Happenings 2005
National Multi-Year Highway Development Plan
Transportation Minister Meir Shetrit and the Director of the Public Works
Company on Sunday, 11.27.05, presented Prime Minister Sharon with a
detailed working plan on Israel’s inter-city highways for the next five
years. The plan - worth approximately NIS 19 billion - provides for
advancing, planning, developing and maintaining highways. To this end, 74
new and existing projects will be moved forward; they are expected to
upgrade the overall national inter-city highway network within five-to-seven
years.
The goals of the plan are to reduce traffic accidents by implementing the
Sheinan Committee recommendations, upgrading highway maintenance
to the levels and standards prevalent in other Western countries and via
various technological advances in the field of traffic control.
Prime Minister Sharon instructed the various relevant bodies to emphasize
the following issues in implementing the plan: 1) Focusing on the
development of the Negev and the Galilee and road access to them; 2)
Preserving the environment; and 3) Designated projects for minority sectors.
Prime Minister Sharon reiterated his instructions that future construction
of Highway #20 be rerouted away from Hasharon Park. The Prime Minister also
underscored the importance of Highway #358, which links Shekef and Shomriya
in the eastern Lachish area, to the development of this area in light of the
expected influx of new residents following the implementation of the
Disengagement Plan.
Transportation Minister Shetrit commended the plan. Finance Ministry Budget
Director Kobi Haber discussed the plan’s relevance to alleviating congestion
on the country’s existing highways and the decisive influence that
investments in transportation infrastructure have on long-range economic
growth.
Prime Minister Sharon instructed the various relevant bodies to finish
preparatory work forthwith and to present a finalized plan to the Cabinet in
the coming weeks.
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Israel Gateway
The premier annual trade event in Israel
On November 9, 2005, the third annual Israel Gateway trade event is to take place at the David Intercontinental Hotel in Tel Aviv. Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Ehud Olmert is to launch the event with opening remarks.
At the news conference, a group of foreign ambassadors –
H.E. Mr. Ramiro Cibrian-Uzal of the European Union,
H.E. Mr. Arun Kumar Singh, Ambassdor of India to Israel,
H.E. Carlos Rico Serrat, Ambassador of Mexico to Israel, and
H.E. Mr. Sergio Eduardo Moreira Lima, Ambassador of Brazil to Israel are to give a preview on the high-level trade delegations that are coming to the event to open doors to business with Israel.
Israel Gateway 2005 is organized by GlobesGateGroup in conjunction with the Israel Export and Cooperation Institute, the Manufacturers Association of Israel, and with the support of the Israel Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor and the Federations of Israeli Chambers of Commerce.
Following the success in previous years, business delegations participating in Israel Gateway 2005 are arriving from the US, India, Italy, Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, Turkey, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Ukraine, among other countries. The US is sending delegations from Chicago, Georgia, Los Angeles, Maryland, and North Carolina.
The event is comprised of global business seminars and a parallel trade exhibition.
A total of 23 foreign embassies in Israel are among the presenters at the exhibit’s 45 booths. Bilateral chambers of commerce, trade companies, Israeli and international banks, international insurance companies will also have displays.
Key trade figures from the US, India, Hungary, China, Mexico, Brazil, and Turkey are to give first-hand advice at the seminars on doing business with their countries.
The managing-director of Milan, Italy-based Euromed Fund, Dr. Sandro Bicocchi, is attending the event to explore investments with Israeli companies. Bicocchi is to make a presentation during the seminar. The 35 million euro private equity fund, established by the Milan Chamber of Commerce, specializes in joint ventures between Italian and Mediterranean companies, including those in Israel.
For more information visit the event site at www.israelgateway.com
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Prime Minister Ariel Sharon meets with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates
(October 26, 2005) Prime Minister Sharon welcomed Gates to Israel and said that he ascribes great importance to the fact that Microsoft, a world leader in such areas, is investing in Israel. “Israel is a superpower in the technology and
computer fields and I believe that this stems from both Jewish tradition and
the Jewish history of a small people whose only resource for many
generations was human capital and brainpower. The absence of other physical
resources both as the Jewish People was in the Diaspora and during its
return to its homeland has caused the accelerated development of human
capital as an alternative.”
The two men jointly announced a new national plan to reduce the digital gap
in Israel, under the aegis of Prime Minister Sharon. The plan is the
initiative of Microsoft and will be jointly undertaken by public sector
companies and the private sector. The Prime Minister said: “Today, we are
investing in an important project, the goal of which is to reach those
children who have no access to computers and to give them the opportunity to
become integrated into our modern life. We believe that the gap is opened
at a young age and, therefore, we have chosen to deal with children. Our
goal is to reach 250,000 underprivileged children - mainly on the
periphery - by 2010, to utilize existing computer classrooms and give them
full instruction that will prepare those children for the work market.”
Prime Minister’s Office Director-General Ilan Cohen and Microsoft Israel
Managing Director Danny Yamin will oversee the project.
Due to its great importance, the project will be under the aegis of Prime
Minister Sharon; he will aid in allocating the resources necessary for its
implementation. For the first time, a coalition has been formed in the
country between multi-national corporations such as Microsoft, Cisco and
Orange-Partner, which will work to reduce the digital gap along with public
bodies such as the Prime Minister’s Office, the Jewish Agency, the Union of
Local Authorities, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and
other organizations. Financing for the plan will come from Microsoft and
donated funds; the various partners will provide technological and
educational infrastructures.
Microsoft Chairman Gates briefed Prime Minister Sharon on Microsoft’s
long-range commitment to the Israeli economy and investments in it, and
cited - inter alia - Microsoft’s decision to establish a development center
in Haifa and invest $100 million in translating its products into Hebrew.
Prime Minister Sharon congratulated Bill Gates on his upcoming 50th
birthday.
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The Knesset’s Christian Allies Caucus and “All Nations Convocations” Host Second Annual Christian Government Leader’s Luncheon
Sixty Christian politicians from Europe, South America, Asia and Africa join Israeli leaders to strengthen Judeo-Christian relations
October 11, 2005, Jerusalem- The second annual Christian Government Leaders Luncheon hosted by the Knesset’s Christian Allies Caucus and sponsored by “All Nations Convocations” took place today. Members of the Knesset, Christian politicians and Christian leaders came together to speak about the importance of the new relationship between Christians and Jews in the 21st century.
Members of Knesset and international Christian politicians spoke at the event on ways to forge an alliance. Those attending included co-Chairmen of the KCAC, MK Dr. Yuri Shtern (National Union) and MK Yair Peretz (Shas), MK Gila Gamliel (Likud), MK Eliezer Sandberg (Shinui), MK Chemi Doron (Shinui) and MK Shaul Yahalom (National Religious Party), along with sixty Christian politicians from Europe, South America, Asia and Africa. “We in Israel realize now, more than ever, that those who support us are for the vast majority those who put beliefs and values ahead of political and economic concerns, which is why we are finding our biggest and most reliable supporters within the Christian communities.”
This event served as an opportunity for Jewish and Christian leaders to break bread together, renew their spiritual ties and strengthen the common values and heritage that bind them. Leaders from both communities hope to forge the alliance with which Christians and Jews will together face the ominous challenges the 21st Century has set before them. “All of us here are people of G-d’s covenant. This covenant has to do with righteousness; it has to do with a connection to this land. We stand with and support the leaders and people of Israel,” said Reverend Tom Hess, the founder and director of “All Nations Convocations”.
The Knesset Christian Allies Caucus was created to open formal and direct lines of communication between the representatives of the Jewish people and Christian leaders around the world. The Caucus today consists of fourteen Members of Parliament from seven political parties, reflecting the makeup of Israel’s current government. It represents the will and speaks for the heart of the people of Israel.
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On September 12, 2005, IDF forces left the Gaza Strip.
The exit of the IDF from the Gaza Strip concludes a period of 38 years and three months of Israeli presence in the Gaza Strip.
Following are central events which took place throughout this period:
The War of Independence:
Prior to the establishment of the State of Israel, the area known today as the "Gaza Strip" was part of Palestine under British Mandate rule. The U.N. General Assembly resolution regarding Palestine determined what this area would be part of the Arab state.
At this time, there was only one Jewish community in the area – Kfar Darom, established in 1946. The community, which withstood harassment by local Arabs and endured numerous attacks by the Egyptian army which invaded the area, was eventually evacuated on July 8, 1948.
Two main operations were carried out in the Gaza Strip in late 1948 and early 1949: Operation "Yoav" and Operation "Horev". Both these operations were intended to prevent Egyptian forces from invading and distract them from the main war efforts that the IDF was making in other regions.
On February 24, 1949, Israel and Egypt signed an armistice in which the current borders of the Gaza Strip were determined. Following the armistice Egypt assumed control of the Strip.
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For the First Time in Israel
Just like London – a double-decker bus comes to Jerusalem
The new bus will serve the tourists that flock to Jerusalem • the inauguration ceremony will take place on Monday, July 25th at Haas promenade in Jerusalem • the ceremony will be honored by the mayor of Jerusalem, the minister for Jerusalem affairs and Israel's Ministry of Tourism
The Jerusalem Municipality, together with "City Tour" company and Egged, will inaugurate on Monday, July, 25th 2005, a new double-decker bus, the first of its kind in Israel. The bus, painted red, resembles the famous London busses.
Egged has prepared this special bus, whose second floor will be open, which will allow a clear view of the various attractions. The bus cost approx. 500,000 NIS and it is fully secure. The bus will start operating on Tuesday, July 26th 2005.
The Jerusalem municipality, together with Egged, has created unique route that will pass through various sights around Jerusalem, including Machane Yehuda market, Ammunition Hill, Hadassah hospital on Mount Scopus, Mount Scopus observatory, Tzurim Park, Safra Square, King David Hotel, The khan Theater, Haas promenade, Malcha Mall, the Biblical Zoo, Holyland, Yad Vashem, the Israel Museum, The Knesset, the Supreme Court and more.
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For the first time, two planes in one day with new immigrants from France arriving on Monday July 25TH organized by the Jewish Agency for Israel, Ministry of Absorption and AMI Association
This year will see the highest level of immigration from France in decades
The planes, bringing 330 new immigrants from France, organized by the Jewish Agency and AMI will land at Ben Gurion Airport on Monday, July 25. A reception will follow with the participation of Arieh Azoulay, Chairman of the Immigration and Absorption Committee of the Jewish Agency,Colette Avital MK, Chairman of the Knesset`s Immigration and Absorption Committee , Mirla Gal, Director-General of the Absorption Ministry,Arieh Tsilker, Mayor of Ashdod and Gil Taieb,Chairman the AMI Association.
Around 330 new immigrants from Paris and Marseille will arrive on two chartered EL AL planes.
Among the new immigrants are 100 children and 70 students who will be going directly into preparatory programs at Tel Aviv University, Bar Ilan University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 70% of the families arriving on the planes will be absorbed in the framework of “community absorption”, a joint project of the Jewish Agency and Ministry of Absorption, in the cities of Beit Shemesh, Ashkelon, Netanya, Ashdod, Jerusalem, Netanya.
The Director-General of the Jewish Agency’s Immigration and Absorption Department, Mike Rosenberg, said that in the first half of 2005 there was a 30% rise in immigration from France compared to the same period the previous year. During July, 900 people will immigrate to Israel from France. Until the end of the year, it is expected that 3,300 new immigrants will arrive from France, the highest number from that country in 35 years. In January-June 2005, 886 new immigrants arrived from France, as opposed to 685 during January-June 2004.
20% of the new immigrants arriving on the planes from France are students who have passed their matriculation exams and will continue their academic studies in Israel. More than half of the new immigrants are single (young people and students) and 45% come as families. Most of the new immigrants arrive through direct absorption and prefer the center of the country
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Record Number of US & Canadian Jews Moving to Israel on Single Day
First Ever Plane of Canadians Making the Move
(JERUSALEM; 6 JULY 2005) More than 1,800 North American Jews will move to Israel this summer through Nefesh B’Nefesh (www.nbn.org.il), in close cooperation with the Jewish Agency for Israel.
On July 13th, 2005 two separate chartered El Al flights with some 500 olim (immigrants) from the U.S. & Canada will arrive simultaneously, marking the largest arrival of
North American Jews in Israel’s history.
Prime Minister ARIEL SHARON, Deputy Prime Minister SHIMON PERES, Foreign Minister SILVAN SHALOM, Finance Minister BENJAMIN NETANYAHU and Jewish Agency Chairman of the Executive ZE’EV BIELSKI and other officials will greet the first of this summer’s arrivals.
Jerusalem celebrates Ethnix's 20th anniversary at Sultan's Pool, with Ethnix, Kobi Oz, Izhar Ashdot, Zehava Ben, Sarit Chadad, Sharon Chaziz, Chayaley Hanekama with Rinat Bar, Nimrod Lev, Eli Luzon, Avi Singolda, Chemi Rodner, Chaim Romano, Yehuda Keysar and Shlomi Shabat.
The Military Rabbinate salutes Jerusalem, in "Ir David", with Mayor Uri Lupolianski and the Chief Military Rabbi, Brig. Gen. Israel Weiss.
Jerusalem Day events at "Merkaz Harav", assembly and march towards the Western Wall.
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