosher pays, as international fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken has learned, and is now taking steps towards receiving full kashrut in its Israeli branches.
Thanks to a special approval granted by the global chain, KFC Israel announced on Sunday that it would start marketing its chicken meals with a kosher soy-powder coating rather than the standard milk-power coating.
The approval was granted after two years of negotiations and deliberations, since the milk-powder element has been an inseparable part of KFC's world-famous coating for over half a century, and is what gives it its one-of-a-kind taste and coloring.
The kosher powder that will replace the milk ingredient is a milk-flavored soy powder that was approved by Kentucky Fried Chicken's labs in Dallas, Texas.
Thanks to this development, the chain will be able to open kosher branches in other places around the world where large Jewish populations are concentrated.
According to KFC Israel, the new taste is identical to the original, and the move to develop the new ingredient stemmed from many customers' requests to avoid mixing meat and dairy.
Kentucky Fried Chicken has 10 branches in Israel, two of them being strictly kosher, while the rest operate on Shabbat.
According to the company's plans, three more branches are expected to be opened throughout 2009.
By Meirav Crystal
International fast food chain taking steps to turn its branches in Israel kosher, including replacing milk-powder chicken coating with kosher soy-powder coating, said to be identical in taste.
Going kosher pays, as international fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken has learned, and is now taking steps towards receiving full kashrut in its Israeli branches.
Thanks to a special approval granted by the global chain, KFC Israel announced on Sunday that it would start marketing its chicken meals with a kosher soy-powder coating rather than the standard milk-power coating.
The approval was granted after two years of negotiations and deliberations, since the milk-powder element has been an inseparable part of KFC's world-famous coating for over half a century, and is what gives it its one-of-a-kind taste and coloring.
The kosher powder that will replace the milk ingredient is a milk-flavored soy powder that was approved by Kentucky Fried Chicken's labs in Dallas, Texas.
Thanks to this development, the chain will be able to open kosher branches in other places around the world where large Jewish populations are concentrated.
According to KFC Israel, the new taste is identical to the original, and the move to develop the new ingredient stemmed from many customers' requests to avoid mixing meat and dairy.
Kentucky Fried Chicken has 10 branches in Israel, two of them being strictly kosher, while the rest operate on Shabbat.
According to the company's plans, three more branches are expected to be opened throughout 2009.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Gas Drilling Begins Off Hadera Coast
Article on Arutz Sheva March 08, 2009
By Hana Levi Julian
The company which discovered abundant gas reserves off the coast of Haifa in January has begun drilling in a new site, west of Hadera.
Noble Energy Inc., the Houston-based partner of Isramco Ltd., Delek Group Ltd., and Avner Oil and Gas LP, said the new offshore well, named Dalit-1, is located approximately 60 kilometers west of Hadera.
The company moved its rig on the ship "Atwood Hunter" to the new drill site on Friday after having completed drilling at the Tamar-1 well 90 kilometers west of Haifa. The Tamar-1 find was eventually discovered to be more than 60 percent larger than originally estimated, according to Noble Energy officials -- reportedly more than enough to fuel the State of Israel for at least 15 years.
The drilling is expected to last approximately two months and cost $130 million, company officials said. Once drilling is completed at Dalit-1, the "Atwood Hunter" will proceed to the next well, dubbed Tamar-2.
There is a 40 percent chance the company will find commercial quantities of up to 20 billion cubic meters of natural gas at the site, referred to as the Michal prospect, according to the Globes business news agency.
By Hana Levi Julian
The company which discovered abundant gas reserves off the coast of Haifa in January has begun drilling in a new site, west of Hadera.
Noble Energy Inc., the Houston-based partner of Isramco Ltd., Delek Group Ltd., and Avner Oil and Gas LP, said the new offshore well, named Dalit-1, is located approximately 60 kilometers west of Hadera.
The company moved its rig on the ship "Atwood Hunter" to the new drill site on Friday after having completed drilling at the Tamar-1 well 90 kilometers west of Haifa. The Tamar-1 find was eventually discovered to be more than 60 percent larger than originally estimated, according to Noble Energy officials -- reportedly more than enough to fuel the State of Israel for at least 15 years.
Gas Reservoir At Gelilot North Of Tel Aviv
The drilling is expected to last approximately two months and cost $130 million, company officials said. Once drilling is completed at Dalit-1, the "Atwood Hunter" will proceed to the next well, dubbed Tamar-2.
There is a 40 percent chance the company will find commercial quantities of up to 20 billion cubic meters of natural gas at the site, referred to as the Michal prospect, according to the Globes business news agency.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Israel’s Hula Lake Park one of the most outstanding sites in the world
Article on jnf.org:
February 25, 2009 -- New York, NY -- BBC Wildlife Magazine, the world's best-selling natural history and environmental magazine, has named Israel’s Hula Lake Park one of the most outstanding sites in the world for nature observation and photography.
The Jewish National Fund (JNF) park, home to millions of migrating cranes each winter, was ranked 9th on a list of 20 exceptional nature sites chosen by 300 international experts including scientists, photographers and television producers.
February 25, 2009 -- New York, NY -- BBC Wildlife Magazine, the world's best-selling natural history and environmental magazine, has named Israel’s Hula Lake Park one of the most outstanding sites in the world for nature observation and photography.
The Jewish National Fund (JNF) park, home to millions of migrating cranes each winter, was ranked 9th on a list of 20 exceptional nature sites chosen by 300 international experts including scientists, photographers and television producers. In the article announcing the winning sites, acclaimed Scottish nature photographer Neil Benway described his visit to Hula Lake, where he sat amidst a flock of 15,000 cranes, as “an experience of a lifetime.”
Located in the Galilee, Hula Lake is one of the most important bird-watching sites in the world. Hundreds of thousands of visitors are drawn to the Hula Valley Crane Lookout to observe white cranes on their way to Southern Africa, stopping one last time before they begin the Sahara Desert portion of their flight.
JNF has played a significant role in the development of Hula Lake Park into an international tourist attraction. In 1991, JNF, together with the Israel Land Authority, the Ministry of Agriculture, and local farmers, undertook the Hula Restoration Project to create a rich habitat that would attract cranes needing rest and nourishment during the course of their winter migration.
The major goal of this re-flooding project was to protect the water quality of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) by stopping erosion and preventing pollutants from flowing into Israel’s primary source of freshwater. This upgraded the agriculture and rejuvenated the ecosystem of the area, bringing back riverbank vegetation like reeds and papyrus and attracting a variety of animals that make their home among the plants.
In addition to bird watching at the Crane Lookout, visitors can bike through the park on JNF’s cycling routes or view the birds on a camouflaged tractor that pulls right up to the feeding sites. An educational center offers videos and information about the history of the Hula Valley and the many kinds of wildlife that inhabit it.
JNF also conducts ongoing research on bird migration at Hula Lake.
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