Brig-Gen. Orly Markman names head of IDF’s court of appeals; IDF chief says soldiers with disabilities are “wanted by the IDF,” Israeli woman is a top innovator, and much more!

By Michael Ordman

ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL

Israel’s top female General

Brigadier General Orly Markman has been named as head of the IDF’s court of appeals. She will be promoted to Major General, becoming only the third Israeli woman to ever receive the rank.  Israel’s first female Major General, Orna Barbivai, is now Israel’s Minister of the Economy.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/orly-markman-named-as-head-of-idf-court-of-appeals-israels-3rd-ever-female-general/

IDF Chief praises Specials

IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi gave an inspiring speech at Special in Uniform’s annual benefit for IDF soldiers with disabilities. He stated, “You are blessed in the IDF, you are essential to the IDF, and you are wanted by the IDF!”. Some 750 young “specials” perform important work at 60 IDF bases.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/315689

Israeli woman is top innovator

World Biz Magazine has chosen Israel’s Hamutal Yitzhak, CEO of Else Nutrition (see here previously) as No. 1 (of 40,000+ entries) on their list of “Top 100 Innovation CEO” awards for 2021. Shahar Fogel, CEO of Israel’s Rookout (see here previously), was also included in the top 100.
https://worldisraelnews.com/israeli-woman-tops-list-of-top-100-innovation-ceos/

Ultra-orthodox site spreads cancer awareness

Throughout last month, Israel’s largest ultra-Orthodox news site, Kikar HaShabbat, colored its logo pink and wrote that it was doing so to give public expression to October being breast cancer awareness month.
https://worldisraelnews.com/ultra-orthodox-news-site-goes-pink-to-spread-awareness-about-breast-cancer/

4 Israeli universities in top 50 entrepreneurs list

Four Israeli universities were listed in PitchBook’s 2021 ranking of 50 leading undergraduate programs that produce the most VC-backed entrepreneurs. Tel Aviv Uni was 8th, Technion Institute (12th), Hebrew University of Jerusalem (31), and Ben-Gurion University (44).
https://www.timesofisrael.com/4-israeli-universities-feature-among-top-50-producers-of-entrepreneurs/

Outstanding entrepreneurs

The Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers recently awarded the title of “Outstanding Emerging Entrepreneurship Center” to the Innovation Centers of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev – the first ever such award for institutions outside of the US.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2021/10/25/israel-won-worlds-most-prestigious-awards-for-academic-innovation/   https://www.cfhu.org/news/asper-huji-innovate-wins-prestigious-international-prize/

Resurrecting New York

Some 400 people attended a ”Unicorn party”, organized by Israel’s Margalit Startup City in Soho, New York. Founder and Executive Chairman Erel Margalit said, “Israeli tech played a significant role in bringing New York back to life.” They included “People who innovate and don’t take no for an answer.”
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3923085,00.html

Electricity for water deal with Jordan

The UAE has brokered a “water for solar energy” exchange deal between Israel and Jordan. Jordan will export 600 megawatt of electricity to Israel from a UAE-built solar farm. Israel will export up to 200 million cubic meters of desalinated water to Jordan. The deal was signed in Dubai.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-and-jordan-sign-water-for-energy-deal-1001391793
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-jordan-sign-uae-brokered-deal-to-swap-solar-energy-and-water/

Israeli flag raised at UAE presidential palace

In a historic ceremony, the Israeli flag was hoisted and the Israeli national anthem Hatikva was played for the first time at the Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi. It marked the inauguration of Amir Hayek – the Israeli Ambassador to the UAE.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/317057
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcJQ9DptVkc

Aiming for the Moon, with the UAE

The United Arab Emirates signaled its interest in joint space missions with Israel back in Dec 2020 (see here). This has now been formalized in an agreement to work together on a number of space projects, including a joint launch of the “Beresheet 2” space mission to the moon.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-uae-to-launch-joint-space-projects-including-beresheet-2-moon-mission/
https://www.jns.org/israel-and-uae-signed-agreement-to-partner-on-mission-to-the-moon-in-2024/

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