A one-horned rhinoceros stands in the Kaziranga National Park, a wildlife reserve that provides refuge to more than 2,200 endangered Indian one-horned rhinoceros. (AP/Anupam Nath, File)

good_news_from_israel_890x1002

Israel’s Dr. Bill Clark combats poaching in Kenya. Now another Israeli, Ofir Drori, has launched the EAGLE network and put 1300 poachers behind bars; In 2010, only 600 non-Jews served in Israel’s national service program. Now, 4,500 non-Jews (mostly Israeli Arabs) do national service, and much more. 

By: Michael Ordman

 

ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL

Hunting African wildlife traffickers

Israel’s Dr. Bill Clark combats poaching in Kenya. Now another Israeli, Ofir Drori, has launched the EAGLE network and put 1300 poachers behind bars in Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Benin, Togo, Guinea, Senegal, Uganda and Madagascar.
http://www.israel21c.org/israeli-activist-hunts-down-african-wildlife-traffickers/

Thousands of Arabs do National Service

In 2010, only 600 non-Jews served in Israel’s national service program. Now, 4,500 non-Jews (mostly Israeli Arabs) do national service, including 100 from East Jerusalem. Participants volunteer for one to two years in public institutions like schools, hospitals, courts or health clinics.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/more-arab-israelis-join-national-service-discovering-state-benefits-patriotism/

Dental clinics for the poor

Israel’s oldest charity Colel Chabad has established nine dental clinics to serve Israel’s neediest. They include Jerusalem, Afula, Akko, Ashdod and Netanya. Heavily subsidized prices make oral hygiene affordable for thousands of adults who would otherwise have no recourse.
http://www.colelchabad.org/Dental_Clinics.htm

After school programs for disadvantaged kids

Israel’s Knesset (parliament) has approved a bill allocating some NIS 500 million ($130 million) to the budget for after-school informal education for children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. It will mainly teach workforce skills to ultra-Orthodox and Arab children.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/lawmakers-okay-nis-500m-to-teach-disadvantaged-kids/

Everybody can do everything

The Special in Uniform program proved that anything is possible when Shai Levi enlisted in the IDF to work at the Eilat Naval base. Shai suffers from Cerebral Palsy.

$374 million for Arab-sector housing

Israel is to allocate 1.41 billion shekels ($374 million) toward building public housing for Israeli Arabs and to lift restrictions from construction on private land. The agreement with the heads of 15 local municipal Arab authorities will facilitate the construction of 30,000 housing units.
http://jerusalemjournal.net/news-and-views/israel-allocates-374-million-for-arab-sector-housing

Integrating Arabs into hi-tech

The ExcelHT program from Israeli NGO IT Works provides much needed manpower to Israeli hi-tech companies while providing employment opportunities for the Arab sector. ExcelHT provides career counseling, coaching, English language skills and much needed business contacts.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Integrating-outstanding-Arab-students-into-hi-tech-468326#

Palestinian Arabs flock to Jaffa beaches

The entrance to Jaffa was turned into a makeshift bus station as hundreds of Palestinian Arabs arrived in private buses to spend Eid al Adha in Jaffa and the adjacent beaches.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Eid-al-Adha-brings-West-Bank-families-to-Jaffa-beaches-467837

New shopping mall for all

A new mall for Jews and Palestinians Arabs has opened at the Gush Etzion junction in Judea and Samaria. Muslim women wearing hijabs and traditional dress, shopped alongside religious Jewish women in skirts and scarves tied over their hair.

http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/New-mall-for-settlers-and-Palestinians-opens-in-Gush-Etzion-464175

The fifth best country for social entrepreneurs

The Thomson Reuters Foundation poll of almost 900 social enterprise experts in the world’s 45 biggest economies ranked Israel as the fifth best nation (after the US, Canada, Britain and Singapore) for social entrepreneurs – people who use businesses to tackle social problems.
http://in.reuters.com/article/us-entrepreneurs-poll-findings-idINKCN11L0EV

http://poll2016.trust.org/country/?id=israel

Partnering with Australia’s Victoria state

A delegation of eleven Victorian Coalition MPs took part in AIJAC’s Rambam Israel Fellowship Program. They were especially impressed by Ben Gurion University’s social entrepreneurs, OurCrowd’s “Our Innovation Australia Fund” and Australia’s Landing Pad in Tel Aviv.

http://www.jwire.com.au/victorian-coalition-delegation-looks-israel-innovation-inspiration/

Nigeria scientific delegation to Israel

Nigeria’s Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Onu, went on a 4-day official visit to Israel, to stimulate the Technology Acquisition and Transfer initiative. He was accompanied by the Heads of Nigeria’s Space R&D and Environmental Sciences and Technology.
http://newsherald.com.ng/2016/08/onu-visits-israel-technology-acquisition-transfer-initiative/

Israel’s first ambassador to NATO

Aharon “Ronny” Leshno-Yaar presented his credentials as Israel’s first ambassador to the 28-member NATO military alliance. NATO announced upgraded ties with Israel in May, recognizing an official Israeli representative and granting Israel a permanent office at its Brussels headquarters.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-first-ambassador-to-nato-presents-his-credentials/

 

Click here for all of this week’s Good News from Israel.