Welcome back friends! As always we try to keep you informed about the latest news coming out of Israel. This week it is pretty explosive in more ways than one. There is the heist of Iran’s nuclear research and plans by Israel, a Grand Tour in Jerusalem with a new cycling stadium, Agricultural terrorism, and efforts to raise awareness about pollution in Israel’s seas and lakes. Read on to get the full stories. Remember, you can click the link in each title to go to the full story at the source’s website.
The picture above is Italian cyclist Niccolo Bonifazio (R) of Bahrain Merida team and teammates as they warm up along the walls of Jerusalem’s old city before the start of the first stage of the Giro d’Italia cycling race, a 9.7km individual time trial in Jerusalem, Israel, 04 May 2018. (Abir Sultan / EPA)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference at the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, Israel, April 30, 2018.. (photo credit: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS)
This was definitely the biggest news coming out of Israel this past week. In a simple, straightforward, no-frills presentation, Netanyahu revealed that Israel had pulled off one of the largest and most successful intelligence operations in its history. Israel successfully infiltrated and retrieved infallible proof that Iran had lied and continues to lie about its nuclear aspirations for years. Carting off one half TON of binders, documents and computer discs from Tehran to Israel in one night is mind-boggling.
Journalist Caroline Glick from the Jerusalem Post wrote an in-depth article about why, in her words, “The only way to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power without a major war is to overthrow the regime. Netanyahu’s presentation advanced that goal in a profound way.”
Glick notes that a video of IDF soldiers came out the same day showing them singing a popular Persian love song, in Persian. So how does that tie in? She believes that taken together, the two events demonstrate the purpose of Netanyahu’s presentation.We tend to agree after reading her full article, something we highly recommend.
Fire Consumes Crops in Kibbutz Afikim Friday, May 4, 2018. photo: Emek HaYarden Regional Council
Sadly, South African farmers can identify with this next story coming from the north of Israel. Hundreds of bales of straw, which were piled up and waiting to be transported to haylofts in Kibbutz Afikim, were set on fire on Friday night (yesterday). While firefighters were rushed to the scene, the straw was completely burned, and it took hours to put out the flames. The cost of this blaze was estimated in the hundreds of thousands of shekels and is a devastating loss to the farmers.
It is only the latest in what has been an increase of agricultural terrorism in Israel the last few years and farmers are demanding the government intervene. The Emek HaYarden Regional Council, where the kibbutz is located, is putting pressure on the Agriculture Ministry and Public Safety Ministry to do something concrete as opposed to more threats. Journalist Ahiya Raved noted, “Several days before Passover, two big and expensive harvesters were set aflame in the Jordan Valley. The angry farmers launched a protest across the country, bringing the burned harvesters along. When they wanted to display them near an Agriculture Ministry exhibition in Beit Dagan, they were removed from the place.”
The situations are different in South Africa and in Israel, but the sadness at seeing your livelihood go up in flames, either figuratively or literally, is the same. Both governments need to do more to protect life and property of all of its citizens.
Jumping into the Red Sea from the Laboratory in Eilat, Israel.
As you will see, there is no link to this story in the title. That’s because this is a story that we heard about through a friend that lives in Israel. A group of 10 swimmers from Israel, formally called The Cyprus-Israel Swim Team, decided to take on a huge task to raise awareness about the terrible plastic pollution in the world, and specifically Israel. Their tag line is ISRAEL – You have to SEA it!
This intrepid group of swimmers took on swimming across the Red Sea, Dead Sea, Lake Kinneret and the Mediterranean Sea in ONE DAY, 24 hours to be exact. They started on May 4 at 06:00 and ended this morning, May 5 at 07:00. Their hope is to remind everyone that hears about this, to treasure the seas and oceans as life-giving, reduce your use of plastics, and clean up after you visit the beaches of the world.
The swimmers are at varying ages, from 40’s to 70’s, with swimmer Udi Erell the oldest at 70. The group is comprised of 8 men and 2 women and one of the swimmers in the group, who couldn’t make it for this project is Ram Barkai, a South African who has been an active part of this group.
We hope to learn more about this incredible team and the projects they undertake for the ecological and humanitarian issues around the world and we will share more with you on them in the future!
This is a big deal for Israel as they foray into the cycling world. They formally gained official certification for international competition this past week from the Union Cycliste Internationale for their new Velodrome, which is still under construction. The formal approval happened just a few days before the Giro D’Italia got underway in Jerusalem, the first time one of cycling’s three Grand Tour races has ever been held outside of Europe.
Journalists interview German track cyclist Robert Förstemann, center, and Israel Cycling Academy’s Roy Goldstein at the Velodrome in Tel Aviv, May 1, 2018. Photo by Viva Sarah Press
The Giro began in Jerusalem on May 4 followed by the second day’s race from Haifa to Tel Aviv on May 5 and the third from Beersheva to Eilat on May 6. The race is not only one of the world’s most significant sporting events, but also said to be the most significant sporting event ever held in Israel. This will no doubt boost tourism and the events are expected to attract around 10,000 tourists along with 22 international cycling teams.
“This track is a fantastic track. This has got the potential to be a world record team pursuit track,” Steve McEwen, Track Sprint Talent Coach – Netherlands National Team, tells Nocamels. “I can see bringing other countries to race here.”
Sylvan Adams, the Canadian-Israeli cycling enthusiast and billionaire philanthropist was instrumental in helping to build the velodrome in Tel Aviv. Adams said he has already sent an application to the world governing body for sports cycling saying that the Tel Aviv velodrome would like to host the 2021 UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships.
That’s it for this week, but please let us know what you think in the comments and if you have a story you would like to know more about, please let us know!
