Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas spent lavishly on family and cronies at the Qatar-hosted World Cup, while paying Palestinian Authority employees 70% of their salaries.
Israel is not playing in the World Cup 2018 football tournament in Russia but is certainly a key-player with its technological contributions to the games.
With a six-figure donation to the Fulfilling Dreams organization, Russian Jewish billionaire Roman Abramovich, who recently became an Israeli citizen, helped a group of ill children attend the World Cup.
Genesis Prize-winner Itzhak Perlman has said he will donate his $1m prize money to music education and helping people with disabilities; Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren was in Israel to host the Genesis Prize, and much more.
There's no place like the Ramon Crater for stargazing, and French-born, Israeli singer Amir Haddad will represent France at the Eurovision song contest this May in Stockholm, Sweden.
Join More than
11,395,659
United With Israel
You will receive updates from Israel (see privacy policy)