First Lady Nechama Rivlin hosts leading women ahead of International Women’s Day, March 7, 2016. (Mark Neyman/GPO)

Ahead of International Women’s Day, President Reuven Rivlin hosted 22 outstanding female students (Jewish and Arab); Israel’s ambassadors to Japan, Austria, Ethiopia and France are all women; a new survey of Arabs of east Jerusalem shows 52% prefer to live under Israeli sovereignty, and much more.

ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL

Israeli women leaders of the future

In advance of International Women’s Day on 8th March, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin hosted 22 outstanding female students (Jewish and Arab). Each took on the role of a Government Minister and presented their ideas for that ministry.

https://baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=37&ARTICLE_ID=99699

Israel’s female Ambassadors

To mark International Women’s Day, this video features Israel’s Ambassadors to Japan, Austria, Ethiopia and France. Yes, they are all women.

Arab women’s education and employment improves

A Taub Center study shows that Arab-Israeli women are slowly managing to close the educational and employment gaps with Jewish Israeli women. Matriculation results are close to those of non-ultra-Orthodox Jewish women and numbers in higher education have risen.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-israeli-women-make-inroads-in-education-job-market-study-says/

Most Jerusalem Arabs choose Israeli sovereignty

A new survey, conducted by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion among the Arabs of east Jerusalem shows that 52% now prefer to live as citizens with equal rights under Israeli sovereignty.  Seven years ago, the figure was only 35%.

http://jcpa.org/article/coexistence-jerusalem-local-elections/

US Jerusalem embassy to open in May

The new US Embassy in Jerusalem will open in May 2018 to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Israel declaring independence. Initially, the embassy will operate out of the US’s current consular premises.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-to-move-embassy-to-jerusalem-on-may-14-day-of-independence-declaration/

20,000 extra PA work permits

Israel is increasing the number of work permits for Arabs from the Palestinian Authority by 20,000, bringing the number of permits to 100,000.

http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-to-issue-20000-more-work-permits-to-palestinians-1001224752

Agriculture training for 10 Russian-speaking countries

Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV) recently hosted 24 professionals from 10 Russian-speaking countries who underwent an intensive agriculture training program on entrepreneurship, marketing and post-harvesting.

https://unitedwithisrael.org/israel-brings-amazing-agricultural-advances-to-russian-speaking-countries/

Helping Europe counter terrorism

MK Anat Berko, a criminologist, represented Israel at a meeting in Vienna of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. It was the first time that Israel participated as a full member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Likud-MK-Berko-lends-counter-terrorism-expertise-to-Europe-543556

Prince William to visit Israel

Kensington Palace has announced that the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, who is second in line to the British throne, will visit Israel and the Palestinian Territories in Israel’s 70th anniversary year. It will be the first official royal visit to Israel in the history of the Jewish State.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/prince-william-to-visit-israel-this-summer-in-first-official-royal-visit/

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/royal-visit-shows-how-diplomatic-tide-is-turning-bm2njsk98

Thwarting terror attacks in 30 countries

Israel’s Economic Minister Eli Cohen said at a law conference at Tel Aviv University that Israel had issued warnings about specific terror plots to some 30 countries in 2017.

https://worldisraelnews.com/israeli-minister-israels-intelligence-helped-30-countries-thwart-terror-attacks-2017/

Treating trauma in South Florida

Specialists from the Israel Trauma Coalition are now in South Florida, providing trauma counseling training to around 600 professionals assisting the Parkland community in the aftermath of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting tragedy.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/florida-jewish-journal/news/broward/fl-jjbs-israelitrauma-0307-20180227-story.html  https://www.israel21c.org/israel-steps-in-to-help-teachers-after-parkland-shooting/

Climbing Kilimanjaro to benefit sick children.  (TY WIN & I24 News) In its 22 years, Israeli charity Make a Wish has helped 3,500 sick children realize their dreams. To raise awareness (and half a million shekels), 14 hikers from Make a Wish climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.

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