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ISRAEL

Peace in the Middle East: The First Step by Majid Rafizadeh

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21104/middle-east-peace

Over the decades, Iran’s regime has embedded itself deeply within the region’s crises, stoking unrest and sponsoring terrorism. If the Middle East is to see any genuine peace and stability, a transformation of Iran’s regime is essential.

Without addressing the regime at the core, these threats will only intensify, especially when Iran acquires nuclear weapons… weeks away.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution orchestrated by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Israel has been regarded as a cancerous tumor to be wiped off the map.

[O]nly Israel has demonstrated the courage and determination to confront the Iranian regime head-on, recognizing it as the “tumor” that fuels much of the region’s instability.

It is crucial to recognize that the core ideological mission of the Iranian regime — using religion as a pretext to seize power by force — is deeply ingrained and is not going to change. For years, Iran’s regime has not only been attacking its own citizens, especially women, and it has even been executing children. In the first six months of 2024 alone, “Iranian authorities executed 249 people” and an additional 166 people just in October.

A regime that treats its own people this way is not likely to treat anyone else any better.

The system in Iran was founded on principles aimed at “exporting the revolution” and imposing an Islamist governance structure across other nations. This ideological commitment is even enshrined in Iran’s constitution…

Notably, during significant waves of protests in recent years, the Obama and Biden-Harris administrations remained silent, offering no substantial support to the people risking their lives for freedom.

Often, Western countries have chosen to overlook Iran’s human rights abuses and advances in military power: they might interfere with profitable trade.

If these Western nations lack the will to fight the Iranian regime directly, then they should, at the very least, provide Israel with the necessary support — economically, militarily and politically. This is not an act of charity: supporting Israel in its mission serves their own interests.

Can the West set aside its hypocrisy long enough to stand with Israel in confronting Iran — this source of terror to them as well? If they cannot summon the nerve to act directly, then the least they can do is back those who do.

To embark on the path toward sustainable peace in the Middle East, it is essential to confront a fundamental truth: without addressing a crucial first step, peace across the region will remain nothing more than an illusion. This first step lies in directly confronting and ultimately changing the root cause of much of the ongoing conflict, violence, and terrorism — namely, the Islamist regime in Iran.

Over the decades, Iran’s regime has embedded itself deeply within the region’s crises, stoking unrest and sponsoring terrorism. If the Middle East is to see any genuine peace and stability, a transformation of Iran’s regime is essential.

Lebanon: Massive ‘Underground Combat Sites’ by Bassam Tawil

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21085/lebanon-tunnels-hezbollah

“Hezbollah’s model is the same as the North Korean model: tunnels in which hundreds of combatants, fully equipped, can pass stealthily and rapidly underground. In our opinion, Hezbollah’s ‘Land of the Tunnels’ project is much larger than the Hamas ‘metro’ project in the Gaza Strip.” – Alma Resrearch and Education Center, July, 2021

These tunnels facilitate the movement of heavy equipment, missiles, and fighters and even allow missiles to be launched from within.

Built beneath the border between Lebanon and Syria, these tunnels allow Hezbollah’s smuggling unit and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force to transport ammunition, supplies, and fighters under the border.

Many of these tunnels are located beneath civilian infrastructure and populated areas, using civilians as human shields for their activities.

Some of the houses in Lebanon were destroyed by Hezbollah’s own rockets… after they were targeted by the IDF. “The explosions are caused by Hezbollah’s own weapons. In other words, Hezbollah’s tunnels are being used to blow up Lebanon. Hezbollah is displacing, starving and robbing the Lebanese.” — Mohammed Al-Obaid, Arab social media user, X, October 31, 2024

Hezbollah and Hamas bear full responsibility for the death of thousands of Lebanese and Palestinians since the October 7, 2023 massacres… The two terrorist groups started the war, at the behest of their patrons in Iran, with the intention of killing a large number of Israelis and eliminating Israel. The vast network of tunnels they built in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip are an indication of the terrorist group’s determination to pursue their Jihad (holy war) against Israel, notwithstanding the risks to the Lebanese and Palestinian people living under their rule.

Even if Hezbollah say they will withdraw to north of the Litani River, the tunnels enable it easily to violate that pledge with no one above ground the wiser. Hezbollah, moreover, never abided by UN Resolution 1701 to stop building tunnels and storing weapons in south Lebanon.

The current war in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip must not end without the destruction of all the tunnels and the total defeat of Hezbollah and Hamas. Those who are pushing for an immediate ceasefire are only empowering the Iranian regime and its terror proxies, paving the way for another October 7-style massacre. The defeat of Hezbollah and Hamas will benefit not only Israelis, but the Lebanese and Palestinians, as well.

The Iran-backed terrorist organization Hezbollah, as part of its preparations for war with Israel, spent the past 15 years building a vast network of tunnels in Lebanon. Some of the tunnels were supposed to be used for invading Israel to carry out atrocities against Israelis like the ones committed by Hamas, another Iran terror proxy, on October 7, 2023.

POSITIVE NEWS FROM ISRAEL EVEN DURING WARTIME FROM MICHAEL ORDMAN

  www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com 

Israel’s daring, dazzling, and advanced prowess in defense has impressed Israel’s supporters and humiliated its enemies. Behind the military news, as Michael Ordman reminds us, research and development in every single aspect of humanitarian endeavor flourishes in the laboratories and social institutions of that remarkable nation from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. rsk

 
POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
 
Wounded paramedic returns. United Hatzalah emergency medic Rabbi Chaim Sassi was seriously wounded by a Hamas terrorist in Sderot on Oct 7. He has now returned to active service after receiving a custom-made “ambucycle” designed to accommodate his lingering leg injury. Rabbi Chaim was praised as “an inspiration”.
https://www.jns.org/volunteer-medic-injured-on-oct-7-returns-to-service-with-ambucycle/
 
Mezuzah from devastated kibbutz goes to Paraguay. A mezuzah was all that survived on Oct 7 from a home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. To honor the memory of the owners of the home, the mezuzah was placed on the doorpost of the new Israeli embassy in Paraguay.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/mezuzah-rescued-from-kfar-azza-finds-new-home-in-israeli-embassy-in-paraguay/
 
Boxer is champion defender. US boxing legend Floyd Mayweather has donated $100,000 to purchase 100 bulletproof vests for Israeli medical volunteers on the front lines. He announced the gift during a sold-out United Hatzalah event in Jerusalem to raise funds for 1,000 protective kits for its volunteer EMTs.
https://worldisraelnews.com/ex-boxing-champ-gives-israeli-rescue-group-100-bulletproof-vests/
 
US Christians donate armored ambulances. Samaritan’s Purse, founded by Franklin Graham, son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, has donated two more armored ambulances to Magen David Adom. They previously donated 14 ambulances and have committed to donate 28 more. They have also donated 1,000 trauma kits.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/us-evangelical-leader-donates-28-armored-ambulances-in-memory-of-murdered-hostages/
 
South African Christians donate MDA response cars. (TY Yanky) The South African branch of the Christian organization Bridges for Peace is spearheading a donation of two $80,000 Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency rapid response vehicles. MDA will use the cars in communities attacked on Oct. 7.
https://www.jns.org/south-african-christians-donate-emergency-vehicles-to-israel/
 
Gaza envelope kibbutz looks to regrow. Kibbutz Holit has begun to rehabilitate after the Oct 7 Hamas attacks. It will grow the potato developed by Israel’s Rumafeed (see here previously) that has eliminated the toxic glycoalkaloids in its foliage. Rumafeed has just been selected for the latest Intel Ignite accelerator group.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/kibbutz-ravaged-on-oct-7-looks-to-renewal-through-gene-edited-vegetable-trials/  https://unitedwithisrael.org/kibbutz-holit-ravaged-on-oct-7-grows-into-hub-for-agricultural-innovation/
 
An AI view of Gaza without Hamas. ChatGPT was asked the question, “What would life, culture, and the economy be like in Gaza if Hamas were not  in control?”  ChatGPT also was also asked to generate a visual image of Gaza without Hamas.  I expect “Lebanon without Hezbollah?” might generate a similar response.
https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-chatgpt-shows-what-gaza-could-be-without-terrorism-and-hamas/
 
Anti-drone system recycled. Israel has deployed the Israeli-upgraded M61 Vulcan cannon along its northern border, to combat suicide drones launched by Hezbollah terrorists. An older version of the M61 Vulcan was originally provided to Israel by the U.S. during the 1973 Yom Kippur War and saw action in Lebanon in 1982.
https://worldisraelnews.com/unique-vulcan-anti-drone-cannon-deployed-in-north/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machbet   https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-826246
 
One Day raises $1 million. US Jewish reggae singer Matisyahu performed a concert titled “One Day” in New York City. It was part of a Ben Gurion University event that raised $1 million to help the rebuilding and recovery of Israel’s southern communities. “There’ll be no more wars, and our children will play. One Day!”
https://www.jns.org/one-day-benefit-featuring-matisyahu-raises-1m-for-recovery-education-in-southern-israel/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRmBChQjZPs  https://genius.com/Matisyahu-one-day-lyrics
 
 
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
 
Protein antibody to treat cancer. Tel Aviv University researchers were checking protein levels after exposure to UV light. They saw that Ly6a levels rose significantly and speculated it might suppress the immune system in cancer patients. Lab tests showed that antibodies against Ly6a reduced tumor size in many cancers.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/398375  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-52079-x
 
Recovery from strokes. Israel’s BioXtreme has developed the deXtreme rehabilitation robot device for improving of motor recovery of upper limbs for stroke patients. And doctors in 30 countries use Tigertriever, from Israel’s Rapid Medical (see here previously) to respond in real time during thrombectomy procedures.
https://www.israel21c.org/8-startups-transforming-stroke-prevention-detection-treatment/
https://bio-xtreme.com/  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJOPaxTO5gE
https://www.rapid-medical.com/tigertriever
 
Life-saving blood cancer analysis. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s Scopio Labs (see here previously) has launched its groundbreaking Full-Field Bone Marrow Aspirate™ (FF-BMA) Application for effective, digital imaging and AI analysis of blood cells. It replaces previous slow, manual, expert-only, error-prone, analysis methods.
https://scopiolabs.com/news/scopio-labs-receives-groundbreaking-fda-clearance-for-first-ever-digital-bone-marrow-aspirate-application/  https://www.ourcrowd.com/startup-news/beckman-coulter-and-scopio-labs-add-worlds-first-digital-bone-marrow-imaging-and-analysis-to-long-term-partnership https://scopiolabs.com/ff-bma/
 
Reducing phantom pain. Israel’s 6Degrees (see here previously) is now using its MyMove virtual reality games to enable dozens of new war amputees to have independent physical therapy sessions while decreasing their phantom pain and dependence on pain medications. “Exercising” an amputated limb helps blood flow.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-virtual-reality-game-helps-dozens-of-new-war-amputees-reduce-phantom-pain/
 
500 successful transplants. The partnership between the Gift of Life Marrow Registry and Taglit-Birthright Israel has just celebrated its 500th successful transplant of blood stem cell and bone marrow from Birthright donors to patients. They have saved hundreds of sufferers with leukemia, lymphoma and immune disorders.
https://www.jns.org/wire/gift-of-life-marrow-registry-marks-500th-lifesaving-transplant-from-birthright-donors/
 
Personal park guide for the visually impaired. The audio orientation and guiding system Israel’s RightHear (see here previously) has now been installed at 2,500+ global locations from Angola to the UAE. In August, Natural Bridge State Park in Virginia became the first US state park to offer the digital accessibility solution.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-startup-opening-up-the-world-for-the-visually-impaired/
 
Ariel’s first medical graduates. Israel’s Ariel University celebrated the first class of graduates from its 2019-founded Adelson School of Medicine. 53 students (including 40 women) were awarded their “Doctor of Medicine.” degrees in a ceremony attended by Israeli President Herzog and philanthropist Dr. Miriam Adelson.
https://www.jns.org/ariels-adelson-school-of-medicine-marks-first-graduating-class/

Israeli anxiety, America and the ayatollahs: Ruthie Blum

https://www.jns.org/israeli-anxiety-america-and-the-ayatollahs/

Tensions are high in Israel as the United States enters the last lap of its presidential election. Given the level of public concern surrounding the race and the amount of space devoted to it by local analysts, an alien observing from Mars might mistakenly assume that the vote is taking place between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, not across the Atlantic Ocean.

It’s already been established, through surveys and punditocracy consensus—including among those more predisposed politically to Vice President Kamala Harris and Democrats in general than to former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party—that most Israelis are praying for the latter to emerge victorious.

Polls showing that the candidates are basically tied, with daily fluctuations in swing-state percentages, is causing a lot of nail-biting, and not exclusively in U.S. capitals or Jerusalem. No, it’s safe to say that the entire world is watching and waiting with bated breath for the outcome.

Though Joe Biden will remain at the helm in the White House until the beginning of 2025 regardless of the results at the ballot box, nobody thinks he’s running the show in any respect, nor has he been for at least two years. It’s assumed in Israel, however, that the figures behind him could engage in serious lame-duck sabotage in the weeks leading up to the inauguration of his successor.

After all, during a similar period at the end of 2016, outgoing President Barack Obama and his sidekick, Secretary of State John Kerry, pulled a few stunts that made Israel’s enemies proud. Key among these moves was the abstention on U.N. Security Council Resolution 2334, adopted on Dec. 23.

Resolution 2334, which passed by 14-0, condemned Israeli settlements and called for all construction of them to cease. It also called for further labeling of Israeli goods, not only those made in settlements. In addition, it categorized the Western Wall as “occupied Palestinian territory.”

The Desolation of Palestine Before Zionism, a largely uninhabited land. by Robert Spencer

https://www.frontpagemag.com/the-desolation-of-palestine/

In the eighteenth century, an English traveler, Thomas Shaw, noted that Palestine was “lacking in people to till its fertile soil.”The French count Constantine François Volney, an eighteenth-century historian, called Palestine “ruined” and “desolate,” observing that “many parts” had “lost almost all their peasantry.” Volney complained that this desolation was unexpected, for the Ottoman imperial records listed larger populations, which led to tax collection efforts’ being frustrated. Of one area, Volney wrote: “Upwards of three thousand two hundred villages were reckoned, but, at present, the collector can scarcely find four hundred. Such of our merchants as have resided there twenty years have themselves seen the greater part of the environs…become depopulated. The traveller meets with nothing but houses in ruins, cisterns rendered useless, and fields abandoned. Those who cultivated them have fled.”

Another English traveler, James Silk Buckingham, visited Jaffa in 1816 and wrote that it had “all the appearances of a poor village, and every part of it that we saw was of corresponding meanness.” In Ramle, said Buckingham, “as throughout the greater part of Palestine, the ruined portion seemed more extensive than that which was inhabited.” Twenty-two years later, the British nobleman Alexander William Crawford Lindsay, Lord Lindsay, declared that “all Judea, except the hills of Hebron and the vales immediately about Jerusalem, is desolate and barren.”

In 1840, another traveler to Palestine praised the Syrians as a “fine spirited race of men,” but whose “population is on the decline.” He noted that the land between Hebron and Bethlehem was “now abandoned and desolate,” marked by “dilapidated towns.” Jerusalem was nothing more than “a large number of houses…in a dilapidated and ruinous state,” with “the masses…without any regular employment.”

In 1847, a U.S. Navy officer noted: “The population of Jaffa is now about 13,000, viz: Turks, 8000; Greeks, 2000; Armenians, 2000; Maronites, 700; and Jews, about 300.” Significantly, he counted no Arabs there at all.

‘End of the War’ in Gaza, Lebanon, Iran? Not Quite Yet by Guy Millière

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21084/end-war-gaza-lebanon-iran

US President Joe Biden said that Sinwar had been an “insurmountable obstacle” and that his death offered “the opportunity… for a political settlement” in Gaza. A short time later, US Vice President Kamala Harris said that it was now possible to “finally end the war in Gaza.”

Had Israel complied with the Biden-Harris administration’s request and not gone into Rafah, Sinwar would still be preparing the next massacres and making sure that Hamas keeps stealing the humanitarian aid intended for the people of Gaza. When the IDF killed him, just a mile from the Egyptian border, he was found carrying a large sum of money and the passport of a man described as an “UNRWA teacher.”

Hamas continues to steal the humanitarian aid and then sells it on the black market at extortionate prices, from which Hamas has “profited by at least half a billion dollars.” Approximately 200 trucks of aid enter Gaza every day, yet the media report that Gazans are “starving” and that the blame for the supposed “war crime” goes, of course, to — Israel.

[B]y waiving sanctions that block Iran from selling its oil, the Biden-Harris administration has effectively been funding Iran’s nuclear weapons program to the tune of roughly $100 billion.

“After Iran’s Oct. 1 missile attack, Mr. Biden told Israel not to attack Iran’s nuclear program. Mr. Trump replied, ‘Isn’t that what you’re supposed to hit? It’s the biggest risk we have, nuclear weapons.’ He reportedly told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ‘Do what you have to do’… [Trump] tells Israel to do what it needs to do to end the war quickly in victory. Ms. Harris piles on restrictions and insists a cease-fire lead to a two-state solution disconnected from reality.”— Elliot Kaufman, Wall Street Journal, November 1, 2024.

“Now, as the ICC expands and abuses its powers to attack Israel, and Unrwa is exposed as compromised by Hamas, Mr. Biden blocks new sanctions against the ICC and tries to preserve Unrwa.” — Elliot Kaufman, Wall Street Journal, November 1, 2024.

Which will Americans vote for this week? The policies of President Trump or the policies of Presidents Biden and Obama?

October 17. Israeli authorities announce that Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Hamas terrorist organization, the man who planned and ordered the atrocities of October 7, 2023 and the hostage-taking that accompanied them, has been eliminated. In the hours that followed, US President Joe Biden said that Sinwar had been an “insurmountable obstacle” and that his death offered “the opportunity… for a political settlement” in Gaza. A short time later, US Vice President Kamala Harris said that it was now possible to “finally end the war in Gaza.”

Abigail Shrier: The Kinderfada Revolution There is a well-coordinated, national effort between teachers, activist organizations, and administrators to indoctrinate American children against Israel. A Free Press investigation.

https://www.thefp.com/p/abigail-shrier-the-kinderfada-revolution

In August, the second largest teachers union chapter in the country—there are more than 35,000 members of United Teachers Los Angeles—met at the Bonaventure Hotel in L.A. to discuss, among other things, how to turn their K-12 students against Israel. In front of a PowerPoint that read, “How to be a teacher & an organizer. . . and NOT get fired,” history teacher Ron Gochez elaborated on stealth methods for indoctrinating students.

But how to transport busloads of kids to an anti-Israel rally, during the school day, without arousing suspicion? 

“A lot of us that have been to those [protest] actions have brought our students. Now I don’t take the students in my personal car,” Gochez told the crowd. Then, referring to the Los Angeles Unified School District, he explained: “I have members of our organization who are not LAUSD employees. They take those students and I just happen to be at the same place and the same time with them.”

Gochez was just getting warmed up. “It’s like tomorrow I go to church and some of my students are at the church. ‘Oh, wow! Hey, how you doing?’ We just happen to be at the same place at the same time, and look! We just happen to be at a pro-Palestine action, same place, same time.”

The crowd burst into approving laughter.

The Free Press obtained a video of the United Teachers Los Angeles meeting. You can watch it here:

Seated at a keffiyeh-draped table, Gochez said, “Some of the things that we can do as teachers is to organize. We just have to be really intelligent on how we do that. We have to know that we’re under the microscope. We have to know that Zionists and others are going to try to catch us in any way that they can to get us into trouble.”

He continued: “If you organize students, it’s at your own risk, but I think it’s something that’s necessary we have to do.” He told the audience of educators that he once caught a “Zionist teacher” looking through his files. Gochez warned the crowd to be wary of “admin trying to be all chummy with you. You got to be very careful with that, even sometimes our own students.”

John Adams Middle School teacher and panelist William Shattuc agreed, a keffiyeh around his neck. “We know that good history education is political education. And when we are coming up against political movements, like the movement for Zionism, that we disagree with, that we’re in conflict with—they [Zionists] have their own form of political education and they employ their own tools of censorship.”

What are the “tools of censorship” employed by Zionists? Apparently, they include accusing teachers who rail against Israel in the classroom of antisemitism.

‘Middle East Summit’ in Jerusalem calls for a new way forward David Isaac

https://www.jns.org/middle-east-summit-in-jerusalem-calls-for-a-new-way-forward/

Jettisoning the two-state solution once and for all, via Israel taking sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, was the theme of the “Middle East Summit: A New Vision for Truth-based Peace,” which drew 500 attendees to Jerusalem’s Waldorf Astoria on Sunday evening.

Serving as inspiration for the conference was a new book by former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman: “One Jewish State: The Last, Best Hope to Resolve the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.”

While a Bible-based policy may sound far-fetched, Friedman combines realpolitik and sound analysis to argue that applying Jewish rule over Judea and Samaria is where biblical promise and good politics align.

People of faith demonstrate common sense on the issue, arguing that “not one inch” of land be given way, “least of all to enemies of the State of Israel with blood on their hands,” he writes.

“People of faith recognize that the land of Israel was given to the Jewish people by God. And if God gave this land to the Jews, no one has the right to undo that grant,” Friedman notes.

International institutions such as the United Nations, and many world leaders, on the other hand, continue to pressure Israel to make Judea and Samaria a Palestinian state, “notwithstanding the violence brought about by the Oslo Accords,” he continues.

A significant portion of the book focuses on the so-called two-state solution, which Friedman describes as “truly the definition of insanity, trying the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.”

The book quickly garnered attention in Israel.

The Biden-Harris Administration, a ‘Ceasefire’ and a Palestinian State by Alexander Maistrovoy

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21066/biden-harris-ceasefire-palestinian-state

There seem to be several reasons for the Palestinians’ reluctance to reach an agreement about a two-state solution, and a lasting end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict:

Any Palestinian leader who has recommended an end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has been denounced by his people as a traitor and killed. That outcome would seem quite a disincentive. As the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said, “Do you want me sitting up there having tea with Sadat?”

The donations that the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have received since 1993 could have turned the West Bank into a thriving area, and Gaza into a “New Singapore” or “Dubai on the Mediterranean,” however, the leaders evidently had other priorities for that cash.

One aim of Abbas seems to be to preserve his own wealth, estimated at $100 million, and the prosperity of his sons, who own the largest businesses in the Palestinian Authority. If donors keep throwing gigantic amounts of money at one — especially unconditionally — why not take it?

In a situation where every attempt to achieve peace turns into another bloody war-experiment, most Israelis have apparently concluded that they would be better off without such a “peace”.

From the point of view of many Palestinian Arabs, and even some Americans, Jews can return to the other countries that wanted to kill them.

At present, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, praised as “The Churchill of the Middle East,” appears determined to disable Hamas and Hezbollah politically and militarily so they will not be able to threaten the security of Israelis again.

Even with a supposed “ceasefire deal,” Sinwar’s successor will no doubt release the hostages as slowly as possible to allow more time for the Palestinians to rearm.

For a ceasefire, Hamas — probably also including Qatar and Iran — is asking for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, far from the smuggling tunnels under the border with Egypt. They are also asking for a “permanent ceasefire” — meaning that they want the US administration and the international community to force Israel to stop fighting, but leave Hamas’s leaders and terrorists free to rearm, regroup and ready to fight another day.

In 2023, Israel allowed extra work permits to the Gazans — who then mapped out every house to attack, including “the names of the people, how many children they had and even which of them owned dogs.”

At this point, whatever happens with a ceasefire or not, the region clearly does not seem ready for any kind of Palestinian state — to say the least.

POSITIVE NEWS FROM ISRAEL FROM MICHAEL ORDMAN

www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com 

Many examples of Israel’s determination to rehabilitate the wounded.

An Israeli startup has developed a device that can save millions of stroke victims.

Israeli volunteers are helping Americans recover from recent hurricanes.

An Israeli startup makes flour from the waste from olive oil production.

Take a ride on Israel’s first driverless public bus.

Resilient Israelis make wine and beer while under fire.

Celebrating Sukkot (Tabernacles) in Israel is a unique experience.

POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
 
Sheba hospital’s new rehab center. At Sheba hospital’s new “Returning to Life Rehabilitation Center for War Casualties”, over 600 patients have undergone critical rehabilitation since Oct 7. Sheba’s original rehab unit was expanded to meet the increased demand for trauma care and rehabilitation for civilians and soldiers.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-hospital-transforms-to-meet-wartime-rehab-demand/
 
Farm rehabilitates soldiers. Havat Rom (Rom Farm) some 30 miles from the Lebanese border, contains a farm-to-table restaurant and a glamping site. It also hosts a government rehabilitation program helping people with mental illnesses and disorders, including soldiers suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
https://www.israel21c.org/farm-helping-soldiers-with-ptsd-under-shadow-of-war/  https://havatrom.co.il/
https://glow-glamping.com/
 
Back on their feet.  Two articles describing wounded IDF soldiers who are bravely walking again after extensive hospital treatment and rehabilitation.  Major Rotem Shaked Aharon is fortunate to have his original legs, whereas Elisha Madan has two prostheses.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-severely-wounded-idf-soldier-leaves-hospital-on-own-two-feet/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/397410
 
1,600+ scholarships. Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) has established a scholarship fund for students in southern border communities. Many are evacuees and still in shock. Returning to studies is a form of rehabilitation. So far, some 1,670 students have received NIS 4,000 each. See also here.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-non-profit-gives-over-1000-scholarships-to-students-gaza-border-communities/   https://donate.kkl-jnf.org/education_jp_full/
 
How Ellay survived. Ellay Golan’s recovery from 8-weeks in a coma to graduating medical school was reported here previously. This article describes how, despite being burned, she bravely fought off Hamas terrorists on Oct 7 to save her 18-month-old baby daughter.
https://www.israel21c.org/rising-from-the-ashes-a-mothers-fight-to-survive/
 
Always thought of others. (TY Yanky) IDF Sgt. Omer Ginzburg may have fallen in battle, but his bone grafts will repair orthopedic injuries; his corneas will give sight to the blind; his skin will treat burns injuries, and his heart valves will also be used. Omer’s parents said, “He always thought of others before thinking of himself.”
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-814321
 
Israel tests 8 anti-drone systems. About time!  The IDF drone interception tests included Elbit (Iron Hawk), IAI (Precise Falcon), Rafael (Typhoon), Aerobotics, Xtend, General Robotics (Pitbull), Smartshooter, Fortem (US) + Elbit. See here for most of these and many other Israeli systems previously reported in this newsletter.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bki2ag2yje
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgaDOTCN5sE
 
 
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
 
Pioneering medicine. The Pioneering Israeli Medicine Conference in New York City (Sep 22) highlighted new technologies, innovating hospitals, physical & mental rehabilitation, innovation in emergency medicine. The lessons learned from Oct 7 helped medical professionals prepare for the escalation with Hezbollah.
https://www.israel21c.org/october-7-stats-reveal-extraordinary-lifesaving-medical-efforts/
http://med-conf.scienceabroad.org.il/
 
New metabolites can treat diabetes and obesity. Israel’s Metabolize is testing two molecules that reduce both appetite and weight, helping to treat diabetics and the obese. The phenylalanine metabolite X-Phe and N-acetyltaurine (NAT) don’t have the side effects of existing medications and can be ingested rather than injected.
https://nocamels.com/2024/09/harnessing-our-own-bodies-for-side-effect-free-weight-loss/
https://metabolize.life/
 
3D-printed implants. (TY Atid-EDI) Israeli startups Collplant and Stratasys have commenced a pre-clinical study to test the ability of their 3D-printed implants (see here previously) to promote the growth of natural tissue and completely degrade over time. It may be an alternative to reconstructive surgery after cancer surgery.
https://investors.stratasys.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/903/collplant-and-stratasys-announce-pre-clinical-study-for
 
Bladder cancer test goes to Europe. Italy’s Menarini Diagnostics is to distribute the EpiCheck non-invasive bladder cancer urine test from Israel’s Nucleix (see here previously) in Europe. Bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer as there are approximately 760,000 people in Europe with the disease.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240909391086/en/
 
Bacteria vs virus test trial successful. Israel’s MeMed (see here previously) successfully completed the first clinical trial of its BV test to differentiate between bacterial and viral infections. The test on 260 patients with suspected lower respiratory tract infection resulted in a 62% relative reduction in unnecessary antibiotics.
https://nocamels.com/2024/10/israeli-test-to-tell-if-infection-bacterial-or-viral-successful-in-trial/
 
Handheld lung test device. Israel’s TechnoPulm is developing a handheld device capable of performing full lung function tests. The tool will replace large, expensive machines with a compact, portable device that weighs just 400 grams. It can be operated in the physician’s office and complete the entire test in under three minutes.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rjzzgmhkjx   https://t-pulm.com/
 
US funding for Israeli Ebola virus treatment. BARDA, part of the US department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, is funding development by Israel’s Redhill of Opaganib (see here previously) for the treatment of the Ebola virus.
https://nocamels.com/2024/10/us-government-funding-development-of-israeli-ebola-treatment/
 
Rejuvenate skin with your own cells. Israel’s Ananda Labs is developing an organic treatment that improves skin elasticity, diminishing wrinkles and scars. Using technology of Hebrew University Prof. Yossi Buganim, Ananda genetically reprograms skin cells into placental stem cells, up to 50% younger than the adult originals.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-company-aiming-to-slow-down-aging/  https://www.buganimlab.com/
https://www.ananda-labs.bio/
 
AI alerts of an impending stroke. More about Israel’s Avertto (see here previously) that has developed the first medical device with an AI alert of an impending stroke based on biological mimicry. Avertto cites studies indicating that 80% of strokes are preventable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBhR72JOSb4
https://www.israel21c.org/swift-stroke-prevention-using-ai-and-artery-monitors/
 
A new path to treating cancer. Researchers at Tel Aviv University a significant portion of cancer cells are “aneuploid” – i.e. have an abnormal number of chromosomes. It means they are more sensitive to certain anti-cancer treatments. Patients with that type of cancer could respond to these individually targeted treatments.
https://www.aftau.org/news_item/changes-in-the-chromosomes-of-cancer-cells-may-increase-their-sensitivity-to-anti-cancer-drugs/  https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-820780