Michael Ordman: This Week’s Sanity Report from Israel April 19, 2026
This issue of Israel’s positive newsletter contains several Israeli sporting achievements. But alongside these are many examples of how Israelis are so eager to go above and beyond what is necessary to help others, while fighting an existential battle against terrorists. Such good sports!
The photo is of the Netanya sports stadium, with a view towards Jerusalem. Picture was taken from my wife’s hospital room. Thanks to your prayers, my wife Lynette is coming home from the hospital this week. She will need much time and effort to fully recover. Please continue to pray for Etka Gita bat Yocheved.
The highlights include
- Israel used Iran’s surveillance cameras to fight the regime.
- Israeli researchers can identify the faulty gene causing illness.
- Israeli startups fight “bad” drones and protect “good” drones.
- Israel’s economy is still in good shape despite the war.
- The world’s most valuable company is 100% with Israel.
- Israelis strike gold in three sports events.
- A 19th century Haggadah reminds of better relations with Persia.
POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
Baby born under fire. A Magen David Adom team delivered a baby at a home in Tel Aviv during a Red Alert and then rushed the newborn and his parents to a nearby shelter. The paramedic said, “Seeing a half-hour-old baby in a public shelter, surrounded by a family full of blessings and joy, is something you don’t forget.”
https://www.jpost.com/israel-
Lions of war. Four endangered lions from zoos in the Czech Republic were flown by special El Al cargo plane to Haifa zoo. El Al captain Roi Afodi, is a father of two sons named Lavi and Ari, both words meaning lion. VP of operations at the Maman cargo terminal, thanked El Al for … bringing the pride of lions to Haifa,
https://www.ynetnews.com/
The world’s largest fortified hospital. (TY I24 News & WIN) Rambam Medical Center in Haifa has a 3-floor underground parking lot that converts, in a matter of hours, into a fortified hospital for 2,000 patients. (See here previously.) It even has a play area for children whose schools would be closed during war-time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Impressive performance from F35 planes. Israel’s Air Force controlled the skies of Iran without incurring any casualties or damage by having its aircraft intercepted. The most prominent feature of the campaign was the Israeli variant of the F-35 – the Adir.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/
Iranian regime’s cameras turned against it. The Iranian regime built a vast network of surveillance cameras to control dissent – tens of thousands of CCTV cameras in Teheran alone. On Feb 28 2026, Israel hacked into the system and turned it into a tool to target the oppressors.
https://worldisraelnews.com/
A newsletter for the shelters. (TY UWI) Roi Offenbacher has created a one-page magazine for families spending long hours in neighborhood shelters. “Miklaton,” combines the Hebrew for shelter and newspaper. The result is a simple, single-sheet, double-sided publication designed specifically for life inside a shelter.
https://tps.co.il/articles/in-
Falafel stand feeds IDF soldiers under fire. (TY UWI) Chaim owns a small falafel stand in the north, He made a simple decision at the start of the war, any soldier in uniform eats for free. One day dozens of IDF soldiers turned up with their families. When Chaim opened his tip jar it contained tens of thousands of shekels.
https://jewishbreakingnews.
Better than the beeper attack. The Israel Air Force carried out one of its most consequential strikes of the war, destroying what officials described as a concealed Hezbollah command headquarters and eliminating a significant portion of the organization’s senior operational leadership. Beeper targeted ordinary terrorists.
https://idfclub.org/better-
Gas fields re-open. Israel’s Leviathan and Karish offshore natural gas field have resumed operations after 32 and 40 days of inactivity due to the war. Leviathan produces gas for the domestic economy and exports to Egypt and Jordan. The Tamar gas field was the only offshore rig operating during the war,
https://en.globes.co.il/en/
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
International Life Science & Health-Tech week. (TY Hazel) Jerusalem hosted Israel’s premier health-tech conference (March 17–18), showcasing breakthroughs in emergency medicine, ophthalmology and Tech-Bio. New Israeli technologies for “hospital-at-home” and remote monitoring during emergencies were a core focus.
https://export.gov.il/wp-
Genesis Prize doubled. (TY UWI) The Genesis Prize Foundation and the Jewish Funders Network launched a $2 million matching grant program in honor of 2026 Genesis Prize Laureate Gal Gadot (see here previously) to help Israelis deal with emotional and physical trauma since Oct. 7, 2023.
https://www.algemeiner.com/
Disease gene finder. (TY TPS) Researchers at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University have developed EvORanker to determine which gene is likely causing a patient’s symptoms. In tests, EvORanker outperformed existing tools, especially when the gene had not previously been linked to disease.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/
https://en.huji.ac.il/news/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.
Pancreatic cancer treatment ready for trials. Israel’s Silexion Therapeutics (see here previously) received Israeli Ministry of Health approval to initiate a Phase 2/3 trial of SIL204 in locally advanced pancreatic cancer, marking advancement to clinical-stage development. SIL204 targets a range of common KRAS mutations.
https://www.stocktitan.net/
Reservist’s organs save 4 patients. Staff Sergeant Effi Ben-Yakar, a reservist in a special unit suffered cardiac arrest during leave and passed away at Ichilov Hospital. His lungs went into a 38-year-old woman; his liver into a 71-year-old man and his kidneys into two men, aged 40 and 64.
https://www.
The bitter truth. Hebrew University of Jerusalem scientists have compiled a compendium of 2,200 bitter molecules that will help predict bitterness without ever having to taste it. Their research on TAS2R14, a bitter receptor, can help make medicine ‘easier to swallow’ and even treat lung diseases.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Standing in silence together. In a moving scene, a religious Arab woman was seen standing alongside a bearded ultra-Orthodox Jewish man during Israel’s annual Holocaust Memorial Day siren.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/
Uganda supports Israel. Gone are the days of Entebbe and Idi Amin. Uganda’s Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has publicized his support for Israel. He even offered military assistance and promised to build a statue honoring Lt.-Col. Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu where he fell at Entebbe International Airport..
https://www.jpost.com/middle-
Strauss helps women coffee growers. Israeli food giant Strauss (see here previously) launched its “More than a Cup” project in 2016. One of its aims is to educate women farmers and provide them with knowledge and resources. It has supported 50,000+ farmers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America – over half of them women,
https://www.jpost.com/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Robots that cooperate work better. Researchers at Tel Aviv University have managed to engineer simple autonomous robots that can learn on their own how to cooperate and perform complex tasks as a group. It will help disaster response, marine and space exploration, construction, and other tasks too dangerous for humans.
https://tps.co.il/articles/
Double protection against drones. Israel’s XTEND (see here previously) and ParaZero (see here previously) are partnering to create a fully autonomous next generation autonomous counter‑UAS (C‑UAS) solution to detect, pursue, and capture hostile drones with minimal collateral damage.
https://www.jpost.com/defense-
More protection for drones. Asio Technologies (see here previously) is another Israeli startup countering GPS and GNSS jamming (see here previously). Its AeroCore and NavGuard systems use real-time optical matching whereby the drones navigate by comparing live camera feeds against pre-loaded satellite imagery.
https://worldisraelnews.com/
Is darkness faster than light? Researchers at Israel’s Technion Institute have successfully used electron microscopy to measure “dark points” (vortices) within light waves. By doing so, they were able to confirm a prediction from the 1970s that the speed of these points exceeds the speed of light.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/
https://www.nature.com/
Smart Materials Institute. Bar-Ilan University today held a cornerstone-laying ceremony, attended by Dr. Miriam Adelson, to launch Israel’s first Institute for the Synthesis of Smart Materials (see here previously). It will integrate artificial intelligence and robotics, with applications from medicine, electronics to energy.
https://thej.ca/2026/02/09/
Critical minerals innovation challenge. (TY WIN) & ILTV) A new national competition offers up to NIS 1 million to startups developing breakthrough solutions to secure critical minerals and strengthen Israel’s position in the global supply chain. It focuses on advanced mining tech, recycling materials, and mineral substitutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Winner of most influential paper. Hebrew University of Jerusalem Prof Jeffrey Rosenschein has received the restigious IFAAMAS Influential Paper Award. He was selected for his seminal book, “Rules of Encounter: Designing Conventions for Automated Negotiation Among Computers (MIT Press, 1994).
https://www.afhu.org/2026/02/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Fiscal deficit narrowed sharply in March. Despite the war, Israel’s fiscal deficit narrowed to 4.2% of GDP in the 12 months to the end of March 2026, down from 4.7% at the end of Feb 2026. Revenues from the Google-Wiz deal was primarily responsible for the reduction.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/
More gas sales to Egypt. Israel’s NewMed Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to sell 100 billion cubic meters (BCM) of natural gas to Egypt from the Cypriot offshore Aphrodite gas field. The gas will be exported to Egypt via a floating platform and pipeline to the Nile Delta region.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/
Iron support for Israel. The US state of Indiana has launched Iron Nation-Indiana, aimed at deepening economic ties with Israel and attracting high-growth technology firms to the state. The initiative has raised some $45 million so far, and connects Israeli entrepreneurs with Indiana’s business ecosystem.
https://www.jns.org/news/u-s-
Nvidia CEO is 100% with Israel. (TY UWI) In a striking show of support during wartime, Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia (see here previously) has made it clear that the global tech giant is not backing away from Israel, in fact, it’s doubling down. “We are 100% in Israel. We are 100% behind the families there.”
https://jewishbreakingnews.
Printing parts for the US military. Israel’s Stratasys (see here previously) has been selected to join the US Department of Defense’s Joint Additive Manufacturing Acceptability (JAMA) IV Pilot Parts Program. The major Pentagon initiative aims to accelerate the use of 3D‑printed components across military platforms.
https://www.jpost.com/defense-
El Al buys six more Dreamliners. El Al is expanding its fleet with a further order for Boeing Dreamliners. The airline is exercising options to buy six Boeing 787-9 aircraft, and retains an option on six more of the planes. El Al currently has seventeen Dreamliners, plus 47 Boeing 737 and 777 planes.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/
$1 billion for data center site. Israel’s Mega Or has bought the site of the former Alliance Tire Company factory in Hadera for NIS 1 billion cash. According to market sources, Mega Or plans to construct one of the largest data centers in Israel on the site. Mega DC has six data centers under construction, plus one operational.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/
An exit at the speed of light. US-based Credo Tech is buying Israel’s DustPhotonics, for up to $1.3 billion. DustPhotonics (see here previously) develops silicon photonics technology enabling data transfer at the speed of light for AI apps and big data. Credo has agreed to pay $750 million in cash and 920,000 of its shares.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
Exits, takeovers & mergers to 19/4/26:. US-based Credo is acquiring Israel’s DustPhotonics for up to $1.3 billion; Multinational firm Molex has acquired Israel’s Teramount for $430 million. Israeli public company eToro acquired Israel’s Zengo for $70 million.
Israeli startup investments to 19/4/26. Artemis Security raised $70 million; EagleNXT has invested $10 million in Israel’s ThirdEye Systems.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT,
The Judean Desert in bloom. Genesis Land, near Gush Adumim, is where Abraham famously set up his tent, welcoming travelers from every direction. Sheep graze across open slopes. Olive groves stretch along restored terraces carved into the hillsides. Teenagers at risk work at the nearby Hebrew Shepherd farm initiative.
https://www.jpost.com/health-
Hungarian chess champion makes Aliyah. Three-time Hungarian women’s chess champion Tícia Gara moved to Tel Aviv-Jaffa during the Gaza war. She left home to embrace life in the Jewish homeland. She’d previously volunteered with disabled adults through the Jewish Agency’s Tikkun Olam program.
https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/
Gold judoka in Dubrovnik. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Guy Gutman won gold at the Senior European Cup Judo event in Croatia. Gutman delivered an impressive performance on the mat and clinched the gold with an ippon against Croatia’s Dani Klačar in the final. https://www.instagram.com/p/
https://www.eju.net/dubrovnik-
Two Israeli artistic gymnasts on same podium. (TY Hazel) Israeli gymnasts Artem Dolgopyat won gold and Noam Berkovich, bronze in the Men’s Floor Exercise competition, sharing the podium at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Osijek, Croatia. https://www.timesofisrael.com/
Gold and silver acrobat gymnasts. (TY Hazel) At the FIG Acrobatic Gymnastics World Cup, held in Puurs, Belgium, Israeli gymnasts Shiraz Sokolowski and Ronnie Cohen won the gold medal in the Women’s Pair. Uri Dekel, Ronnie Rothman and Ard Avir Deutsch won silver in the Men’s Group/Trio.
https://www.facebook.com/
https://www.gymnastics.sport/
Israeli U17 soccer team beats England. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Under 17 soccer team continued its 100% success in the UEFA League B group B1 matches. After defeating Estonia 2-0, they beat England 3-1. They then went on to beat Faroe Islands 4-0 to qualify for the U19 tournament League A in 2027/28.
https://www.englandfootball.
https://www.uefa.com/under17/
https://www.uefa.com/under17/
Israeli goalkeeper saves Southampton. A year ago, Israel’s Daniel Peretz joined Southampton – a team struggling in the second tier of English soccer. His goalkeeping performance has rocketed Southampton into a promotion contender and helped defeat Premier division Arsenal to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
https://www.ynetnews.com/
The first Israeli to reach NBA playoffs. Deni Avdija became the first Israeli player to reach the NBA playoffs, scoring 41 points – including a three-point play with 16.1 seconds remaining – as his Portland Trail Blazers rallied from an 11-point deficit to beat Phoenix Suns 114-110 in the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/
THE JEWISH STATE
More than 2,000 Shoah survivor Olim since 2016. Ahead of Holocaust Remembrance Day, Israel’s Ministry of Absorption and Integration reported that 2,316 Holocaust survivors have immigrated to Israel since 2016. There are now 111,681 survivors living in Israel, of whom 28% are age 90 or older.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/
Iranian Haggadah with Persian poem. The National Library of Israel has uncovered a rare handwritten Passover Haggadah published in the 1880s. It contains a Judeo-Persian poem dedicated to Lady Judith Montefiore (1784-1862). The manuscript includes instructions in Judeo-Persian for conducting the Seder.
https://www.jns.org/news/
Eyal Golan observes Shabbat Hagadol. One of Israel’s most popular singers, Eyal Golan declared that thanks to his children, Alin and Liam, he had decided to observe the Shabbat before Passover. “I want to get closer to my children, to my faith, and to strengthen my people.” The decision came “from the soul”.
https://www.
Sylvan Adams plans to bring in 1 million new Olim. Israeli philanthropist Sylvan Adams has given $100 million dollars each to Soroka Hospital and to Ben Gurion University. He plans for his money to make the Negev attractive to the many millions of new Olim expected to arrive in the next few years.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/
Coming home. Reminder – Marina Shear, wife of Newsletter subscriber Glen, can help any reader wishing to make Aliyah or purchase a property in Israel. She has teams of English-speaking lawyers, mortgage brokers, builders, property managers, inspectors and designers. Read her guide and see her website for more details.
https://marinashear.com/ https://marinashear.com/2026-
