Israel ranked as the 8th-most-powerful nation; the Jewish state comes in 19th out of 180 for food security and nutrition; 370 international students are beginning the spring semester at Tel Aviv University, and much more.

ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL

Powerful and innovative

U.S. News and World Report ranks Israel as the 8th-most-powerful nation based upon defensive strength, strong international alliances, and economic and political influence. Bloomberg ranks Israel as the 10th-most-innovative country based on spending on R&D and number of listed hi-tech companies.

https://www.jns.org/israel-ranked-as-one-of-the-worlds-most-powerful-and-innovative-countries/

And food secure

The United Nations ranked Israel 19th out of 180 in its 2017 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report on how well countries can feed their populations.

http://www.israelhayom.com/2017/10/01/israel-ranked-19th-most-food-secure-by-un-global-hunger-report/

Hundreds of foreign students at TAU

370 international students are beginning the spring semester at Tel Aviv University – the most in two decades. They hail from the USA, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Greece, Panama and UK. The average age is 20 and 69% are female. Most are on TAU’s study abroad program.

http://www.israelhayom.com/2018/01/22/tel-aviv-university-hosts-record-number-of-study-abroad-students/

The most free country in the Middle East

Israel is the only free country amongst its Middle East neighbors, according to the latest report from Freedom House. With Turkey becoming “Not Free” and Tunisia about to lose its “Free” status, it is about time that the UN gave Israel due respect.

https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2018

Volunteers give free roadside assistance

Echoing the Jewish principle that everyone is responsible for everyone else, Israeli organization Yedidim (Hebrew for “loved ones” or “good friends”) has over 6,000 volunteers ready to help drivers on Israeli roads. Especially useful during winter storms.

https://yedidim-il.org/

Special dog handlers

20 members of the IDF’s “Special in Uniform” unit have graduated from the IDF’s dog handling program. They developed skills to direct, feed and exercise dogs and will now work on bases with guard-dogs, detection dogs and search and rescue dogs.

http://www.jpost.com/OMG/IDF-recruits-youths-with-disabilities-to-serve-as-military-dog-handlers-537047

More Arabs at Israeli universities

Arab students made up 16.1 percent of Israel’s undergraduates in 2017, a 60% rise from 2010, according to the latest survey by Israel’s Council for Higher Education (CHE). They also constitute 13% of Masters’ students, double that in 2010. 41% of Haifa University students are Arab.

https://www.algemeiner.com/2018/01/25/enrollment-of-arab-students-in-israeli-universities-increases-79-percent-in-seven-years/

Projects to benefit Palestinian Arabs

The Israeli delegation to the UN’s Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) presented Israeli projects for the benefit of Palestinian Arabs. They include an improved cellphone network, an enhanced water supply system, a PA industrial zone in Tarqumiyah and water desalinization in Gaza.

https://unitedwithisrael.org/israel-presents-the-world-with-projects-that-benefit-palestinians/

Wounded Syrians received with Arabic greeting

A Druze Staff Sergeant from southern Israel is saving wounded civilians from Syria. “When I meet the wounded,” he says. “I just go up to them and say in Arabic, ‘Hi, my medical team and I are here to help you,’ and then just treat them.”

http://www.israelhayom.com/2017/10/16/i-tell-them-in-arabic-were-here-to-help-you/

Reporting crime in Nice

I included previously (Apr 2016) an article about Israel’s Reporty which forms the basis for an emergency video app used by Israel’s Magen David Adom. Now Reporty is being piloted by 2000 members of the French public in Nice to film and report crimes or incidents to the police.

https://www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/Nice-locals-asked-to-film-crimes-in-new-police-app

http://reporty.com/about/

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