Good News

Tourism Spikes

{image_1}In June, the Tourism Ministry announced an all-time record high of tourists visiting Israel for the month of May—an increase of 33% over May 2009. It was the sixth consecutive record-breaking month this year! Tourism since the beginning of the year increased by 42% over last year and over 11% in 2008, which was Israel’s record year to date.

Israel Joins Exclusive Economic Group

{image_1}Earlier this year, Israel was invited, along with Slovenia and Estonia, to join the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an exclusive economic group now set to consist of 34 members ranging from Sweden to Mexico.

Exports Grow 11,250-fold in 62 Years

Israel's exports have grown 11,250 times since 1948—from US $6 million to US $67.5 billion in 2009—according to the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute. The data suggest that Israeli exports have doubled in the last 12 years—from US $33 billion in 1998 to some US $67.5 billion last year.

Israel, Egypt May Unite on Solar Project

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At the recent Eilat-Eilot International Renewable Energy Conference, it was announced that Israel and Egypt may collaborate on a mega solar project. Israel's Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer revealed at the conference that during a visit to Egypt with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he launched discussions with Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak about the possibility of establishing a huge joint solar project in Egypt's Sinai Desert—a prime location for such a project with its clear skies, flat topography, and high annual solar concentration.

New “Gospel Trail” Inaugurated

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Now Christian pilgrims can bike where Jesus walked. Along the 40-kilometer (25-mile) trail from Nazareth to Capernaum, bikers can stop at several sites mentioned in the Bible during Jesus’ Galilean ministry. As anyone knows, one gets a much better feel for the country when biking and walking instead of speeding along in a car or tour bus on a heavily-trafficked paved roadway, and, of course, Jesus walked at a much slower pace.
 

Birds and Legislators Share Jerusalem Hill

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It may be the seat of power in Israel and located in the middle of a busy city, but Jerusalem Hill—the site of Israel's parliament—is also home to a significant bird observatory. When it comes to birds, Israel is one of the busiest thoroughfares in the world. Every spring and fall [or autumn], without fail, half a billion birds cross the country on their long migration from Africa to Europe and back. As the first green habitat they encounter on their long and perilous journey, it's no surprise that Israel takes its birds seriously—so seriously, in fact, that even in the heart of Jerusalem, just a stone's throw from the Supreme Court and the Knesset, you can find a bird observatory.

Haitian Child Receives Cardiac Op

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When the members of Israel's rescue team returned home from Haiti, they brought along six-year-old Woodley Elisse.

Israel, Syria Open the Border for Apples

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Israel and Syria may be enemies and currently not even meeting for peace talks, but there’s at least one simple interest they share in common: apples from the Golan Heights. According to an Israel Defense Forces [IDF] press release, thousands of apples grown in the Israeli Golan, which was taken by Israel from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War, will be transferred into Syria.

Hand Sanitizer STOPS Swine Flu

While people all over the world worry about contracting swine flu, an Israeli company has come up with a product to prevent its spread. Yissum Research Development Company, the technology transfer arm of the Hebrew University (HU) of Jerusalem, presents EtoClean, a new antiviral hand sanitizer that stops the swine flu virus in its tracks.

Israel Assesses 2009 Aid to Gaza

A meeting of international aid agencies has reviewed their Gaza efforts and found, in 2009, their humanitarian goods deliveries rose 28%. The spokesman for the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (CoGAT) said international organizations were more active in the Gaza Strip despite the complex security situation.