Essay – Why Americans don’t understand Israeli Jews

A lack of trust in the market, passion for the military and jokes about the Holocaust. What is it about Israeli Jews that Americans just don’t get?

 

About two weeks ago, I wrote an article entitled “Why Israelis don’t understand Jewish Americans,” where I made assertions as to what drives rifts between the two peoples. This time, I’ve flipped the coin and am taking a look at why Americans don’t understand Israeli Jews, either.

Hadag Nachash has rapped it, and Israelis around the world have screamed it: they are not “friars”, or “suckers.” Israelis are well known for questioning sources and trying to “game” the system. Continue Reading »

Israeli Exports Up Nearly 15,000% Since 1948

In 1948, Israel exported $6 million worth of products, but by 2011, that number had jumped to about $90 billion – a rise of 1,400,000%

In the 64 years since its establishment, exports from Israel have grown by some 15,000%. In 1948, Israel exported $6 million worth of products, but by 2011, that number had jumped to about $90 billion – a rise of 1,400,000%. The per capita export rate – the amount of export in terms of population – was at the end of last year 173 times greater than it was in 1948.

The statistics were released Thursday in honor of Independence Day by the Israel Export Institute. Continue Reading »

The enzyme that sharpens memory

Rats in an Israeli lab were able to form stronger memories after receiving a certain enzyme. In the future, this may have applications for humans.

 

Imagine never forgetting a single detail of your life — what you got for your 14th birthday, or the phone numbers of every one of your romantic interests. New science from Israel shows that this might be in the realm of possibility. The big question is: Would it be good for us?

The breakthrough Israeli-US research project, for the first time anywhere, has found a compound in the brain to enhance memory. Whether the enzyme responsible could ever be made into a “super pill” (like the one imagined in the science-fiction flick Limitless to boost brainpower) is quite speculative, says Reut Shema from Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science. Continue Reading »

Pupils learn to buy Israeli chocolate, tomatoes

‘We Are Blue and White’ curriculum, launched last year as a pilot program, will be taught to 50,000 pupils each year, in hope that they will influence their parents’ choices

 

A new addition to the school curriculum is encouraging Israeli pupils to opt for the Shahar brand of chocolate spread, eat Pri Hagalil canned goods, and put fresh cherry tomatoes in their salads. The program, which focuses on buying Israeli goods, also teaches the children about leading Israeli innovations like the flash drive, ICQ, and drip irrigation.

Tomatoes - buy Israeli Photo: Index Open

Tomatoes; buy Israeli - Photo: Index Open

The new program, launched by the Education Ministry and the Industry, Trade, and Labor Ministry, is intended to instill in pupils a sense of pride in Israeli industry and products and convey the message that if Israelis don’t buy locally-produced goods, employment will drop and families won’t be able to make a living. Continue Reading »

IDF chief: Other countries are prepared for possible Iran strike

Following recent comments that appeared to put Lt. Gen. Gantz at odds with other senior Israeli officials, the IDF Chief of Staff strongly hints that other nations could be backing military action.

 

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz said on Thursday that other countries have readied their armed forces for a potential strike against Iran’s nuclear sites to keep Tehran from acquiring atomic weapons.

IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz - Archive

IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz - Photo by Archive

Gantz did not specify which nations might be willing to support or take direct action against Iran. Still, his comments were one of the strongest hints yet that Israel may have the backing of other countries to strike the Islamic Republic to prevent it from developing nuclear arms.”The

Continue Reading »

New IDF Rifle has Double Barrel

First Israeli twin-barrel assault rifle has greater fire power and effectiveness, uses regular ammunition.

A new Israeli assault rifle features a twin barrel – the first such gun to be made in Israel, writes Israel Defense.

Double barreled assault rifle

Double barreled assault rifle - Israel Defense

Silver Shadow, the firm that manufactures the Gilboa assault rifle, will soon unveil a new member of the Gilboa family with a double barrel, meaningfully increasing fire power and enhancing the effect of a hit on target.

The gun uses standard ammunition.

The new weapon will be presented by the company at the Eurosatory 2012 weapons trade show, to be held in June in Paris. Continue Reading »

Dubai withholds Israeli cardiologists visas

Over a dozen Israeli cardiologists who had been invited to a Dubai conference were denied visa last minute.

 

Over a dozen Israeli cardiologists who had been invited to a Dubai conference of the World Heart Federation – attended by 12,000 heart specialists last week – were denied a visa by authorities at the last minute.
Dubai Skyline - Photo: REUTERS/Jumana El-Heloueh
Dubai Skyline – Photo: REUTERS/Jumana El-Heloueh

Only a couple of Israelis – one from the Rabin Medical Center and the other from Tel Aviv’s Sourasky Medical Center – who had been invited to lecture at the conference were allowed to attend and did so.

The Jerusalem Post learned on Tuesday that the would-be participants – Jews and Arabs – paid $3,000 each for their flights, visas, hotels and attendance at the conference.

Continue Reading »

Jordan PM quits 6 months into reform mandate

King Abdullah II replaces Khasawneh with former PM Fayez Tarawneh. Islamic Action Front: Security services, siege mentality won

 

Jordan‘s Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh resigned on Thursday, barely six months after forming a reform-mandated government to bring in political and economic change in the country.

King Abdullah II replaced Khasawneh, who was in Turkey, with Fayez Tarawneh, 63, who was prime minister and royal court chief in the late 1990s.

King Abdullah Photo: Reuters

King Abdullah of Jordan - Photo: REUTERS

The king “asked Fayez Tarawneh to form a new government after the resignation of Khasawneh today,” a senior official told AFP.

Khasawneh, 62, an International Court of Justice judge, formed his cabinet in October, becoming the third premier in 2011, saying he had “received guarantees from the king to have full sovereignty as prime minister.” Continue Reading »

Israel marks 64th Independence Day

Celebrations of 64 years of Israeli independence begin with lighting of beacons at annual ceremony marking end of Memorial Day; celebrations marred by accident at the site last week, in which IDF soldier Hila Bezalel, was killed.

Celebrations of 64 years of Israeli independence kicked off on Wednesday night with the lighting of beacons at the official ceremony at Mount Herzl national cemetery in Jerusalem, which also marks the conclusion of Memorial Day.

The official ceremony was marred by the fateful accident at the site last week, in which 20-year-old Israel Defense Forces soldier, 2nd Lt. Hila Bezaleli, was killed  when a lighting rig collapsed during rehearsals for the Independence Day ceremony.

Continue Reading »

Salah Making Trouble Again, 10 Days after his Return

Rabble rousing sheikh takes part in anti-Independence Day march alongside Arab MKs.

Sheikh Raed Salah is back in Israel, and making trouble. The rabble rousing sheikh from Umm El Fahm took part Thursday in a march protesting Israel’s victory in the 1948 Independence War, and the fact that Arabs lost some territory as a result of their defeat.

Several thousands of people reportedly took part in the march in the Galilee, including Knesset Members Ahmed Tibi and Jamal Zahalka.

Salah spent about ten months in Britain before returning to Israel just ten days ago. Some of his time in Britain was spent in jail, after he successfully entered the country despite being banned from doing so. Continue Reading »

Israel at 64: Population of 7,881,000

Israel’s population grew by 161,000 people since last year’s Independence Day, approaches 8 million mark

Israel‘s population numbered 7,881,000 people on the eve of its 64th anniversary, data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics indicate. In comparison, on the eve of its establishment, the State of Israel consisted of only 806,000 residents.

New data published by the CBS, indicate that nearly 5,931,000 of the population are Jewish (75.3%).

The Arab population stands at 1,623,000 (20.6%) and the remaining 4.1% are immigrants and their children, who are not listed as Jewish by the Interior Ministry. They comprise 327,000 residents.

Since last year’s Independence Day, 161,000 babies have been born in Israel, and 39,000 people have died. Continue Reading »

Obama announces new Iran, Syria technology sanctions

During his first visit to the Holocaust museum as President, Obama introduces a new set of sanctions against entities aiding the regimes of Iran and Syria to use technology to target citizens and erode their human rights.

United States President Barack Obama on Monday announced new sanctions on people and entities in Iran and Syria who have deemed to use technology to target citizens and erode their human rights.

Obama

President Barack Obama speaking at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington - photo by AP

Speaking at the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. before a crowd of Holocaust survivors, administration officials, members of Congress, and leaders of Jewish organizations, Obama commented on the situation in Syria and Iran.

Continue Reading »

State Dept. Refuses to Stand Up For Israel on Summit

State Dept. refuses to stand up for Israel against a Turkish statement that it vetoed Israel’s participation in a NATO summit.

The U.S. State Dept. refused on Monday to stand up for Israel against a Turkish statement that it vetoed Israel’s participation in a NATO summit.

Hillary Clinton at press conference at NATO

Hillary Clinton at press conference at NATO - Photo by Reuters

State Dept. spokeswoman Victoria Nuland fended off a round of questions on the Obama administration’s support of Israel by a persistent Associated Press reporter  who went so far as to tell Nuland, I’m trying to help you out here, because you’re going to get absolutely slammed for not backing Israel.. Continue Reading »

Arab IDF soldier: I wanted to defend the country

East Jerusalem man, whose community doesn’t know he is in the army, to be honored on Independence Day.

 

For most soldiers, there is a period on their first weekend home from basic training when they strut around the neighborhood showing off their spotless dress greens, bursting with pride at the newfound maturity conferred by their uniform. That’s something that one soldier, who can only be identified as S., will never get to experience.

IDF soldier in thought - Photo: Israel Weiss

IDF soldier in thought - Photo: Israel Weiss

As an Arab living in east Jerusalem, S. does not even bring his uniform home with him. His neighbors do not know that he serves in the army, and S.

Continue Reading »

Memorial Day: Israel’s Flag at Half Mast

PM Binyamin Netanyahu attended a flag-lowering ceremony in Jerusalem, saying ‘it cuts your life in two’ when a family member dies in war

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, and Israel’s Chief Rabbis on Tuesday attended a flag-lowering ceremony in Jerusalem as Memorial Day is set to begin.

Binyamin Netanyahu, Memorial Day

Binyamin Netanyahu, Memorial Day - Photo by Reuters

“For bereaved families, time stops when you get the terrible news… it cuts your life in two: what was before, and what will never be again,” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told more than 200 soldiers and bereaved families gathered for the Yad Lebanim Memorial for the Fallen in Israel’s Wars. Continue Reading »