Lifeguard Rescues Ancient Discus

{image_1} In the last issue of the Dispatch from Jerusalem, we highlighted the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) Theft Prevention Unit and, in particular, a bust they made on a man in Haifa who was stealing artifacts from underwater sites along Israel’s northern coastline. In this issue, we’re proud to highlight an underwater discovery of another kind that was brought to the attention of the proper authorities.

“Skunk” on Riot Patrol

{image_1} Out with rubber bullets, tear gas, shock grenades; in with new, stinky means to scatter violent rioters. The Israeli Border Guard has begun using a new means of contending with riots, coined “Skunk.” The police developed this new method for scattering violent demonstrations and tested its effectiveness in August.

Nasrallah Calls for United Lebanese Front

{image_1} Two years after the Second Lebanon War and the day Israel buried the two Israel Defense Forces reservists Eldad Regev and Udi Goldwasser taken captive by Hizbullah, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah [secretary-general of Hizbullah] rejoiced, declared victory, and called for a united Lebanese front. It is no secret that since the war, Hizbullah has succeeded in replenishing its arsenal three-fold. Israel has estimated that the terrorist organization has in its possession over 40,000 long- and short- range rockets. Hizbullah continues to enjoy heavy Syrian and Iranian support.

Bullae Identify King Zedekiah’s Ministers

{image_1} In her ongoing excavations at the City of David in Jerusalem, Dr. Eilat Mazar has made yet another incredible discovery. Her team found a clay bulla (seal impression) inscribed with the name “Gedaliah Ben Pashchur.”

A Pacemaker for the Kidney

{image_1}Chronic renal failure (CRF) is basically a death sentence for over 20 million sufferers. CRF eventually leads to end-stage renal disease, requiring costly dialysis or a kidney transplant, and dialysis survival rates are no longer than five or six years. Although transplants are the optimal course, they are limited by donor availability and extreme side effects. But, an Israeli company, Nephera, has developed a solution that could be “revolutionary.”

The Trojan Horse

{image_1}In his book Two Nations Under God: Why Should America Care About Israel and the Middle East, Tom Doyle describes Jerusalem as the “Anchor City of the Bible. This is where God met with humanity and one day will meet with us again!”. He also said the three major world religions (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) “collide” here. “Collide” seems to be a very appropriate word.

Israeli Doctors Volunteer in Gaza

{image_1}Prior to the recent Hamas-Fatah infighting and amid the uncertainty looming over Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, two Israeli doctors and volunteers at the Physicians for Human Rights organization in Israel, obtained special entry permits allowing them to cross into the Gaza Strip and perform complex plastic and orthopedic surgeries on children. Dr. Kassis Shukri, a plastic surgery specialist from Ziv Medical Center, and Dr. Mustafa Yassin, an orthopedist from the Rabin Medical Center, worked with the Palestinian medical team at the Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s main medical center, for two-and-a-half intensive days.

One-State Solution?

{image_1}Ahmed Qurei, who heads Palestinian negotiators in US-brokered talks with Israel, told Fatah party loyalists behind closed doors that a two-state solution could be achieved only if Israel met their demands to withdraw from all “occupied” land.

Wireless Entertainment

{image_1}There was a time when all you did was use one plug for your TV. Now, we are plagued with multiple cables for game consoles, DVDs, and other devices. Israeli company Amimon has developed a chipset solution that eliminates all those cables by separating the display section from the tuner section, requiring a single plug-in once again. Sharp, Sony, Samsung, Motorola, and Hitachi have rallied together with Amimon under the Wireless Home Digital Interface (WHDI). Sharp already has an Amimon wireless chip in a HDTV selling in Japan. The consortium also plans to include the chip in PCs, multimedia projectors, and game consoles.

Large-Scale Ethiopian Emigration Ends

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The era of large-scale Jewish emigration from Ethiopia to Israel
is over, the Jewish Agency for Israel has said. The last official
airlift of Ethiopian Jews was scheduled to land in Tel Aviv on August
5, bringing to an end an organized campaign that began nearly 30 years
ago and brought in some 120,000 immigrants from the east African
nation.

The Exodus

{image_1}Originally a US packet steamer, the President Warfield made
trips between Virginia and Maryland from 1928 to1942. During WWII, it
served both Britain and America. Afterwards, it was sold to an American
shipwrecking company that served as an agent of the Jewish underground
defense force Haganah and was renamed Exodus 1947 after the biblical
exodus from Egypt.

Tourism Profits Spike

{image_1}The Israel hotel industry has achieved one billion shekels (US
$295.5 million) profit in a year, for the first time. Tourism growth in
2007 included 2.3 million tourists and a 25% increase over 2006.

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