RUTHFULLY YOURS

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/17978/palestinians-abbas-hamas

If Abbas is really interested in returning to the negotiating table with Israel, he needs to decide whether he is on the side of his peace partners in Israel or his political enemies in Hamas.

Abbas needs to decide whether he belongs to the pro-peace camp in Israel and the Arab world, or the enemies of peace, including Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and their patrons in Iran.

For now, it seems that Abbas wants it both ways.

Abbas, in other words, is telling Westerners that he supports peace with Israel while reaching out to the Iranian-backed terrorist group that openly states its intention to eliminate Israel and wage jihad (holy war) on Jews.

Instead of welcoming the UK’s decision to ban Hamas, Abbas was one of the first Palestinians to condemn the move. By condemning the decision, Abbas is sending a message to the international community that he actually does support terror and Hamas.

Yet, in the world of the Palestinian Authority, it seems that combating a radical terrorist group is a bad thing.

Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas said this month that he is interested in resuming peace talks with Israel. Abbas made his statement on the eve of a meeting he held on November 23 with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi.

Abbas specified that he wants the peace talks with Israel to resume under the auspices of Russia and the three other members of the International Quartet: European Union, United Nations, and the United States.

If Abbas is really interested in returning to the negotiating table with Israel, he needs to decide whether he is on the side of his peace partners in Israel or his political enemies in Hamas. Abbas needs to decide whether he belongs to the pro-peace camp in Israel and the Arab world, or the enemies of peace, including Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and their patrons in Iran.

https://www.jns.org/OPINION/BENNETTS-BIG-TWITTER-BLUNDER/

 Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett chose a particularly inopportune moment to enrage disgruntled voters. Though a member of his staff was likely responsible for the extremely poor judgment call, Bennett is the one in whose name the move was made. Its subsequent reversal after an outcry, then, proved insufficient.

The incident in question involved the bereaved father of Shir Hajaj, 22, a female Israel Defense Forces lieutenant killed in a 2017 Palestinian truck-ramming attack. She was murdered along with three other innocent IDF soldiers enjoying an educational field trip in Jerusalem’s Armon Hanatziv neighborhood.
In a post on Sunday evening—mere hours after 25-year-old Eliyahu Kay, an immigrant to Israel from South Africa, was gunned down by a Hamas-linked terrorist on a rampage near the Western Wall in Jerusalem—Herzl Hajaj announced that Bennett had blocked him on Twitter.
Referring to him as the “prime minister of the terrorist [coalition] … who knew how to ask us to support him in the election,” Hajaj accused Bennett of “now being unable to handle my criticism of the formation of his government with the terrorist-supporting Ra’am Party. … Now he can embrace the terrorist-supporting [Ra’am leader Mansour] Abbas in peace, without criticism [and] without our reminding him of the truth.”

The stir caused by Hajaj’s tweet, which accompanied a screen shot of Bennett’s account blocking him, spurred the prime minister’s staff to engage in on-the-spot damage control. Less than an hour after it appeared, the prime minister unblocked Hajaj and issued an odd semblance of an apology.
Saying that blocking Hajaj had been done with “good intent,” the prime minister’s office claimed that “The moment his social-media team understood it, the block was lifted.” By “it,” the PMO seemed to mean the foolishness of the decision—taken by tech-savvy but otherwise pretty ignorant young people—to protect their boss by penalizing his critics.

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/17958/palestinian-jihad-jews

If Palestinian leaders believe that Jews are not entitled to their holiest site, the Temple Mount, and that Jerusalem belongs only to Muslims and Christians, how can they talk about establishing a Palestinian state that would exist in peace and security next to Israel?

Western donors seem not to understand that the refusal by Palestinian leaders to recognize Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people remains a major obstacle to peace and the “two-state solution.”

“We categorically reject the Jewish state,” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has stated on more than one occasion. “We will not backtrack on this matter.”

On the eve of the meeting of the donor countries, PA Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh reminded Palestinians that there is no such thing as Jewish history in Jerusalem…. “Jerusalem has Canaanite, Roman, Islamic, and Christian antiquities, and no one else has any traces in it.”

This is the same Shtayyeh who days earlier told foreign journalists in Ramallah that the Palestinians have no problem with Jews.

Perhaps Shtayyeh thought that his remarks in Arabic during the PA cabinet meeting would not be translated or noticed by non-Arabic speakers.

On the same day the Western donors were meeting in Norway, the PA Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that the Palestinians oppose visits to the Temple Mount by Jewish students.

The Norwegian foreign minister and the donor countries should have taken note of what Palestinian leaders are telling their people and the rest of the Arabs and Muslims about Israel and Jewish history. Had they paid attention to the words of the Palestinian leaders, they would have realized why it is impossible to achieve peace between the Palestinians and Israel at a time when the PA is openly saying that Jews have no right to live in their own homeland.

Western donors might wish to consider this Judenrein type of Palestinian anti-Semitism and incitement against Israel and Jews the next time they open their wallets to the PA.

As representatives of donor countries were meeting in Norway on November 17 to discuss providing financial aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA), Palestinian leaders were busy doing what they have perfected: denying Jewish history and inciting their people against Israel.

Denial of Jewish history and the delegitimization of Israel have long been an integral and major part of the rhetoric of Palestinian leaders and the Palestinian narrative. In the world of the Palestinians, Jews have no history in Jerusalem; they have never lived there, and the Jewish Temples never existed.

Hot topics in recent positive Israeli news include the Israeli-led discovery of hot spots in cancer cells that can be exploited to destroy tumors, plus dozens of other hot medical innovations and breakthroughs. International news includes more examples of warming relations between Israel and the Arab world. Israeli tech hot topics include Intel’s (Israeli-developed) fastest microprocessor, several solar power energy projects and innovations, and four of the world’s best inventions of 2021. Record investments are fueling Israeli startups; two “fired-up” Israeli women won gold medals in judo and there are many heart-warming stories to celebrate life in the Jewish State.   Michael Ordman

www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com 

ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
 
Targeting cancer hotspots. A team of researchers, led by Israel’s Weizmann Institute, used algorithms to find neoantigens – “hot spots” on tumors – that provide access to current immunotherapies for multiple cancer patients. The scientists then engineered T cells from healthy individuals to completely destroy the tumors.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/new-israeli-cancer-study-leads-to-possible-breakthrough-in-immunotherapy-682152   https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/315059
https://www.jci.org/articles/view/129466   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLbQwKHpLF0
 
App lowers blood pressure. A 3-year study of the digital health app from Israel’s Hello Heart (see here previously) shows that over 84% of participants with stage II hypertension achieved a reduction in their systolic blood pressure. It was the largest multi-year efficacy study of a digital therapeutic to control hypertension.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3920395,00.html
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785012
 
11 more projects for precision medical research. 11 new projects have been granted a total of NIS 32 million in the 4th annual round of the Israel Precision Medicine Partnership (see here previously). They include AI for cancer and Crohn’s, discovery of new disease genes, and treatments for rare disorders.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/11-israeli-projects-get-millions-in-funding-for-personalized-medicine-research/  
 
New AI innovation lab for personalized treatment. Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Merck and Teva have opened AION Labs – a new Israeli innovation lab for startups to develop cutting-edge AI-based technologies for personalized treatments. Startups will use computational biology to discover and develop patient-centric precision medicines.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-innovation-lab-brings-together-pharma-biotech-giants-for-ai-therapeutics/
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/pfizer-astrazeneca-help-launch-computational-science-lab-in-israel-682248
 
Testing new treatments for safety. Israel’s Quris has launched a “patient on a chip” – the world’s first AI platform for predicting which candidate medicines will work safely in humans. Quris’s leadership team includes Israel’s Nobel Laureate Aaron Ciechanover and Dr. Robert S. Langer, co-founder of Moderna.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2021/10/18/quris-ai-to-predict-which-drugs-will-safely-work-in-humans/
https://www.quris.ai/
 
Roche partners Ibex for AI cancer detection. Roche has entered an agreement with Israel’s Ibex Medical Analytics to jointly develop an embedded image analysis workflow. It will allow pathologists to check biopsies using Roche’s NAVIFY & uPath software while seamlessly accessing Ibex’s AI algorithms, insights, and tools.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-startup-ibex-medical-aims-to-transform-cancer-diagnostics-with-ai-tech/
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3920455,00.html
 
Hospital counters obesity with computer game. Israel’s Sheba Medical Center has launched a smartphone gaming-based program to help overweight children adopt a healthier lifestyle. They are using the Rumble app from Israel’s UVTAL (see here previously), and a smartwatch to monitor sleep, heart rate and physical activity.
https://www.jns.org/sheba-medical-center-initiates-gaming-program-to-combat-child-obesity/
 
A faster Aliyah for medical professionals. A new Israeli government program will speed and support the Aliyah process for Jewish health professionals. It will benefit some 3,000 Jews, mainly from the former Soviet Union, the US, Canada, France and Argentina and overcome the shortage evident during the Covid pandemic.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-seeks-to-ease-immigration-for-doctors-nurses-due-to-manpower-shortage/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/315208
 
Surgeons rebuild soldier’s shattered face. Two weeks after an IDF captain was shot in the head, surgeons at Rambam Hospital used 3D technology to rebuild his face. A bullet hit the officer near his brain, eyes, and tongue, shattering his jaw. But with the exception of some scarring, it will soon be completely restored.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-idf-soldier-takes-bullet-to-face-doctors-rebuild-his-jaw-in-high-tech-op/
 
Magician saves choking baby. United Hatzalah’s Aharon HaKosem, “the magician” works performing magic shows in Hod Hasharon. In his unpaid work as a volunteer EMT, he was called to save a choking baby. After back blows and chest compressions, “abracadabra” – the infant spat out a small object and re-started breathing.   
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/315217
 

www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com 

From the gated ghettos of the Diaspora, through the Holocaust, 1948 rebirth, Israel’s history is unique. No nation in history has made such outsize and dazzling contributions in technology, science, medicine, agriculture, the arts and social institutions, that Michael Ordman catalogs. And to add to the wonders, Tel Aviv is now considered among the cities known for cuisine, music, dance, leisure and fun, with visitors from every continent, including former enemy nations. rsk

ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
 
Coronavirus news. Less than 6,400 Israelis now have the coronavirus, with just 178 serious cases. Also, an Israeli study shows Vitamin D deficient Covid-19 patients are 14 times more likely to be seriously or critically ill. Finally, Oramed’s oral vaccine has been cleared to begin Phase 1 clinical trials in South Africa.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/316432
https://www.timesofisrael.com/1-in-4-hospitalized-covid-patients-who-lack-vitamin-d-die-israeli-study/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-pill-vaccine-against-covid-starting-trials-in-south-africa/
 
Cancer treatment approved. (TY Hazel) The US FDA has approved Doxorubicin-HCI Liposomal Injection from Israel’s Ayana for the treatment of ovarian cancer, multiple myeloma, and Kaposi’s Sarcoma. The novel chemotherapy was developed by Hebrew University professor Yechezkel Barenholz (see here and here).
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/generic-cancer-killing-israeli-drug-approved-for-marketing-by-fda-682430
 
The digestive effects of sugar substitutes. Scientists at Israel’s Ben Gurion University have found saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose disrupt the mechanism that gut bacteria use to keep us well. Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K), advantame, and neotame did not have this effect. The results have relevance for obesity and diabetes.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/sweeteners-hurt-the-ability-of-gut-bacteria-to-keep-us-well-israeli-study/
https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/artificial_sweeteners_disruption.aspx
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/18/9863
 
Everything through your eyes. (TY JBN) Israel’s Beyeonics (see here previously) has raised $36 million to enhance the development of its products. Beyeonics Surgical is focused on Neurosurgery and Orthopedics products. Beyeonics Vision’s One is a visual reality surgical microscope for cataract and retina surgeries.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3918948,00.html   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxY5kax1HTo  
 
Mapping the nerves in the brain. Hebrew University of Jerusalem scientists used the 140-year-old Nissi staining technique to reveal fiber pathways in the brain’s white matter. They found that previously ignored glial (glue) cells are arranged in short rows that align with the nerve cells. It will help the study of brain diseases.
https://www.bfhu.org/2021/10/08/elucidating-the-brains-white-matter/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/314683
 
Electrotherapy for pain and inflammation. Israeli startup Healables is developing wearable devices for the “electroceutical” treatment of pain and inflammation in the arms and legs. ElectroGear is for athletes, to be sold via sports professionals, and a medical model will be available by prescription, pending regulatory approval.
https://www.israel21c.org/a-wearable-that-soothes-and-heals-at-home/
 
Brain stimulation for the elderly. Israeli and US researchers have discovered that gentle stimulation of part of the brain improves the ability of seniors to perform multiple tasks. The study of 57 subjects aged over 70 improved simultaneous walking and talking, thus reducing their risk of having a fall.
https://www.israel21c.org/brain-stimulation-helps-elderly-walk-and-talk-at-same-time/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ana.26156
 
Monitoring patients across the US. Israel’s DarioHealth (see here previously) is to provide remote patient monitoring services to one of the largest providers in Hawaii. It also has won a contract with a primary care system in Atlanta Georgia with multiple locations. All these patients live with diabetes and/or hypertension.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dariohealth-gathers-momentum-in-the-provider-market-with-two-new-contracts-for-remote-patient-monitoring-services-301412742.html
 
Arab mother and baby saved. In August, the Galilee Medical Center delivered a baby at 35 weeks when his unvaccinated Arab mother, Mira, suffered respiratory failure and pneumonia from Covid-19. After months of treatment and rehabilitation, Mira has just been discharged, thanking staff for two gifts – her life and her baby.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/coronavirus/after-nearly-dying-of-covid-33-year-old-israeli-new-mom-baby-go-home-682164
 
 

https://worldisraelnews.com/fighter-for-israels-independence-zionist-activist-and-prominent-geographer-passes-away/

By Atara Beck, World Israel News

One of the last of the Jewish Fighters for the Freedom of Israel (Lehi) and first chairman of Americans for A Safe Israel (AFSI) passed away on Nov. 5.

Dr. Erich Isaac, born in Mainz, Germany, left his birth country with his parents for what was then Mandatory Palestine in 1938. Although he was only nine years old on arrival, he never forgot seeing the countryside on fire as the train took them to Tel Aviv. The conflagration was part of the ongoing 1936 Arab riots.

Isaac grew up in an Orthodox Jewish home. At around the age of his Bar Mitzvah, he became involved in the pre-state, underground Fighters for the Freedom of Israel, or Lehi.

Isaac was so young that he wasn’t allowed to participate fully in one of his first missions — a bank robbery (which is how Lehi raised its money) — and was told he could only be a lookout. (Reminiscing, he said with a smile that, fortunately, no one came.)

Lehi was misunderstood and vilified as a violent gang of thugs during its period of activity. It was referred to negatively as the Stern Gang, named after its founder Avraham “Yair” Stern, who was murdered by the British. The negative attitude toward Lehi persisted even after the modern Jewish state was established. One of its leaders, Israel Eldad — father of Aryeh Eldad, a prominent Israeli medical doctor and politician — was even forbidden by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion from teaching Israeli high schoolers lest he have a bad influence over them.

Over time, Lehi came to be recognized for its contributions, especially once Yitzhak Shamir, one of its leaders, became prime minister in 1983. After that, it won for itself a place in the pantheon of those who fought for the freedom of Israel.

“Once, when we were eating at a Middle Eastern-style restaurant in Jaffa – around 1982 — he walked up to a man,” his son David told World Israel News. “The blood drained from his face when he saw my dad. It was the restaurant owner. He’d been in the same Lehi cell as my dad. My mom, who witnessed this, said that the man was terrified that Dad would reveal that the owner had been in Lehi. Even in the early 1980s, it seems, being a former member of the ‘Stern Gang’ was bad for business…

“Unfortunately, we only know bits and pieces of his time in Lehi. My eldest brother said that once, while walking with Dad in Givatayim [east of Tel Aviv], probably around 1970, he pointed to a wall with bullet holes and said, ‘You see those bullet holes? That’s where I was involved in a gunfight with the British.’”