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Reporting on the Middle East, Science, and Education for July 21, 2010 - י' אב תש"ע
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A shopping mall opened in Gaza City last weekend. It is called, appropriately enough, Gaza Mall and even has a website complete with a catchy logo, and ads for “Israeli men’s trousers at an attractive price” and shirts from the United States.
There’s nothing remarkable about this, you say. New malls open all the time all around the world.
But think about it: One of the main complaints international organizations have against the Israeli blockade of Gaza is that construction materials, supposedly, are not getting through. Gazans are allegedly forced to live in dilapidated apartments and houses because big, bad Israel will not let cement mix and rebar pass its lines.
So just where did the materials come from to build Gaza Mall?
Admittedly, online descriptions of the mall as a “luxury” shopping centre are a bit over the top, although I suppose such descriptions are relative. (The first suburban shopping centres in Canada in the 1950s, while dwarfed by today’s mega-malls, must have seemed like palaces of commerce compared with the downtown department stores of the day.)
You can see photos of the Gaza Mall grand opening at the Palestinian Authority’s Safa website (safa. ps) or the website of photojournalist Tom Gross — tomgrossmedia. com. Note the tinsel streamers, balloons and mascots. If you look closely at the photos, you see a simple, two-storey collection of brightly lit but plain shops, apparently run by local merchants rather than the large chain stores that populate North American and European (and Israeli) malls. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Business and Commerce, Middle East Report, News Articles, Recent Posts on July 21, 2010 - י' אב תש"ע at 10:39 am
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By Avi Krawitz , 07/06/10 04:40
Diamonds.net
RAPAPORT… Israel’s polished exports tripled to $457.85 million in June 2010, according to data published by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor. By volume, the exports rose 119 percent to 280,555.83 carats as the average price of polished exports increased 18 percent from a year earlier to $1,631.94 per carat.
The increase was impacted by higher than normal exports to Hong Kong, which accounted for 52 percent of the total, while the U.S., Belgium, India and China followed as the respective top five destinations for Israel’s polished trade.
Polished imports grew 93 percent to $389.2 million as net polished exports, measuring the excess of exports over imports, moved to positive $68.7 million, from negative $25 million a year earlier.
Rough imports increased 42 percent to $355.9 million, while rough exports rose 48 percent to $314.5 million. Israel’s net rough imports, the excess of imports over exports, grew 7 percent to $41.4 million. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Business and Commerce, Middle East Report, Recent Posts on July 7, 2010 - כ"ה תמוז תש"ע at 8:09 am
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Adi Ben-Israel, GLOBES, 4 Jul 10 12:56
Goldman Sachs expects rapid economic growth and low inflation for Israel in 2011, even as Israeli economic leaders are deliberating whether to cut their growth forecasts for the next two years, under the impact of the debt crisis in Europe.
Goldman Sachs analyst Ahmet Akarli predicts 3.5% real GDP growth for Israel in 2010 and 4.3% growth in 2011. The Bank of Israel currently predicts 4% growth next year, and the Ministry of Finance predicts less than 4% growth.
Akarli forecasts 2.4% inflation for the full years of 2010 and 2011.
Akarli believes that the shekel will continue to weaken against the dollar in the short term, but that the shekel will then begin to appreciate. He predicts that the shekel-dollar exchange rate will reach NIS 3.95/$ in three months, NIS 3.84/$ in six months, and NIS 3.60/$ in twelve months. “Widening demand differentials, a strong external position, and monetary tightening should drive the shekel stronger,” he says.
Akarli believes that the Bank of Israel will raise the interest rate to around 3% by the end of 2010, as it removes excess easing in response to the stabilization in the global economy and Israel’s snapping out of recession. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Business and Commerce, Middle East Report, Recent Posts on July 4, 2010 - כ"ב תמוז תש"ע at 7:06 am
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Thursday, 01 Jul, 2010, from AFP, Dawn.com
PALMAHIM AIR BASE, Israel: The eyes in the sky of modern warfare, whose hallmark hum is heard over Afghanistan, Iraq and Gaza, drones are a key weapon and a major cash earner for Israel, the world’s largest exporter of pilotless planes.
With more than 1,000 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) sold, Israel has raked in several hundred million dollars over the years.
Israel’s fleet ranges from aircraft which fit in a soldier’s backpack to planes the size of a Boeing 737 that can fly as far as Iran.
The flying robots can be used to watch, hunt and kill.
Interest is such that a Turkish military delegation reportedly made a secret trip to Israel last month for training in remote piloting of the Heron drone, despite a major diplomatic crisis between the two countries.
“It’s good for reaching remote targets, wherever it’s needed,” an officer who would only identify himself as Captain Gil, said, pointing to an IAI Heron on the tarmac of the Palmahim Air Base, near Tel Aviv.
The plane, known in Israel as Shoval – “trail” in Hebrew – has a 16-metre (52-foot) wingspan, can fly at an altitude of 30,000 feet (almost 10 kilometres) and can stay in the air for 40 hours.
It carries an array of sensors and radar systems, transmits information in real time, and is equipped with missiles. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Business and Commerce, Middle East Report, Recent Posts, Science and Technology on July 2, 2010 - כ' תמוז תש"ע at 6:39 am
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By Navit Zomer , YNet News, June 29, 2010
The IDB Group, through its Elron subsidiary, plans to invest NIS 8 million (about $2 million) in the Carticure start-up company from the NGT incubator in Nazareth, Yedioth Ahronoth’s economic supplement Mamon has learned.
NGT is a technological incubator run by Jewish and Arab businessmen. The majority of funding for its projects comes from the Chief Scientist’s Office and the incubator’s investors.
Carticure was founded four years ago by Dr. Gila Maor as part of the NGT incubator. Its technological platform generates original hyaline cartilage-producing cells to be transplanted into damaged joints, replenishing small and large lesions in the articular cartilage. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Business and Commerce, Middle East Report, Recent Posts, Science and Technology on June 29, 2010 - י"ז תמוז תש"ע at 3:16 pm
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By Karin Kloosterman, Israel 21C
June 28, 2010
Despite the latest tensions, two companies – one Palestinian and one Israeli – are integrating wind turbines together in the West Bank and beyond.
A bridge of peace: The team from Israel Wind Power and Brothers Engineering Group.
A path toward peace may be blowing in the wind, if a new wind energy project between a Palestinian and an Israeli company succeeds. The two companies, Israel Wind Power based in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv and Brothers Engineering Group from Bethlehem in the West Bank, have just announced their intention to cooperate in the building and selling of wind turbines in the West Bank region and beyond.
Most significant, they are undeterred by the latest tensions between Israel, the Palestinian Authority (PA) and world powers in the wake of the recent Turkish-led flotilla incident that occurred near Gaza.
Brothers Engineering Group was founded by Dr. Mohammed Salem, a pharmacist, businessman and social entrepreneur with Engineers without Borders. Salem, the company’s CEO, has been in the wind business since 2006 and employs 15 people in Bethlehem. His company supplies wind turbines and solar solutions to the West Bank region.
"Business collaboration in the area of wind energy is something which will be for the benefit of everyone. It will serve as a bridge of peace for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Salem declares.
"We will be one company, together," Salem tells ISRAEL21c, adding that: "The plan is from yesterday not tomorrow." The two companies plan on cooperating in marketing, manufacturing and installation of wind turbines to generate electricity on a scale of 50 kW to provide wind power for factories, offices and private homes.
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Air & Water, Alternative Energy, Business and Commerce, Climate Change, Middle East Report, News Articles, Recent Posts, Science and Technology on June 28, 2010 - ט"ז תמוז תש"ע at 9:32 am
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In September, world leaders will meet at the UN for a summit to discuss strategies for achieving the eight Millennium Development Goals by 2015. In the meantime, the UN is kicking into high gear with a number of events, reports and behind-the-scenes politiking over the MDGs. (And rest assured, we are planning some special coverage of all the MDG action on UN Dispatch this summer). Yesterday, Ban Ki Moon kicked off what I am calling the summer of the MDGs with a report taking stock of progress–and sometimes lack thereof–on achieving each of the eight goals.
The report shows that there are a number of verifiable successes, particularly in cutting by half the number of people living in extreme poverty, acheiving universal primary school enrollment, and fighting infectious diseases: Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Business and Commerce, Middle East Report, News Articles, Recent Posts on June 26, 2010 - י"ד תמוז תש"ע at 5:33 pm
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June 23, 2010
LINDA GRADSTEIN, thestar.com
MODI’IN ILLIT, —Younnes Salah, a tall broad-shouldered father of five, is a Palestinian who spends his days building new homes for Jewish settlers in this ultra-Orthodox settlement. He works hard, supervising 50 labourers, all Palestinians and brings home $1300 a month — a nice salary in the West Bank.
Ideologically, Salah says he would rather work building Palestinian homes in the West Bank than Jewish settler ones. But practical considerations win out.
“There is no alternative whatsoever in the Palestinian areas,” he said as temperatures of more than 38C. baked the construction site. “I have to bring food to the table. I have a 5-year-old daughter who needs special medical treatment. Where could I make this much money anywhere else?”
Israeli officials say there are 25,000 Palestinians working in Jewish settlements, most in construction. Salah says the number is significantly higher, as it does not include temporary workers who don’t have the special permits needed to enter settlements and sneak in through back roads.
Palestinian Authority statistics show that each worker supports 10 family members, meaning at least 250,000 Palestinians in the West Bank are dependent on these jobs. But last month, with great fanfare, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad announced a new law making it illegal to work in Jewish settlements. He also announced a $50 million dollar fund to provide employment alternatives. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Business and Commerce, Islam, Judaism, Middle East Report, Monotheistic Religions, News Articles, Recent Posts on June 24, 2010 - י"ב תמוז תש"ע at 8:17 am
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By Ashley Gold
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
Saturday, June 19, 2010
What Asian state was the first to pass gay-rights legislation, have a fully functioning democracy, introduce items like lithium batteries and tsunami-detection devices to the world, operate the fastest and most efficient hospital in Haiti after its earthquake and be ranked for being environmentally conscious?
Sounds like a great place, right? This place reminds me of California. It has endless beachfront restaurants, the world’s freshest dairy products, a world-class selection of fine goods and a laid-back atmosphere with a rich, diverse landscape. It features beautiful wineries to the north and scorching desert to the south. It’s progressive, democratic and creative. And its health-care system is ranked 28th in the world.
But it’s not California — it’s an oasis in the middle of a turmoil-ridden Middle East known as Israel.
Many people have misconceptions about Israel. It’s not their fault (but I often wish I could send everyone who hasn’t been there). It would be a giant exodus to the country called "Operation Israeli Clarification and Eye-Opening Mission."
But since that isn’t possible, let me try to explain life in Israel, starting by dispelling some myths about the country I consider my second home:
• Israel isn’t a modern country. People ride around on camels in the desert.
FALSE. Israel has one of the most efficient and extensive bus systems in the world, offering affordable transportation from city to city in addition to a safe, affordable taxi service, train service and sherut service. Sheruts are shared taxis. For 7 shekel (about $1.90) you can take a small, air-conditioned van around a city or from one city to another. And forget the camels, because software startups and high-tech firms dominate Tel Aviv’s market, with offices in steel skyscrapers and cutting-edge computer and wireless Internet technology far more advanced than that of the U.S.
• All of Israel is very religious.
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Business and Commerce, Judaism, Middle East Report, Opinion, Recent Posts on June 20, 2010 - ח' תמוז תש"ע at 9:55 am
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By David Shamah, Israel21C, June 07, 2010
Microsoft’s newest XBox video game console is generating excitement among gamers worldwide. Its core component – a radical new 3D sensoring technology – was developed by Israel’s PrimeSense.
Using PrimeSense technology, Xbox users can place themselves in the game.
Video games aren’t just for kids. Gaming is a $20 billion annual business in the US alone, having long ago surpassed sales in the music industry. And Israeli companies – chief among them Tel Aviv-based PrimeSense – are at the heart of the latest developments sweeping the industry. Thanks to the company’s 3D sensing technology, set to become the central feature of Microsoft’s latest XBox video game consoles, true 3D play is just months away.
PrimeSense and several other Israeli companies have been quietly developing hardware and software for a new iteration of the XBox gaming system, codenamed Project Natal, which was announced in 2009.
Last year, Microsoft acquired Israeli company 3DV, which many industry observers believed was connected to the development of Project Natal. Meanwhile, last month SanDisk based in Kfar Saba in central Israel, began shipping its Xbox 360 USB Flash Drive, designed to enable gamers to easily move their avatars and game stats between XBox machines.
But it is PrimeSense’s 3D interactive system that has generated the most excitement, especially after an April press conference in Tel Aviv, where top Microsoft honchos announced that the motion technology built into the final Natal product was being produced by PrimeSense. XBox users will be able to place themselves literally ‘in the game,’ by attaching a box made by PrimeSense to their systems.
When a user walks into the range of the PrimeSense 3D sensor, anything he or she does ‘live’ will be reflected in the actions of the avatars, the action figures that play the game on-screen. If you’re playing tennis, for example, you just move your arm in a racket-swinging motion when you see the ball coming at your avatar – and your avatar’s arm moves, swinging the on-screen racket and, hopefully, hitting the ball back at your opponent. Your avatar does whatever you do.
Helping Microsoft to battle the competition
The new addition will help Microsoft in its ongoing battle against Nintendo and Sony, makers of the Wii gaming system and the Playstation console, respectively. Gamers can spend hours debating the fine points of the different systems – each has its advantages – but most consumers agree that the technical specs and networking capabilities of the XBox are the best of the lot, while the Wii is most user-friendly, mainly because it uses a sensor to represent your actions on-screen.
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Business and Commerce, Middle East Report, News Articles, Recent Posts, Science and Technology on June 7, 2010 - כ"ה סיון תש"ע at 9:57 am
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