Dispatch from Jerusalem

Injected Genes stimulate Growth of New Blood Vessels

Genes injected into the heart of a cardiac patient stimulated the growth of new blood vessels in a first-ever operation performed at Rabin Medical Center, located in Petach Tikvah near Tel Aviv. The injection of the genes was carried out by using a cardiac catheter.

Clothes that Adjust to Body Temperature

An Israeli clothing manufacturer has designed a line of clothing using a fabric that automatically adjusts to a wearer’s personal body heat. The Bagir Company is using a high-technology wool blend designed to maintain a wearer’s comfort level regardless of the temperature of his surroundings.

Agricultural Production Jumps

Despite efforts to write off agriculture as an “old economy” industry, becoming less relevant in the high-tech era, figures released by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reveal that the Israeli agricultural sector is thriving and growing.

Water shortages and steep water price hikes have not hampered what the statistics show is a growth industry. The value of agricultural production jumped by 28.7% in the period from 1999 to 2004.

1.8 Million Tourists Expected in 2005

According to Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) and Ministry of Tourism, first-quarter 2005 tourist arrivals jumped 25% over the same period last year, with 373,000 visitors. The jump raised expectations of a total annual figure of 1.8 million tourists—higher than anticipated. Significant increases in tourist traffic were registered from Britain, Germany, the United States, France, Italy, and other countries.

Israeli Authorities Prevent Smuggling

An antiquities expert attempting to sneak an ancient measuring weight out of Israel was thwarted by a joint Postal Authority, Antiquities Authority, and Customs Bureau effort.

Hello, Salaam! Hello, Shalom! Hello, Peace!

There is a new conversation breaking out between Israelis and Palestinians, thanks to a new, toll-free telephone service, Hello, Peace! (Hello, Salaam! in Arabic and Hello, Shalom! in Hebrew). Large numbers of Arabs and Jews are picking up the phone and talking to people “on the other side” about reconciliation, tolerance, and peace. Over 48,000 calls were placed in less than three months.

Garlic and Onion Chemical Helps Kill Cancer Cells

The active ingredient in garlic and onions has been used together with advanced biotechnology by a Weizmann Institute of Science research team, led by professor David Mirelman, to improve the targeting of malignant cancer cells. The cancer-killing effectiveness of the technique lies in arming a cancer-targeting antibody with the destructive potential of a dietary molecule called allicin.

Tiny Needle-driving robot Developed

Researchers from Haifa’s Tech-nion–Israel Institute of Technology have developed a miniature robot that can navigate a flexible needle in the human body. The new needle will allow a surgeon to bypass obstacles in the needle’s path and safely reach its objective within the body.

“We are talking about driving a flexible needle,” says doctoral student Daniel Glozman. He developed the steering algorithm under the guidance of Professor Moshe Shoham of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.

Terrorists- Israel Weaker Now More Than Ever

Israel’s plan to retreat from the Gaza Strip and northern Samaria proves that unrelenting Islamic terrorism has weakened the Jewish state in a way that five full-scale wars failed to do, a senior Hamas official said.

“The painful and qualitative blows which the Palestinian resistance dealt to the Jews and their soldiers over the past four and a half years led to the decision to withdraw from the Gaza Strip,” Ahmed Al-Bahar, a top Hamas leader, was quoted as saying. “The suicide attacks…have taken their tolls on the Jews, both psychologically and economically, in addition to the high number of casualties,” he continued.

The Father’s Everlasting Love

{image_1} I was repeatedly impressed recently with the depth of the Father’s love for each of His children. Dee, a volunteer at Bridges for Peace, spoke about it at staff devotions. Jeremy, a young Israeli father, stood before our Representative Training Institute and talked about God’s unconditional love for the Jewish people, equating it with his love for his young child.