Missing yeshiva students (left to right) Gilad Shaar, Eyal Yifrach and Naftali Frankel. Photo: Courtesy During this stressful time our prayers are focused on our three sons of Israel and their safe return. I start this weeks Sanity report with the latest live blog updates from the Jerusalem post.
Here are the latest updates:
6:16 P.M. Released for publication: One of the kidnapped boys said “we’ve been kidnapped” in call to police – info not handed over to security forces for hours.
4:37 P.M. Finance Minister Yair Lapid says that Israel has a zero tolerance policy for terrorism and severely punishes it perpetrators.
“I urge the public to stand united behind the security forces as they complete their task using all means necessary at their disposal,” he says.
4:16 P.M. Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, during a visit to Ghana on Sunday, tells Ghana’s Foreign Minister Hanna Tetteh that Israel hoped to bring the kidnapped teens home without a show of force, but added, that in the end the government would “do everything necessary to bring them home.”
3:59 P.M. Palestinian report: Egypt is reportedly taking measures to help clarify events surrounding the abduction of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank and mediate for their release, a senior Egyptian official told Palestinian news agency Ma’an on Sunday.
According to the report, Egyptian security forces are conducting talks with Palestinian officials, in attempts to open channels of communication with various Palestinian terror groups, particularly Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.
The Egyptian source told Ma’an that the situation is likely to be resolved soon.
3:38 P.M. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reiterates on Sunday afternoon his accusation that Hamas members were the perpetrators of the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank, despite the terror organization’s denial of responsibility for the incident.
“Hamas denials do not change this fact,” Netanyahu says in a statement.
3:05 P.M. A senior military official says the IDF believes the boys are still in the West Bank.
“We have assessed that the hostages were not transferred to Gaza or Sinai,” the official was quoted by Israel Radio as saying. “We were prepared for this eventuality and we will use all of the means in our possession to locate them.”
1:40 P.M. Rachel Frankel, the mother of Naftali Frankel of Nof Ayalon, speaks with the press on Sunday afternoon for the first time, saying, “Naftali, we love you endlessly and the people of Israel are working day and night to bring you home.”
12:55 P.M. In the wake of reports that police failed to notify security forces promptly after receiving a distress call, police release a statement saying they will not deny or confirm reports which are the responsibility of the news outlets themselves. Sunday’s statement echoes their Saturday night statement, when they said they were focusing only on the investigation at the moment rather than dealing with rumors.
12:38 P.M. The IDF has called up a limited number of reserves as the military operation to rescue three kidnapped Israelis in the West Bank continues to grow. The call up is small in scope at this stage.
12:18 P.M. Hamas official denies group’s involvement in kidnapping, calls Netanyahu’s accusations “stupid” according to Palestinian news agency Ma’an.
12:00 P.M. Two senior Hamas officials have been missing since Thursday, Israel Radio reports. Security forces are investigating their connection to the kidnapping.
11:25 A.M. Prayer services are to be held at some 700 religious schools at 11:30 a.m. for the three teens.
Organizers say the largest prayer service was scheduled for the Makor Chaim Yeshiva in Kfar Etzion in the West Bank where two of the abducted teens Naftali Frankel and Gilad Sha’ar study. Another prayer service is taking place at the Shavei Hebron Yeshiva in Hebron where Eyal Yifrach is enrolled.
10:59 A.M. Hamas is behind the kidnapping of the three teenagers late Thursday night, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu says at weekly cabinet meeting.
10:50 A.M. Prayer services will be held at some 700 religious schools at 11:30 in the morning on Sunday for the three teens.
10:44 A.M. Jailed Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard releases a statement on the kidnapping: “In the depths of Gehinom, Jonathan Pollard is davening for the safe return of our 3 boys who were kidnapped on Thursday by a blood-thirsty Palestinian terrorist cell,” the statement said.
“Jonathan urges everyone to drop what you are doing and to pray urgently for the immediate rescue and safe return home of our kidnapped boys, alive, healthy and unharmed.”
9:00 A.M. Hamas leaders Hassan Yousef, Wasfi Qabaha, Khaled Abu Arafeh and Mohammed Totah are among 80 arrested by IDF, according to Palestinian media reports.
7:00 A.M. The IDF arrests 80 Hamas members – including members of the Palestinian Legislative Council – in a massive wave of raids throughout the West Bank.
While suspicions appear to be falling on Hamas as being behind the abduction,a security source says the wave of arrests does not mean that Hamas definitely carried it out.
6:50 A.M. Economy Minister Naftali Bennett tells the families of the three kidnapped youth that the government will turn over every rock in order to bring your children home.
“Kidnapping children will not be an event that passes quietly and it will be clear to all groups involved, the terrorists those that sent them and those that support them, that such operations do not pay,” the Bayit Yehudi minister says.
“We will respond with an iron fist to terror. This is the time for the entire nation of Israel to increase our prayers and to stay unified, determined and strong. We will not be broken,” he adds.
6:45 A.M. UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon condemns the kidnapping of three Israeli yeshiva students and expresses his solidarity with the youngsters’ families, calling for their immediate release.
Moon urges all sides to exercise restraint and to lend support for the release and safe return of the boys.
1:00 A.M. From the Western Wall in Jerusalem to the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, thousands of people hold prayer services for the safe return of the three captive teens.
12:15 A.M. A curfew is put in place for the Hebron area beginning at midnight Sunday. Additionally, all Gaza checkpoints are closed.
Exceptions are being made for emergency medical and humanitarian purposes.
SANITY Report from Israel
Thanks so much to Michael Ordman and Verygoodnewsfromisrael
the highlights include:
- Positive results in trials of Israeli stem cell treatment for ALS.
- The United Nations is exhibiting art by autistic Israeli children.
- Israeli satellites will be used to assist rescuers in disaster areas.
- The racetrack debut of an electric car powered by an Israeli-designed aluminum battery.
- Israel’s Mapal Green has won its 3rd major UK contract for wastewater treatment.
- Israel published 7,863 different books in 2013 – one title for every 1000 citizens.
- Israeli systems are helping secure two of Brazil’s World Cup soccer stadiums.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
SANITY Report from Israel
ALS patients improve after stem cell treatment. Israel’s BrainStorm reported positive interim results of Phase IIa ALS trials of its “NurOwn” stem cell therapy. 71% of patients were in decline before treatment but after treatment 63% were either stabilized or had improved neurological function.
http://www.brainstorm-cell.com/index.php/news-a-events/302-june-2-2014
MobileOCT wins prize for cancer screening program. Israeli start-up MobileOCT has won the 2014 Vodafone Americas Foundation Wireless Innovation Project for its program to help residents of the US-Mexican border area detect cervical cancer. MobileOCT’s technology uses mobile phones with added lenses.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/mobileoct-wins-prize-for-cancer-screening-program/
Merck to work with Israeli life science companies. US giant Merck is to collaborate with Israeli companies on technological projects. Israel’s Chief Scientist’s Office will grant financial support for joint projects researching into life-saving medicines, which Merck will match.
Six Israeli start-ups in Forbes top 10 world-changing health tech companies. (Thanks to NoCamels.com) I don’t normally include “lists” of Israeli companies, but this is exceptional. ReWalk, uMoove, Telesofia, Surgical Theater, TotallyPregnant and HelpAround all are Israeli and classified by Forbes as “world-changers”.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ilyapozin/2014/06/01/10-health-tech-companies-changing-the-world/
SANITY Report from Israel
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Israel’s first “Gypsy” police officer. (Thanks to Israpundit.com) After spending her childhood in a roaming Gypsy (Roma) tribe on the frozen plains of Siberia, Tania Leontieff discovered that her mother had Jewish roots. She immigrated to Israel alone and converted, and is about to become a policewoman in Jerusalem.
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=18021
UN exhibition of art by autistic Israelis. The Speaking Colors exhibition at the United Nations in New York features 25 paintings by Israeli children with autism. The exhibition, attended by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, coincided with a conference on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/looking-for-the-next-picasso-at-israeli-autism-event-at-un/
What happens to disabled Israelis during a rocket attack? (Thanks to Uri) Lt. Col. Keren Maimon works with disabled Israelis at assisted-living homes, teaching them how to respond when a siren sounds and to find their way into bomb shelters. Every person counts in Israel’s diverse community, and no one is left behind.
http://blog.eretzyisrael.org/post/87590437020/lt-col-keren-maimon-works-with-disabled-israelis
Temech Conference 2014: Religious women who want to start a business. (Thanks to Janglo) 23 Jun sees the flagship event for thousands of Israeli Torah-observant businesswomen – entrepreneurs and self-employees. The 2014 Jerusalem Conference is themed “The Next Level” and 500 delegates are expected to attend.
Publicizing Israeli innovations to hundreds of millions. The first Chinese Media Center in the Middle East has opened in Israel at the College of Management-Academic Studies in Rishon LeZion. It will publicize Israel’s strengths in agri-tech, high-tech and clean energy to many of China’s 618 million Internet users.
Israeli drone and camera help Brazil capture gang leader. A Heron UAV made by Israel Aerospace Industries, fitted with a heat-sensing camera developed by Israel’s Elbit Systems helped Brazilian police nab the criminal gang leader “Little P”. Brazil is trying to prevent violence in Rio de Janeiro during the World Cup.
Israeli satellites to help rescuers in disaster areas. The Israel Space Agency has volunteered to provide satellite images to the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (SPIDER), which serves as a data transfer hub in the event of international catastrophes.
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=17977
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Build your house with Israeli SmartBricks. Within 2 years you may be able to build a new house using Israeli SmartBricks – Lego-like bricks costing 50% less than conventional materials. The modular bricks have removable sides to accommodate wiring and inner supports.
Israel has been using driverless cars for five years. The Israeli Army has been using unmanned vehicles for at least five years to protect Israelis. The IDF is to upgrade its driverless fleet, to include vehicles that will safely and autonomously transport weapons and equipment to soldiers already in the field.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/as-google-dreams-of-driverless-cars-idf-deploys-them/
24me – the app for the busy person. Israeli businesswoman and mother-of-three Liat Mordechay Hertanu developed the personal assistant app 24me in 2012 to manage her hectic daily life. 24me now has hundreds of thousands of users worldwide, including students, parents and business people.
http://rethinkisrael.org/personal-assistant-busy-mom-invented/
[youtube=www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HwxCnCn8D0&w=520&h=315]
$7m robotics center for the Technion. US based software company PTC Inc. is investing $7 million in a new robotics center at Israel’s Technion. PTC will build the center and finance the first 3 years operating costs. PTC specializes in 3D design software and has had an Israeli development center since 1991.
Phinergy’s Aluminum battery – the future is in the air. An electric car equipped with an Israeli-designed aluminum-air battery system made its track debut at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. Israel’s Phinergy has partnered with global metals engineering company Alcoa, to bring long-distance electric cars closer to a reality.
http://phys.org/news/2014-06-alcoa-phinergy-electric-car-aluminum-air.html
http://www.alcoa.com/canada/en/news/releases/2014_phinergy.asp
[youtube=www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNauK0Gb1-c&w=520&h=315]
[youtube=www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6kIJlgqezE&w=520&h=315]
72 projects displayed at Technology Fair. Israel’s high-tech and venture capital executives examined the innovative new technologies in the seventy-two projects on display at the recent Technology Fair at the Computer Science School at The College of Management-Academic Studies (COMAS) in Rishon Lezion.
http://www.americanownews.com/story/25678711/educating-israels-next-start-up-nation-generation
Israel and EU sign 80 billion Euros scientific research agreement. (Thanks to NoCamels.com) Israel and the European Union have signed a key agreement, Horizon 2020, marking the beginning of an unprecedented partnership agreement for the funding of scientific research and innovation.
http://nocamels.com/2014/06/israel-and-eu-sign-e80-billion-scientific-research-agreement/
CNN features Israeli start-ups. (Thanks to David F) Samuel Burke at CNN took a trip through Israel’s tech scene. He spoke to CEOs and to Israel’s Chief Scientist. (Stop the CNN playlist when the video finishes.)
IDF deploys “Wind Shield” – a mobile Iron Dome. The IDF took delivery of the Green Rock mobile missile defense system from developers ELTA – a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries. Nicknamed “Wind Shield”, the system detects the launch of rockets and mortars and intercepts them before they reach their targets.
http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Iron-Dome-meets-Wind-Shield-Missile-defense-gets-mobile-355950
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Israel has NIS 1.9 billion budget surplus in May. The government’s budget surplus of NIS 1.9 billion in May 2014 reduced the deficit to 2.4% of GDP for the 12 months through May 2014 compared to 2.5% in April.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-nis-19b-budget-surplus-in-may-1000945458
Australia seeks Israeli innovation. Australia’s July trade mission to Israel is specifically designed for senior leaders from businesses, government policy and academia. It will focus on Technology Innovation and Israel’s entrepreneurial environment and explore Israel’s excellence in cyber security, big data and R&D.
http://www.jwire.com.au/news/nab-chief-to-lead-a-technology-innovation-trade-mission-to-israel/42807
Mapal Green signs up its third UK water utility. United Utilities – the UK’s largest water company – has selected Israel’s Mapal Green Energy to treat the wastewater of its customers. Thames Water and Anglian Water have already chosen Mapal’s system. The three companies serve nearly half of English households.
http://israel21c.org/news/uk-waterworks-taps-israeli-tech/
Polish oil terminal installs Israeli security solutions. Security at the Naftoport oil transshipment terminal in Poland has been enhanced with the integration of detection and analysis products from NICE Systems of Israel. Naftoport transships crude oil and refined oil products in the Port of Gdansk.
Israeli company buys Jamaica Private Power Company. Israel Corporation Power has increased its stake in Jamaica Private Power Company (JPPC) to 100%. JPPC generates and sells its entire capacity to the Jamaica Public Service. IC Power already owns power stations in Nicaragua, Colombia, Chile and Peru.
http://go-jamaica.com/pressrelease/item.php?id=3365
If happiness has a price – in Israel it costs the least. A new Bloomberg scale uses living standards data, per capita GDP, and the Gallup happiness poll to “price” happiness. It shows that Israelis “pay” $4,491 to be happy, less than people anywhere else in the world. It “costs” $7,051 in the USA and $14,609 in Qatar.
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=18001
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
7,863 books were published in Israel in 2013. According to statistics from the National Library, Israel published 7,863 books in 2013 – 235 more books than in 2012. Israel’s annual Hebrew Book Week began on Jun 11.
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=17995
“A cultural beacon (of light) for the nation and the world.” Tens of thousands of visitors (including this newsletter editor) will converge on Jerusalem’s Old City for the capital’s 6th annual International Festival of Light. Featuring 17 acclaimed international light artists, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. June 17-19 – all free of charge.
Mick Jagger tweeted a farewell message – in Hebrew. Last Friday as the Rolling Stones were leaving Israel for their next gig in the Netherlands, Mick Jagger wrote goodbye to his Israeli fans “Thanks to everyone in Israel for a wonderful reception. It was an amazing show and I’ll always remember it.” Plus some more videos.
https://twitter.com/MickJagger/status/474651786066673664/photo/1
[youtube=www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygQlmdc8tbY&w=520&h=315]
[youtube=www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3rsuJGOPhI&w=520&h=315]
The Hives at Tel Aviv’s RockandRoller Festival. Swedish retro-rockers The Hives perform on June 17 at Bloomfield Stadium in Jaffa, along with the Pixies, as part of the two-day RockandRoller Festival.
http://www.jpost.com/Arts-and-Culture/Entertainment/The-Hives-spread-to-Tel-Aviv-356029
Yossi Benayoun comes home. Israel’s long-time soccer hero Yossi Benayoun has signed a two-year deal with Maccabi Haifa worth $1 million. The 34-year-old Israeli midfielder left Haifa in 2002 for Racing Santander in Spain and then nine years in England from 2005 with West Ham, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and QPR.
http://www.thejc.com/sport/sport-news/119629/benyoun-rejoins-maccabi-haifa
Israel reaches U19 Euro soccer finals. Whilst Israeli soccer legend Yossi Benayoun was returning to his roots, Israel’s next generation of soccer stars was proving its worth. Israel qualified for next month’s Uefa European under-19 Championships finals in Hungary with a 1-0 victory over Georgia.
http://www.thejc.com/sport/sport-news/119630/israel-reach-u19-euro-finals
Israel is represented at the World Cup – in a security capacity. Israeli companies NICE and RISCO are supplying Brazil with key security and management technology that officials are counting on to keep the peace during the World Cup soccer tournament.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-companies-ramp-up-brazil-world-cup-security/
THE JEWISH STATE
250 Bnei Menashe to return to Israel this summer. Non-profit organization Shavei Israel is bringing 250 members of the Lost Tribe of Bnei Menashe to Israel this summer. The first 40 have just arrived. There are around 7,000 Bnei Menashe still in India. Their tradition is that they were exiled from Israel 2700 years ago.
The Untold News of Israeli Innovation. Here is the story of marketing professional Marcella Rosen from New York and how she founded Untold News (www.untoldnews.org). She also wrote the book “Tiny Dynamo”. Standing on the sidelines while the state of Israel was being denigrated just wouldn’t work for her.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/2014/jim-fletcher/untold-stories-of-israeli-innovation/print/
“Out of Zion shall go forth the law of renewable energy.” Israel’s Knesset hopes to become the “greenest” Parliament. Projects include 4,600 sq meters of solar panels on its roof, converting paper documents to electronic, LED lighting, charge points for hybrid cars, eliminating bottled water and using recycled paper.
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=17765
UNESCO Israel exhibition opens in Paris. The exhibition “People, Book, Land: The 3500 Year Relationship of the Jewish People with the Holy Land” was originally scheduled for Jan 2014 but was controversially postponed by UNESCO.
The 42 winners of “My Family Story” project. There were over 13,000 submissions to the “My Family Story” competition for the best 3-D Art representation of their family history. 42 students won a trip to Israel and will have their entries displayed at Tel Aviv University’s Beit Hatfutsot Museum of the Jewish People.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/42-jewish-genealogists-in-training-feted-in-tel-aviv/
Israel has a new President. Israel’s 10th President is Reuven “Rubi” Rivlin. He promised to be the President of all Israelis – “Jews, Arabs, Druse, rich, poor, those more observant and those who are less…. Long live Israeli democracy! Long live the State of Israel!”
http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Next-president-Rivlin-declares-Long-live-Israel-355882
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SANITY Report from Israel
