RUTHFULLY YOURS

https://www.jns.org/opinion/knesset-elections-2-0-an-absent-electorate/

People have been literally lining up to leave, some have left long ago, and others are zapped of the inspiration to vote for what they believe will wind up in another impasse.

For the second time in five months, Israelis are limping their way to polling stations to elect the next government—or at least to attempt to do so, after the failure of the first round.

As was the case in April—when the only thing on which the diverse public could agree was that it would be necessary to hold one’s nose before casting a ballot—the stench of the campaign this month has caused national nausea. So much so, in fact, that thousands of eligible voters lined up on Monday at Ben-Gurion International Airport to flee the country.

Some of these absconders claim that they would rather lounge on a beach abroad than face a dilemma of bad choices at home. Others say that their vote won’t matter anyway since the polls are predicting a similar coalition impasse to that which led the current “re-do.” It’s an odd attitude, considering that this mass of truants constitute about three Knesset seats.

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/14888/palestinians-drugs-blood-libels

Instead of acknowledging their responsibility for failing to combat the drug trafficking, the leaders of Hamas have been trying to blame everyone but themselves…. These leaders are trying hard to convince Palestinians that Israel and Hamas’s rivals in the Palestinian Fatah faction, headed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, are responsible for flooding the Gaza Strip with illegal drugs.

The Palestinians’ attempt to establish a connection between Israel and illegal drugs in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is no less dangerous than their terrorist attacks against Israel. The Palestinian Authority and Hamas are sending the following message to their people: The Jews are conspiring to destroy Palestinians by delivering illegal drugs to our communities. Therefore, we need to fight these Jews to prevent them from achieving

The Palestinians have never provided a shred of evidence to corroborate this false accusation against Israel. Why should they allow the truth to get in the way of a good story? Palestinian leaders are experts when it comes to blaming Israel and Jews, instead of the real sources, for all the miseries of their people.

Palestinian leaders are also unlikely to denounce the criminals and terrorists who planted the narcotics in the shampoo and cream bottles of ill women before they traveled for medical treatment in Egypt. Instead, Palestinian leaders will continue to incite their people against Israel and Jews, spreading blood libels of every sort at every turn. In that way, Palestinians will continue to hunt down Jews — whether they are behind trees and rocks or in plain sight.

The Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip has long been serving as a center for various terrorist groups that are responsible for thousands of terror attacks against Israel. In the past few decades, these groups have engaged in smuggling various types of weapons from Egypt into the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian terrorists also appear to be smuggling various types of illegal drugs into the Gaza Strip. Alarmed by the increased smuggling of illegal drugs, Hamas has begun waging a campaign against the drug-traffickers.

Then again, too, there’s a second scenario in which Mr. Netanyahu fails to gain his right-wing coalition — but a center-left coalition is also impossible. That’s because to gain 61 Knesset votes, a center-left ensemble would not only have to include the 11 or 12 members of the Arab list, nearly all of whose members are radically anti-Israel, but would also have to include the faction led by Avigdor Lieberman.

The hardline Mr. Lieberman and the Arabs agreeing to sit in the same government is less thinkable than, say, a coalition between Donald Trump Jr. and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The alternative is what Mr. Lieberman has been driving at, a “national unity government” of Mr. Netanyahu’s Likud and the more liberal opposition, known as Blue & White, with Mr. Lieberman’s faction taking part.

Such a government, in which the two leading parties would have almost the same number of Knesset seats (the latest polls show them both with between 31 and 33) would have to be one in which the four-year prime minister’s term was subject to rotation – the first two years for one party (presumably the one with more seats, although they could tie), the next two for the other.

That happened in the 1980s, with Labor’s Shimon Peres and Likud’s Yitzhak Shamir. For Netanyahu this would mean that, even if he got to go first, he would not get his immunity (there is no way Blue & White’s Benny Gantz et al would, or could, agree to it). That would almost certainly mean that within a few months Mr. Netanyahu would be forced to resign under criminal indictment.

At the moment, all that stands between him and an indictment is a formal hearing, scheduled for October, at which his lawyers can argue one last time against it. The betting is — sadly, in our view — that Mr. Netanyahu is unlikely to avoid charges by such a route. So a Likud-Blue & White coalition is really an impasse that threatens a third election that might well solve no more than the first two.

So it’s not hard to imagine a third possibility — an internal revolt within Likud against Mr. Netanyahu. That might be led by any or several of the contenders to be his successor — Gideon Sa’ar, maybe, Yisra’el Katz, or Yuri Edelstein, or one or two others — all of whom have been loath to come out against him but who would no longer have to fear him under the new circumstances.

Were Mr. Netanyahu so deposed, a Likud-Blue & White “national unity government” could be established to end the crisis. The Sun doesn’t endorse in foreign elections, but we don’t mind saying we’ve wished Mr. Netanayhu well since his accession to finance minister and his start at liberating Israel from socialism. Even if he loses, he has proven himself a winner. Few politicians today can say that.

www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com 

ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS

3D printed implants to help two women walk. In an Israeli first, two women have each been given a 3D printed titanium alloy implant to replace a broken talus (the main connector between the foot and leg). Doctors at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva are confident that both women will soon be walking normally again.
www.nocamels.com/2019/08/3d-printed-ankle-bone-implants-walk-freely-again/

Skin cancer treatment discovery. Researchers at Tel Aviv University and Sheba Medical Center have linked metastatic melanoma progression to a patient’s lipid (fatty acid) metabolism. Skin cancer is more sensitive to immune T-cells if the lipid metabolism is high. The scientists say the discovery can lead to new therapies.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/study-finds-a-key-to-why-only-some-melanoma-patients-respond-to-immunotherapy/  https://www.cell.com/cell/pdf/S0092-8674(19)30900-6.pdf

Patients with Parkinson’s and Fibromyalgia. This is an example of how Israeli medical data helps research into diseases. Ben Gurion University’s Dr Yair Zlotnik has used the database of Israeli Health company Clalit to analyze patients with both Parkinson’s and fibromyalgia. The findings could lead to new treatment options.
https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2019/08/05/parkinsons-patients-with-fibromyalgia-are-mostly-women-with-depression-anxiety/  https://aabgu.org/parkinsons-and-fibromyalgia/

Liver cancer treatment available. (TY Atid-EDI) I reported previously (see here) on the Namodenoson (CF102) liver cancer treatment from Israel’s Can-Fite. After Phase 2 testing, a supply of CF102 has been manufactured for “compassionate use” on critically ill patients at Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva.
https://ir.canfite.com/press-releases/detail/862/can-fite-to-treat-advanced-liver-cancer-patients-with-namodenoson-under-compassionate-use-setting-in-israel

Intelligent ultrasound. (TY Atid-EDI) I reported previously (Dec 2017) when GE Medical integrated the imaging analysis software from Israel’s DiA into its ultrasound devices. Now, DiA is to provide its artificially intelligent cardiac solutions for the point-of-care devices made by US ultrasound imaging company Terason.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/terason-partners-with-dia-imaging-analysis-to-bring-superior-ai-cardiac-solutions-to-point-of-care-ultrasound-300904250.html  https://www.dia-analysis.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKDcMJEiui8

Two-way texting to combat TB. Tuberculosis (TB) kills 1.6 million people a year. Israeli startup Keheala has developed a “low-tech” system whereby Keheala sends SMS reminders to patients in Kenya to take their meds. The patient must respond with an SMS otherwise a Keheala mentor gets involved. Trials were 96% successful.
http://nocamels.com/2019/09/keheala-behavioral-science-texting-tuberculosis/

More funds for cancer research. Every year (see here) the Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) awards grants to Israeli researchers working to find cures and treatments for cancer. This year its 69 grants of $4.3 million focus on cancer genetics, targeted cancer therapies and immunotherapy. Read about some of the amazing work.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-cancer-researchers-receive-4-3-million-infusion/

Unlocking medical data for research. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s MDClone system generates anonymous medical research data from real medical records. Customers include Israeli health companies Maccabi and Clalit and (in the US) Washington University hospital and Intermountain. MDClone has just raised $26 million of funds.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3768811,00.html

Terror victim becomes MDA paramedic. Dvir Schnerb was released from hospital two weeks after being critically wounded by a terrorist bomb that killed his sister. A few hours later he received his certification as a volunteer EMT for Magen David Adom. He said he will honor his sister’s memory by working to save lives.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-teen-wounded-in-terror-attack-becomes-emt-for-magen-david-adom/

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/13563/ucc-israel-palestinian-conflict-guide

Titled, “Promoting a Just Peace in Palestine-Israel”, and sub-headed “A Guide for United Church of Christ Faith Leaders”, this toxic document is a desperately one-sided, inaccurate, and counter-factual exercise in futile politics.

There is no room in it for a Jewish, Israeli or moderate Christian voice; just hatred of Israel and defence of the Palestinians who, time after time, have turned down generous offers of peace. The naïvety of the UCC is particularly striking in its choice to take at face value the Palestinian statement that if Israel ended its occupation, “Then they will see a new world in which there is no fear, no threat but rather security, justice and peace.” That is simply bunkum. Sadly, the Palestinians have a history of regarding every goodwill gesture by Israel as a retreat, as the triumph of aggression over diplomacy — as if to say: We shoot at Israelis and they leave; so, let’s keep shooting!

Palestinian terrorism against Israelis has continued up to 1967, right through the period of Israeli non-occupation. There were no “settlements” then. Rather, the Palestinians have always regarded all of Israel as one big “settlement”. Just look at any Palestinian maps; they cover both the entirety of Israel and the Palestinian territories.

The UCC boasts that it is “a just peace church”, but instead of supporting peace and justice, it defends mass murderers. It complains about the defensive actions of the Jews but is knowingly silent about the horrors wrought by Palestinian wars and terrorism.

Welcome to yet another skewed guide on the Palestinian-Israeli dispute. After a vote to support boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel in 2015, an organization affiliated with the UCC, the UCC Palestine Israel Network (UCCPIN), published a guide to Israel-Palestine affairs. Titled, “Promoting a Just Peace in Palestine-Israel,” and sub-headed “A Guide for United Church of Christ Faith Leaders”, this toxic document is a desperately one-sided, inaccurate, and counter-factual exercise in futile politics. Legally, UCCPIN operates under the aegis of one of the denomination’s local conferences. Its Guide is, therefore, not the direct work of the church’s leadership, but is clearly endorsed by a section of it.

http://carolineglick.com/israel-and-john-boltons-departure/

US National Security Advisor John Bolton’s departure from the White House has been the source of considerable concern in Israel. For decades, the veteran diplomat and former UN ambassador has been among the most powerful supporters of a strong US-Israel alliance in Washington. During his tenure as President Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor, Bolton worked steadily on expanding US-Israel strategic ties across a wide spectrum of critical issues from Iran, to the Palestinians and beyond.

Israelis would have greeted the departure of their strong ally and friend with concern regardless of the circumstances. But, the fact that he was fired, (or by Bolton’s telling, felt compelled to resign), just days after Jason Greenblatt, Trump’s envoy for negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians resigned from his position and as reports proliferate that Trump is seriously considering reducing economic sanctions on Iran in the hopes of scoring a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the UN General Assembly later this month, intensified the concern.

Although reasonable on their face, Bolton’s termination needs to be seen in two wider contexts. The first context is the environment in Washington that confronted Bolton in his position.

From the day he took up his duties a year and a half ago as Trump’s third national security advisor, Bolton was under assault. The campaign against Bolton was initiated by the Iranian regime. Iranian Foreign Minister Jawad Zarif blamed poor US-Iran relations on Bolton, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Zarif’s campaign was quickly joined by Obama administration officials who took to the US media parroting the same allegations. The Iranians, by their telling were guileless lambs. The big bad wolves were Bolton, Bibi and bin Salman.

tps://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3770130,00.html

Founded in 2000, Cheetah Medical develops and provides non-invasive fluid management monitoring systems for use in critical care, operating rooms, and emergency rooms

New York-listed medical device company Baxter International Inc. has entered an agreement to acquire Boston and Tel Aviv-headquartered Cheetah Medical Inc. for $190 million in cash, with potential for an additional $40 million based on certain milestones.,  The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2019, subject to customary closing conditions.

Founded in 2000, Cheetah Medical develops and provides non-invasive fluid management monitoring systems for use in critical care, operating rooms, and emergency rooms. Cheetah Medical’s fluid management systems are currently in use in 400 hospitals throughout the U.S. and in 30 countries worldwide, according to company statements. The company employs a team of approximately 120 employees according to LinkedIn, in its Tel Avivian research and development center, and in offices in Boston, Vancouver, Washington, and the U.K. Prior to the acquisition, Cheetah Medical had raised $117 million, according to Pitchbook data. 

https://bit.ly/2lUpinG

According to the British daily Financial Times (August 28, 2019), the Israeli shekel ranks as the best performing currency against the US dollar among 31 major currencies tracked by Bloomberg, up almost 6%, as fund managers have sought refuge from global economic turmoil.  The shekel had strengthen thanks to Israel’s perceived status as an emerging markets’ safe haven and improved economic fundamentals such as:

*A long term expansion in employment;
*Current account surpluses;
*A fall in the Debt-to-GDP ratio under a 16-year-old fiscal stabilization program;
*Bank of Israel raised interest rate once since 2011, allowing it to hover near zero (0.25%) for years, as the economy reaches near full-employment.

The British daily quotes Win Thin, Head of Currency strategy at New York’s Brown Brothers Harriman: “Israel is one of the best of the lot among emerging markets.  It is stable and away from the fray of the trade wars. It has just been a good solid story.”

The Financial Times adds: “The haven status appears to be decoupled from political instability, including growing tensions with Iran; air and drone strikes attributed to the Israeli military in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq; inconclusive elections last April, and the possibility of Prime Minister Netanyahu facing indictment for alleged bribery and fraud.

https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Bibis-incumbency-disadvantage-601547

Having a proven record in office is not always a good thing for a politician, as it opens him up to all kinds of criticism, some legitimate.

Nothing better illustrates the candidates’ hysteria in the run-up to next week’s Knesset election than the amount of coverage devoted to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s behavior during a rocket attack on Tuesday evening.

While the incumbent PM was about to deliver a pep talk to his supporters at a Likud campaign gathering in Ashdod, a red-alert siren began to blare, indicating that projectiles were on the way to the immediate vicinity. Though a familiar sound to Israelis, particularly in the South, the rise and fall of the air-raid siren always causes panic. The prospect of being hit by a missile will do that.  As a result, many of the people in attendance began to shriek and run a bit wild. Netanyahu’s security detail immediately tried to whisk him off the stage to safety. But he did not rush.       

In a cool and collected manner, he paused to instruct the crowd to keep calm and slowly make their way to the nearest bomb shelter. Only then did he allow his guards to escort him off the premises. The IDF subsequently reported that two rockets launched by terrorists in Gaza were intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system.

When the incident was over, Netanyahu returned to the podium to resume the rally.