RUTHFULLY YOURS

https://zoa.org/2019/01/10383901-zoa-ny-times-bret-stephens-wrong-pres-trump-ha

The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has criticized New York Times columnist Bret Stephen’s latest column condemning the Trump Administration as being bad for Israel. ZOA National President Morton A. Klein and Director of the ZOA’s Center for Middle East Policy Dr. Daniel Mandel have issued the following statement in response:

“The ZOA believes that the Trump Administration’s record in this regard is remarkably good and refutes Mr. Stephens’ charge. Indeed, Mr. Stephens himself admits that, ‘I write this as someone who supported Trump moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and who praised his decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal as courageous and correct.’
Mr. Stephens failed to note that the Trump Administration has done far more in the way of being pro-Israel than merely moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, taking numerous steps, both symbolic and substantive, many of which President Obama refused to do or about which he did the opposite.

“So, if President Trump has executed these two steps, both of which Mr. Stephens agrees are pro-Israel, what then are Mr. Stephens’ charges?

“Basically, that moving the embassy is ‘mostly a matter of symbolism’ and thus, presumably, not all that important; and that the withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal makes things only ‘marginally’ better for Israel.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-true-state-solution-11546473263

The Trump administration has offered tantalizing clues about its forthcoming “Deal of the Century” for Mideast peace. It could be a bold new concept—replacing the failed “two-state solution” with a Jordan-Israel confederacy, in which Jordan would be recognized as the Palestinian state. Call it the true-state solution.

Palestinians have always been the majority in Jordan, though they haven’t been treated as such since its creation as a British-appointed Hashemite monarchy in 1921. The true-state solution would enfranchise the Palestinians. Jordan would extend citizenship to, and assume administrative responsibility for, Arabs now living on the West Bank of the Jordan River—including the cities of Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Jericho—which would be Israeli territory. West Bank Jordanians could receive financial support to relocate across the river to Jordan itself if they wish, or remain as permanent residents (but not citizens) of Israel. Israelis would be free to live anywhere west of the Jordan River. Variations of this “Jordan option” have received increasing attention across the region in recent years.

Why would King Abdullah II accept such an arrangement? To be blunt, it would be his best option. His rule—and his family’s security and fortune—already teeters under pressure of regional migration and domestic Palestinian discontent. The king’s acquiescence—or possibly U.S.-guided abdication—would probably buy his family’s protection.

Trump administration officials have promised their plan will take advantage of Israel’s recent unprecedented collaboration with its Arab neighbors and other developments that suggest “things can be done today that were previously unthinkable,” as then-Ambassador Nikki Haley said last month. The administration promises a new approach based on practical realities.

https://bit.ly/2R5TZVL

Israel is the 8th most powerful country in the world – as it was in 2017 – according to the 2018 Power Rankings, published by the US News & World Report in partnership with the world renowned Wharton School of Business (Pennsylvania University) and the global strategic consultancy Y&R’s BAV Group. Israel follows the USA, Russia, China, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Japan, ahead of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Canada, Iran, Turkey, India, Australia, Switzerland, etc.. The ranking reflects the regional and global clout of national leadership and economic, political, diplomatic and military networking/alliances.

The NY-based Trading Economics – an online platform that provides economic data and forecasts and trading recommendations – highlights a surge of Israel’s Economic Optimism Index from a record low 21.70 in 1976 to all time high 131.40 index points in November 2018, ahead of South Korea’s 113.5, the European Union’s 109.60, the USA’s 104.80 and Japan’s 99.6.

Israel is ranked 8th in the November 2018 Global Consumer Confidence Index, conducted by the Paris-based global market research Ipsos, which operates in 88 countries, employing 16,530 persons. Israel follows China, USA, India, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Germany and Canada, ahead of Australia, Britain, Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, etc..

The major engines, which have generated Israel’s demographic, economic, scientific, technological, agricultural, diplomatic and military growth – in addition to the engine of Israel’s brainpower, and the resulting innovative, cutting-edge commercial and defense industries – have been Israel’s relatively high level of optimism and patriotism/resilience, in the face of lethal challenges and threats menacing the Jewish State from its reestablishment in 1948.

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/13495/palestinians-new-year-resolutions

“The Palestinian revolution has been continuing for 54 years. The revolution will continue until the aspirations of our people are fulfilled…. We have clearly stated that all forms of resistance are legitimate.” — Mahmoud Aloul, deputy chairman of Fatah; seen by many as the successor to Mahmoud Abbas

Palestinian leaders are not offering their people a better life, prosperity, security and stability. Instead, the leaders are urging Palestinians to continue hating Israel and the US. They are urging Arab countries not to make peace with Israel: they consider normalization with Israel an act of treason.

A cartoon published on Fatah’s official Facebook this week depicts “Palestine” as a single entity, the exact shape of Israel.

These messages demonstrate, with no room for doubt, that any talk about resuming a peace process between Israel and the Palestinians is one thing only: a colossal fraud. Palestinian leaders will never return to the negotiating table when they are pushing their people, day after day, to ensure that more Israeli blood runs in the street. The Palestinians make it clear that their true intention is to carry a rifle and see Israel removed from the map.

The Palestinians are celebrating the beginning of 2019 by promising Israel more violence, a “revolution until victory,” and another year of conflict and suffering. The messages that the Palestinians are sending to Israel offer anything but hope. On the contrary, they are making it clear that Israel should expect yet more bloodshed. Some are also reminding Israel that the Palestinians’ real goal is to “liberate all Palestine, from the [Jordan] river to the [Mediterranean] sea,” (meaning the annihilation of Israel).

Palestinian leaders and various political and military groups are not seizing the opportunity of the arrival of a new year to reach out to their Israeli neighbors with message of conciliation, peace and coexistence. Palestinian leaders are not offering their people a better life, prosperity, security and stability. Instead, the leaders and groups are promising Palestinians more suffering, violence and misery, and are pressing their people to continue the fight against Israel. They are urging Palestinians to continue hating Israel and the US. They are urging Arab countries not to make peace with Israel: they consider normalization with Israel an act of treason.

https://worldisraelnews.com/caroline-glick-joins-new-right-party-of-shaked-bennett/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=push_notification&utm_campaign=PushCrew_notification_1546416630&pushcrew_powered=1

Caroline Glick, a longtime Jerusalem Post columnist, will be joining the New Right Party formed by Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked.

The Jerusalem Post reports that Caroline Glick, a longtime columnist for the paper, announced Wednesday she will be joining the New Right party recently formed by Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked.

Glick, a well-known columnist with a large following, especially in the United States, is known for her right-wing views. She started writing for The Jerusalem Post in 2002 and also writes for Maariv and American website Breitbart. Her columns have appeared in Israeli weekly Makor Rishon.

In her 2014 book The Israeli Solution: A One State Plan for Peace in the Middle East, Glick proposed annexing Judea and Samaria. She also called for a process that gradually grants Palestinians living in those areas Israeli citizenship. She didn’t expect Palestinians to jump at the opportunity and acknowledged that there was a risk to her plan.

“The prospect that, contrary to expectations, the Palestinians will apply en masse for Israeli citizenship, and that as a consequence Israel’s citizenship rolls will expand massively, is an important issue for policy makers to consider,” she wrote.

Glick served as assistant foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 1997-1998 and was briefly considered by Netanyahu as a Likud candidate in 2015, The Jerusalem Post reports. But several of her columns critical of his policies caused him to reconsider, the paper says.

In 2000, Glick earned a Master of Arts in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Glick was born in Texas and grew up in Chicago before immigrating to Israel in 1991.

www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com

ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS

New treatment for Glioblastoma. I reported previously ((11th Nov) the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s breakthrough in glioblastoma (aggressive brain cancer) treatment. Now Sheba Medical Center researchers have developed SIXAC, a new six-amino-acid-based compound, that restricts the progression of glioblastoma.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-researchers-say-new-drug-may-lead-to-cure-for-aggressive-brain-cancer/

Blood test for lung cancer. I reported previously (see here) on two Israeli startups (Nucleix and Medial EarlySign) developing blood tests for diagnosing early stage lung cancer. Here is another – Savicell, achieving a 91% success rate. Early detection gives the patient a 50-80% recovery chance. At late stage it is only 4%.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2018/12/20/israeli-company-creates-successful-blood-test-for-lung-cancer/
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00262-018-2173-5 http://www.savicell.com/

Device to spot melanoma. (TY WIN) Israeli startup Scade Medical has patented a prototype scanner, to diagnose early stage melanoma. BlueSky is based on DOSI (differential optical spectro-polarimetric imaging) technology invented by Ofir Aharon, whose mother contracted melanoma. It has already saved seven lives.
https://www.israel21c.org/moms-melanoma-leads-to-israeli-device-for-early-detection/

US approves cervical cancer diagnostic device. I reported previously (25th Sep) that Israel’s Biop had raised $2.2 million to fund its cervical cancer diagnosis device. Biop has just received US FDA approval for the device, which maps the cervix and identifies cancerous and precancerous cells in epithelial tissues.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3752348,00.html

Home diagnosis kit. (TY Arutz Sheva) Israeli startup Diagnoz.me has a smartphone system that can detect infections from home and send results to your doctor. Founder and CTO Tamir Epstein described the system on ILTV. Diagnoz.me just won the dHealth 2018 Summit and its NIS 3 million prize money.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I1weyrbn9Y
https://diagnoz.me/2018/12/17/diagnoz-me-wins-dhealth-2018/

The Origin/als aim to end ALS. A team of students at Israel’s Ben-Gurion University competed in the 2018 International Genetically Engineered Competition (iGEM) at MIT in Boston. The group presented findings on a new therapeutic approach for Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), known also as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
http://www.winnipegjewishreview.com/article_detail.cfm?id=6845&sec=2

Novatis backs Israeli anti-cancer biotech. I reported previously (see here) on Israeli biotech Ayala and its personalized cancer treatment. It is already partnering with Bristol-Myers Squibb. Now multinational Novatis has made a $|10 million investment in Ayala, focusing on the aggressive blood cancer multiple myeloma.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3752698,00.html

Lonza opens center for Israeli cooperation. (TY Calcalistech) Swiss biotech multinational Lonza has opened an innovation center in Haifa. Its aim is to partner “with Israeli talent in academia, medical institutions and early-stage innovative companies”. Lomza sees Israel’s technologies providing new healthcare solutions.
https://www.lonza.com/about-lonza/media-center/news/Tensid/2018-11-19-08-45-English.aspx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcKJlKWpz_8

Amgen partners Israeli biomed. (TY Calcalistech) I reported previously (see here) on Israel’s Entera Bio and its treatment for hypoparathyroidism. Entera Bio has just signed a research and licensing agreement with US multinational Amgen to develop a new oral molecule-based treatment that currently is given via IV or injection.
https://investors.enterabio.com/news-releases/news-release-details/entera-bio-and-amgen-enter-strategic-research-collaboration https://www.enterabio.com/

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/12/judea_and_samaria_should_return
When we dig into history books, we can hardly find people or countries that have gone out of existence for as long as 2,000 years and then reappeared and been reborn. Thus, it is indeed accurate to say that the rebirth of Israel, this beautiful ancient culture, people, and land, is truly a miracle from God.
I believe that the time has come to unite all Israel. Historically and biblically, both Judea and Samaria undeniably have been part of the heritage of the Jewish people. They belonged to Israel 2,000 years ago, and they belong to Israel now. Arabs have absolutely no historic ties to Judea and Samaria. Historic ties are the basis of assertions to a geographic area.
Annexation of these two historical Jewish lands will stipulate a strong and well-defined standing for West Bank Arabs. Israeli equal justice under the law will apply to all people. All terrorists’ infrastructures will be eradicated. The residents of those regions will be subjected to Israeli rules and regulation and will be dealt with in the same fashion that all countries deal with domestic insurgent, treachery, and lawless organizations.
“The Jewish people didn’t wake up one day saying ‘Jews are connected to the Land of Israel.’ The whole story, the history and the destiny of the Jewish people, is geared toward the idea that we were there and we are coming back.”
Let us clarify this now and forever: historically and otherwise, there has never been a Palestinian state, nor a political body that is owned by Palestinians. According to the advancement of international agreements from 1917 until 1947, the land of Israel was renamed Palestine by the Romans in the 2nd century. It was later divided into three states: Jordan, a Jewish state, and an Arab state. While the Jews swallowed this excruciating deal, shrinking the size of their ancestral land by over 75%, the Arabs snubbed and rejected it altogether. As a result, the Arabs launched an invasion against the newly established State of Israel in 1948. Jordan managed to occupy the area of Judea and Samaria and illegitimately annexed it.

https://bit.ly/2VfFw89

1.. According to Adam Reuter, Chairman of “Financial Immunities” and author of the 2018 Israel – Island of Success (Globes Business Daily, Dec. 19, 2018): Israel is not afflicted by brain-drain, but benefits from brain-gain.

While Israel’s establishment documents net-migration of higher-education Israelis, it fails to document the massive influx of higher-education Olim (Jewish immigrants). About 2/3 of the Olim – 18-years-old and older – have gone through higher education. For instance, in 2015, Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reported a brain-drain of 1,360 higher-education Israelis, ignoring the 14,870 higher-education Olim, who arrived in 2015, 48% of whom possessed graduate degrees and PhDs.

While the ratio of higher-education Israelis (compared to the entire population) ranks third in the world, following Japan and Canada, the ratio of higher-education Olim is significantly higher than the rest of Israel’s population. Over 25% of the Olim are experienced in the critical areas of hightech, engineering, computer science, medicine and health.

From 1980-2010, 30,000 higher-education Israelis emigrated (the total of exiting, minus returning Israelis), while 290,000 higher-education Olim arrived from the USSR, France, the USA, etc.. Considering the 25,000 higher-education Olim who emigrated, there was a net brain-gain of 235,000 from 1980-2010.

From 2010-2018, some 105,000 higher-education Olim arrived (out of a total of about 198,000 Olim), while 22,000 higher-education Israelis emigrated – a net brain-gain of 83,000; an annual net brain-grain of 9,000.

From 1980-2018, there has been a net brain-gain of 315,000 higher-education people!

Moreover, from 2010-2016, 4,000 PhD Israelis returned to Israel with enhanced experience and networking, providing tailwind to economic growth.