The Israel Project

Reported by MSNBC: “Archaeologists have found an ancient...

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 09:39:19 -0400

“Archaeologists have found an ancient water reservoir in Jerusalem that may have been used by pilgrims coming to the Temple Mount, the Israeli Antiquities Authority announced.

The IAA said the cistern could have held 66,000 gallons (250 cubic meters) of water; it likely dates back to the era of the First Temple, which, according to the Hebrew Bible, was constructed by King Solomon in the 10th century B.C. and then destroyed 400 years later.”

The resevoir served the general public, but also possibly had religious uses.

“Presumably the large water reservoir, which is situated near the Temple Mount, was used for the everyday activities of the Temple Mount itself and also by the pilgrims who went up to the Temple and required water for bathing and drinking,” Tvika Tsuk, chief archaeologist of Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority, said in a statement.

Excavation director Eli Shukron, with the IAA, said the reservoir also gives insight into Jerusalem’s public water supply at the time.

“It is now absolutely clear that the Jerusalem’s water consumption during the First Temple period was not solely based on the output of the Gihon Spring, but that it also relied on public reservoirs,” Shukron said in a statement. The spring was a main source of water for the city.

From the Jerusalem Post: Nepal and Israel have released a joint...

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 09:23:34 -0400

From the Jerusalem Post:

Nepal and Israel have released a joint stamp depicting the highest and the lowest places on earth - Mount Everest and the Dead Sea, Israel Radio reported Saturday.

The stamp bears a picture of Mount Everest, towering at 8,848m (29,028ft), and the mineral-rich Dead Sea, at 422m below sea level.

It displays the Israeli and Nepalese flags and has Hebrew, Nepali, Arabic and English writing on it. The two countries have enjoyed friendly relations for more than 50 years.

From The Times of Israel: “The National Memorial Site and...

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:08:23 -0400

From The Times of Israel:

“The National Memorial Site and Museum for the Heritage of the Battle and Reunification of Jerusalem during the Six Day War – which is to say Ammunition Hill – had some unexpected visitors Thursday: In mohawks and goatees, ripped jeans and tattooed torsos, the five members of the Swedish heavy metal band Sabaton climbed onto the scarred hulks of the tanks, peered into the shaded trenches and watched a movie about the battle for Jerusalem in June, 1967.

They listened in perfect and respectful silence, craning their heads to see the depiction of the troop movements on the three-dimensional map of the city.”

Popular band Sabaton of Sweden, visiting Israel for the third time - this time on the only day off of a world tour - renewed their love for IDF soldiers and Jerusalem.

Often writing lyrics on war, the battle for Jerusalem in 1967 is featured in their song “Counterstrike”: “Drive back surprise attack / Take the Western Wall / Next day make them pay/ Over river Jordan…6 days of fire 1 day of rest / June 67 taught them respect / Control Jerusalem.”

Here’s the band getting a security briefing by Security Captain Barak Raz.

Keep on rockin’ in the Holy Land, Swedes.

Rocket-proof School Opens in Sderot

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 09:56:00 -0400

All over Israel, students returned to school this week amidst reports of rockets being launched from Gaza. But in Sderot, where multiple rockets have landed this week, parents can breathe easy knowing their children are safe in their school.

Opened this year, Shaar Hanegev High School is a fortified, rocket-proof school building. The school, which now holds 1,200 students, took nearly half a decade to plan and build.

According to the Washington Post, “the $27.5 million structure features concrete walls, reinforced windows and a unique architectural plan all designed specifically to absorb and deflect rocket fire.”

Sderot residents have lived in constant fear of rocket attacks. For the past twelve years, rockets have rained down on the town of 24,000, killing eight people and injuring hundreds. Prior to his election, President Obama visited the town in 2008. The local police station has a collection of dozens of rockets fired from Gaza since 2000.

Israeli President Shimon Peres visited the school on Monday, the first day of classes. “I see here a wonderful and strong stance in the face of rockets,” he said. “This fortified school inaugurated today is the least that can be done for you. In response to the rockets you are making a strong statement.”

Below: Obama speaks outside of the Sderot Police Station in 2008. Behind him are hundreds of rockets launched from Gaza.

Gilad Shalit Celebrates First Birthday Out of Captivity

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:20:54 -0400

Photo courtesy of AFP/Getty Images

By Melissa Weiss, TIP Staff

The last time Gilad Shalit celebrated his birthday with his family, he was 19 years old. Shalit was captured during the Second Lebanon War in June 2006 and spent the next five years in captivity, released in October 2011 in a prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas.

For Shalit, who turned 26 today, the past 10 months have been a whirlwind that included trips to film sets, a visit to New York where he met Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his own sports column in an Israeli newspaper.

His grandfather, Zvi Shalit, said that he was “glad that Gilad has returned to a normal life. We are celebrating Gilad’s birthday on Sunday with parts of his closest family and wish him good luck.”

Earlier today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Shalit to wish him well “on this especially happy birthday of freedom.”

Israelis Condemn Attack on Arab Teens

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 16:00:00 -0400

Melissa Weiss, TIP Staff

· Arab teen in critical condition after brawl

· Netanyahu, Peres and major American Jewish orgs. all issue condemnations

Washington, August 22 – Israelis of all political stripe led by Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Peres, have united in condemning a violent attack on three young Arab man by Israeli teenagers last week.

Regarding the attack, Netanyahu said, “This is something we cannot accept – not as Jews and not as Israelis. “The State of Israel does not tolerate racism and the combination of racism and violence.”

The attack, which one witness described as “dozens of Jewish youths shouting curses at three Arabs” before the incident broke out into a full-fledged brawl, left one of the Arabs, 17-year-old Jamal Julani, in critical condition.

Peres blamed said the incident showed the importance of educators conveying to students the most important human values in the classroom.

”The state is dear to us; the land is important, but the human being is no less important,” Peres said in a statement.

With the Israeli school year beginning next week, Education Minister Gideon Sa’ar has instructed his office to discuss the attack in Jerusalem with students.

”This is a very serious event, both in terms of violence and racism,” he said. “The education system must and will put out an educational and ethical statement on the subject, which will be sharp and clear.”

Also voicing his concern about the escalating situation, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat released a statement saying, “I unequivocally condemn any expression of violence, both verbal or physical, by any party.”

"When Israeli archaeologist Yoram Haimi decided to investigate his family’s unknown Holocaust..."

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 17:55:08 -0400

“When Israeli archaeologist Yoram Haimi decided to investigate his family’s unknown Holocaust history, he turned to the skill he knew best: He began to dig. After learning that two of his uncles were murdered in the infamous Sobibor death camp, he embarked on a landmark excavation project that is shining new light on the workings of one of the most notorious Nazi killing machines, including pinpointing the location of the gas chambers where hundreds of thousands were killed.”

- Israeli Archaelogist, seeking truths about his family, digs into Nazi death camp

Israel’s Paralympic team goes for the gold A group of 25...

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 17:26:00 -0400

Israel’s Paralympic team goes for the gold

A group of 25 hard-training athletes in nine sports will represent Israel at the Paralympic Games in London, starting August 29. From Israel 21c

Tennis player Shraga Weinberg. Photo by Taz Livnat from Israel 21c

Israel used to be a leader in the Paralympics, but now, they’re facing more competition.

The majority of Israeli participants became disabled in combat or terror attacks, and in the early days they didn’t face much serious competition. That is changing, says Israel Paralympic Committee secretary general Ron Bolotin, holder of 11 Paralympic swimming medals.

“Our success was much higher in 1968 to 1988, when Israel was one of the pioneer nations in Paralympic sports,” he tells ISRAEL21c. Israel hosted the Paralympics in 1968, when the summer Olympics were held in Mexico. This year’s Paralympics will take place in London, where the summer Olympics recently wrapped up.

He explains that world-class athletes begin training in childhood, yet many of Israel’s best competitors began training at the IDF Disabled Veterans organization’s Beit Halochem sports centers after getting injured in their 20s.

Read more about these inspiring athletes here.

Muhammad Ali’s daughter looks to Israeli researchers for Parkinson’s answers

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:58:11 -0400

By Dena Weiss, TIP Fellow

Rasheda Ali, daughter of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali—who is afflicted with Parkinson’s disease—recently visited Israel to learn about current research efforts in the field of degenerative brain diseases, reports The Times of Israel.

Traveling to Hadassah University’s Hospital-Ein Kerem in Jerusalem, Ali accompanied members of the Israeli biotechnology firm BrainStorm, of which she is an advisory board member. The company is a pioneer in the development of adult stem cell therapies for neurodegenerative disorders including Lou Gehrig’s disease, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.

Ali expressed her gratification with the work being done at Hadassah and her excitement to see the researchers in action.

By Shira Finkelstein, TIP Fellow The zoological center of Ramat...

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:54:31 -0400

By Shira Finkelstein, TIP Fellow

The zoological center of Ramat Gan participated in a program to breed rare red sand cats, resulting in the litter of four to mommy Rotem.

Although sand cats are the only species of felines that can live entirely in the desert, they were deemed extinct in Israel. These nocturnal and wild cats hunt by digging, and use their ears to locate prey.

To read the whole story and learn more about these cute cats, check out The Times of Israel.

"Peres blew out the candles, saying, “My wish is the same as ever: that there be peace for the..."

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 17:37:02 -0400

“Peres blew out the candles, saying, “My wish is the same as ever: that there be peace for the children of Israel.””

- Shimon Peres celebrated his 89th birthday in the southern Israeli town of Yeruham today. Students prepared him a cake and he blew out the candles.

The Times of Israel reported Peres saying: “You made my birthday, I could not be any more excited. My biggest wish — a glimpse into the future — is what I got today,” he added. “Everything that happened in the past is nothing compared to the future. I hope the young people of today will see a better world”.

Bloomberg ranks Israel as 6th Healthiest Country in the World

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 17:09:00 -0400

By Dena Weiss, TIP Fellow

In a study released on Wednesday, Bloomberg placed Israel 6^th in healthy countries worldwide. The report ranked 145 nations, excluding countries that lacked sufficient data.

Bloomberg Rankings looked at varying factors to determine both an overall health score and a risk score for each country. The risk score was then subtracted from the health score to determine the country’s placement. Considerations for the health score included life expectancy, causes of death, and death rates. The risk score took into account population percentages for smokers, overweight citizens, and per capita alcohol consumption, as well as pollution and water safety levels. Gross national income per capita was also factored into the risk score to create a more accurate number for each country.

Israel’s overall health grade was 85.97, a result of a total health score of 91.97 and a risk score of 6. Singapore ranked first in the study with a health grade of 89.45, while the United States came in a dismal 33, with a health grade of 66.84.

View a slideshow of the top 20 nations here.

Israel Trail Recognized by National Geographic

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:25:00 -0400

By Shira Finkelstein, Media Fellow

Looking for a good place to hike? Try the Israel National Trail from southern to northern Israel. National Geographic magazine sited this as one of the World’s Best Hikes. The 620-mile trail provides hikers with both history and beauty of the land.

Check out the full story at The Times of Israel.

Israel to Open Mediterranean Research Center

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:20:00 -0400

By Robert Pines, TIP Fellow

From the Rosh HaNikra grottos in the north to the sparkling beaches of Ashkelon in the south, Israel’s Mediterranean coast plays host to some of the country’s most valuable natural treasures. With millions of dollars being poured into coastal development, however, the Mediterranean Sea itself has long been neglected – until now.

Recognizing the importance in preserving Israel’s coastal assets on and off shore, the Israeli government has pledged $15 million dollars to help build a new Center for Mediterranean Sea Research at the University of Haifa. The center is expected to provide scientists throughout the country with the necessary equipment for in-depth marine research.

“When Israelis do marine research they usually go down to the [Red Sea] Gulf of Eilat. There, it’s easy, special and fun,” said geophysicist Yitzhak Makovsky of the University of Haifa. Makovsky hopes that the center becomes a global hub for those researching the Mediterranean Sea.

Especially with the development of natural gas wells off the coast of Israel, it is more important than ever to monitor and track activities in one of the world’s most important bodies of water. The Center for Mediterranean Sea Research will provide Israel with the resources necessary to keep a watchful eye on its western border.

Israeli Ambassador’s Article Shared by Bahraini FM on Twitter By...

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:22:55 -0400

Israeli Ambassador’s Article Shared by Bahraini FM on Twitter

By Robert Pines, TIP Media Fellow

In an unexpected move by an Arab leader, Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa recommended via Twitter an op-ed written by Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren for the Wall Street Journal.

Oren’s piece, entitled “Time is Short for Iran Diplomacy,” seeks to convince the United States and the international community that time is running short to keep using sanctions and negotiations in an attempt to halt the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. He argues that military force might be necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring atomic weaponry.

While Israel has been most vocal in expressing the threat posed by a nuclear Iran, Bahrain, a small island nation ruled by a Sunni Muslim dynasty in the Persian Gulf, also fears its predominantly Shiite Muslim neighbor to the north. Khalifa’s tweet highlights the anxiety felt by the Gulf states in the face of global inaction towards an increasingly radicalized Iran.

Hamas Leader’s Family Treated in Israeli Hospital

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 09:19:00 -0400

Hamas Leader’s Family Treated in Israeli Hospital:

The sister of Hamas Prime Minister in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh recently entered Israel along with her husband, who received urgent treatment at the Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, Ynet news has reported.

As the article states, “Four months ago the husband of Suhila Abd el-Salam Ahmed Haniyeh suffered a serious cardiac episode which could not be treated at any hospital in Gaza. After the couple filed an urgent entry request with Israeli authorities, a Palestinian ambulance transported the husband to the Erez Crossing, where he was moved to a Magen David Adom vehicle and taken to the hospital in Petah Tikva along with his wife.”

After being hospitalized for a week, his condition stabled and he returned to Gaza.

Ynet continued about Haniyeh:

Ismail Haniyeh attacks Israel at every opportunity, and the terror group he heads does not recognize Israel’s right to exist. On Monday he led a mass prayer session outside the Egyptian Embassy in Gaza in solidarity with the victims of last weekend’s terror attack in Sinai. During the gathering, he joined the Muslim Brotherhood in accusing Israel of orchestrating the attack.

Israeli officials declined to comment on the story, and the Rabin Medical Center announced that they are unable to disclose the details of the case.

"Two semi-transparent stickers applied to the lenses of the user’s spectacles blur vision of anything..."

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 17:47:00 -0400

“Two semi-transparent stickers applied to the lenses of the user’s spectacles blur vision of anything beyond the range of a few meters and so diffuse immodestly dressed women to a harmless blot.”

- The Times of Israel, “Anti-oggle goggles for the modest set”

An ultra-Orthodox organization has developed a range of products to act as a first line of defense against the threat of seeing immodest women, Israeli media reported on Tuesday.

In a change of tactics from previous ultra-Orthodox strategies that in the past have targeted women as the culprits of lasciviousness, the Committee for Purity in the Camp offers a variety of gadgets to limit the field of view and so prevent men from exposure to over-exposed women. The devices have recently gone on sale in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods of Jerusalem and elsewhere.

Two semi-transparent stickers applied to the lenses of the user’s spectacles blur vision of anything beyond the range of a few meters and so diffuse immodestly dressed women to a harmless blot.

Determined to provide a solution for everyone, the committee also offers non-prescription glasses at NIS 130 ($32.50). Those who are blessed with good vision and don’t require corrective glasses can buy a pair and then apply the stickers to the lenses, reducing their vision to a safe blur.

The organization also offers head scarfs that extend over the eyes for added protection against concupiscence.

A particularly tricky challenge for ultra-Orthodox travelers are airplanes where men and women are forced together in a confined space. Available from the committee are its most successful products, two different designs for portable screens that can be erected in an airline seat to block out not just passing women, but also prevent the calamity of inadvertently watching an in-flight movie.

According to a report in Maariv, the products come with a message of encouragement assuring customers they can be proud rather than embarrassed when using the items in public.

The committee told the paper there seems to be great demand for the products — at least for the foreseeable future.

Eleven Israelis killed in a 1972 attack in Munich were...

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 11:17:27 -0400

Eleven Israelis killed in a 1972 attack in Munich were remembered in a memorial ceremony in London. But anger is growing over IOC refusal to include a moment of silence in the Olympic opening ceremony. Via Associated Press.

Tel Aviv to host Lollapalooza music festival in 2013

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 17:34:01 -0400

By Dena Weiss, TIP Media Fellow

Shortly before the conclusion of the famed annual music festival this weekend, Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell announced the concerts will be headed to Israel next summer.

Planned to take place in the popular Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv, Lollapalooza’s official website touts, “50 shows of the leading singers and bands from all over the world in 3 days: August 20-22, 2013.” Headliners for the 2012 festival, which ended on Sunday, included performers ranging from rock’s Red Hot Chili Peppers to dubstep’s Bassnectar to R&B’s Frank Ocean.

Organizers of the event took norms of Israeli society into account with their planning, scheduling the festival for the middle of the week. Farrell, also the lead singer for famed alt-rock band Jane’s Addiction, told CNN, “”I don’t think it would be great to do it on a Friday night. No one would go.”

An indication of the popularity of the festival and the performers it attracts, Lollapalooza Israel will serve as the third international host for the events. Chile hosted the festival in 2011, and Brazil held the events earlier in 2012, in addition to the annual experience in Chicago.

This may not be the last Israel sees of the Lollapalooza festival. Farrell told reporters, “We got a call from Jerusalem, the Holy City, and they want Lollapalooza to be there, too.”

Revolutionizing the Green Movement: Cardboard Bicycles Dena...

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:41:34 -0400

Revolutionizing the Green Movement: Cardboard Bicycles

Dena Weiss, TIP Media Fellow

If it is possible to make a canoe out of cardboard, why not a bike? That is the question Israeli entrepreneur Izhar Gafni posed, then resolved to answer.

Intrigued by the creation of a cardboard canoe and interested in incorporating his love for biking into a new venture, Gafni weighed the possibility of creating a cardboard bicycle. Gafni consulted multiple engineers, only to be told his idea was impossible. Encouraged by his wife, Gafni went ahead with a prototype anyway.

After much experimentation, Gafni found the best way to manipulate recycled cardboard material to create a sturdy bicycle contraption. Since that first workable model, Gafni has redesigned his creation to more closely resemble a typical metal bike.

Gafni estimates the cost of construction materials for one bike is between $9 and $12, and suggests that one retail between $60 and $90 for consumers. These price points will likely be attractive for manufacturers, distributors, and consumers, making the cardboard bicycle a promising new product for the retail market.

Hear Gafni’s story in his own words and watch him construct his cardboard bicycle.