NEWS ABOUT ISRAEL THAT YOU ARE UNLIKELY TO FIND IN THE MEDIA

·         A song that falsely presents all of Israel’s land as Palestinian land has just been broadcast by Palestinian Authority T.V. for the 27^th time. First broadcast at a Fatah event last year in the presence of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and many other senior Palestinian officials, the Palestinian singer declares that “my land” and “our coast” span from Rosh Hanikra in Israel’s north to Rafah in the Gaza Strip in the South and from Haifa on Israel’s western coast to Beit Shean on Israel’s Eastern border.  The fact that PA T.V. which is under the direct control of Abbas’ office, chose to broadcast this song numerous times suggests the centrality of the song’s message to PA ideology.  For the complete article and words of the song click on:      http://www.palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=6914)

(Palestinian Media Watch)

·         Israeli scientists at Haifa’s Technion-Rambam Hospital have taken the initial step to repair damaged heart muscle. They are the first researchers to re-programme healthy stem cells from the skin of heart patients and turn them into healthy heart cells.  In the next decade, the scientists predict that they will be able to repair damaged hearts.  (Israeli Good News Letter.)      http://www.jpost.com/Health/Article.aspx?id=271214)

Here are two wonderful Videos from Israel Up Close about Peace Projects for Kids:

·         Jewish and Arab children together with their teachers and parents have been participating in Jerusalem’s Bible Lands Museum project called “The Image of Abraham.” The programme seeks to bridge cultural gaps and overcome negative stereotypes.  The seminar is based on understanding our common heritage through the project’s themes which are inspired by Abraham/Ibrahim, Patriarch to Jews, Christians and Muslims.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRwmKTuRN0E

·         The idea of using martial arts to foster peace and harmony may seem like a contradiction in terms.  However, a new project has taken root in Israel called “Budo for Peace,” which brings Arabs and Jews together in an effort to build trust and encourage dialogue.  These youngsters come from Palestinian, Bedouin and Israeli towns.  The project has already produced several world champions in judo and karate.

http://www.israelupclose.org/volume_16.html#a

·         354,000 visitors entered Israel this April setting a new record, the number being 19 percent more than in April 2010, previously, Israel’s record year for tourism.  This according to Israel’s Tourist Ministry.  In addition, more than one million visitors arrived in Israel between January and April of this year, 4 percent more than the previous record.

·         While digging under Robinson’s Arch in the archeological garden next to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, archeologists have found remains of a structure from the late First temple period.  This is the closest structure, geographically, to King Solomon’s Temple, ever unearthed.  On the floor of the ancient structure, the diggers discovered an ancient Hebrew seal from the late First temple period.  It is made of semi-precious stone and bears the name of the owner of the seal: “to Matanyahu Son of Ho…” the rest of the name is not legible.  The name Matanyahu, which means a gift from G-d appears twice in the book of Chronicles.  Private  seals in First Temple times served people for signing documents and were set on rings, this one is less than one inch in diameter.