In the 22nd Jun 25 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
l Israel’s pre-emptive strike on Iran amazed the entire world.
l VeryGoodNewsIsrael helped an Israeli charity raise over £1 million.
l Israeli scientists have developed replacement skin from a patient’s own cells.
l Israel’s Parliament welcomed one of our best friends - the President of Argentina.
l Israel’s inflation and fiscal debt fell while its foreign reserves hit a new record high.
l Israeli sporting successes included at water polo, soccer, and wheelchair tennis.
l Miraculous rescues and escapes from buildings destroyed by Iranian missiles.
· Click here to see the 8th Jun newsletter on (TY Steve) IsraelSeen, (TY Ruth) Ruthfully Yours, (TY Peloni) IsraPundit, and Joan Swirsky (email her to get daily news). Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here, and Hebrew here, and with (TY) Claude into French here. Also (TY Barbara) into Spanish here. (Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking, Spanish-speaking, French-speaking and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also please visit my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/verygoodnewsIL.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me publicize VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
· Click here to keyword SEARCH almost any topic in the IsraelActive archives (over 26,800 articles).
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name, and the subject “Subscribe”) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
Cutting off the head of the snake. By now most readers will have read how Israel caught Iran by surprise with the most audacious and successful preemptive strike since the six-day-war. The awesome events of Fri 13 June 2025 will be written down in many future history books. See here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-857577
Air superiority in 48 hours. In just 48 hours, Israel achieved full air superiority over Iranian skies. In Israel's preemptive military campaign operation "Rising Lion", 200 Israeli jets struck critical Iranian targets and Israel now operates freely in Iranian airspace. https://israfan.com/p/israel-air-superiority-iran-operation-rising-lion
Baby saved after Iranian attack. A 3-month-old baby was pulled out alive and in good condition from the rubble in Rishon Letzion in the aftermath of the 3rd Iranian barrage of ballistic missiles fired indiscriminately at civilian residences in the greater Tel Aviv area. Shortly afterward, the infant’s parents were also rescued.
https://worldisraelnews.com/israeli-rescue-team-pulls-baby-from-rubble-after-missile-barrage/
Advanced tech helps rescue Israelis. Police officers rescued a family from the rubble while searching the scene of a projectile impact in central Israel. The police stated that the rescue was conducted using special technological means, which allowed safe entry to the damaged area and removal of obstacles.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410160
Puppies rescued. Israeli rescue forces retrieved two puppies from a Bat Yam home damaged by an Iranian missile strike. The Bat Yam Municipality took custody of the two mixed breed Labrador retrievers, and evacuated them for initial medical treatment while trying to locate the owners.
https://www.jns.org/two-puppies-rescued-from-rubble-in-bat-yam/
New Barak Magen destroys Iranian drones. For the first time, the Israeli Navy used its new "Barak Magen" air defense system to shoot down eight Iranian drones. In addition, it can intercept cruise missiles and high-trajectory missiles, thus protecting key infrastructure e.g. offshore gas platforms and cities along Israel’s coast.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-navys-new-barak-magen-shoots-down-uavs-1001512977
Repatriating Israelis. El Al, Arkia, Israir and Air Haifa are working to bring home thousands of Israelis each day who have been stranded abroad by the closure of Ben Gurion International airport. Israel is unique in that its citizens are desperate to travel from a relatively safe place to a country in the middle of a war.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-airlifts-start-bringing-home-stranded-citizens/
Haredi woman captains first repatriation flight. El Al operated the first repatriation flight from Larnaca to Israel, led by the haredi captain Nechama Spiegel from Beit Shemesh. Spiegel, a mother of seven and the first haredi captain in El Al, made the flight as part of a series of flights approved by the government.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410229
Resilience domes. The Municipality of Sderot in southern Israel has launched a Resilience Accelerator to invest in resilience technologies and mental health. It comprises entrepreneurs working from within the crisis who are addressing trauma capacity issues, lack of accessibility, and waiting times.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-858049
Iranian state financial systems hacked. A cybersecurity attack has disabled Iran’s Sepah Bank, closely tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Also, Iran’s cryptocurrency exchange, Nobitex, which reportedly has been used to bypass Iranian sanctions, has been hacked, with reported losses estimated at $80 million.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-linked-group-claims-cyberattack-on-iranian-bank/
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rj118vge4el
From wedding to war. (TY Sharon) Not sure if this is good news, but it includes examples of how Israelis are accustomed to major changes of circumstances from one day to another.
https://rjstreets.com/2025/06/16/leaving-jerusalem-for-a-wedding-and-waking-to-war/
Thanks! (TY Yanky) Secular Boaz Golan is the lead presenter on Israel’s Channel 14. Viewers were in for an unexpected surprise when on live TV, Golan announced that the Jewish nation must give thanks to the Lord for the miracles we are witnessing. Donning a big kippah, he recited the gratitude Psalm 100 - Mizmor L’Todah.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1382423826363413
You did great. This newsletter editor signed up to be a “champion” in the MyIsrael campaign to raise funds for desperate Israeli families adversely impacted by the war. The campaign raised over £1.1 million, of which over £12,000 was thanks to generous VeryGoodNewsIsrael readers. If you still wish to donate, see link below.
https://www.charityextra.com/myisrael/michael-ordman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctVU58TNb6M (info about MyIsrael)
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4-wKGM5es-4 (personal plea from MyIsrael CEO Danni Franks)
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Bioengineered skin to speed healing.. Researchers from Tel Aviv University (TAU) and Sheba Medical Center have developed replacement skin for grafting in burn victims. Bioengineered from the patient’s own cells, it is stable, robust, and flexible and can achieve wound closure in half the time of standard therapies.
https://www.aftau.org/news_item/tau-develops-bioengineered-skin-that-can-speed-healing/
https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adfm.202501745
Huge EU grant to slow down aging. Prof Liat Ayalon, of Israel’s Bar-Ilan University, is one of the United Nations’ Healthy Ageing 50: leaders transforming the world to be a better place to grow older. She has just been awarded a 2.5 million Euro grant from the European Research Council to advance her HALFLIFE project.
https://erc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2025-06/erc-2024-adg-results-sh.pdf
https://cris.biu.ac.il/en/persons/liat-ayalon https://liatayalon.com/
Israeli therapy cured 33% of “no-hope” myeloma patients. (TY Ron M) A third of 97 “terminal” myeloma patients are still alive after five years thanks to Car-T cancer treatment, originally invented by Israeli scientists. These were the findings of an international study, including Israel’s Sourasky (Ichilov) Medical Center.
https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/s1wwwo11xgl
Trial success for delayed-release antibiotic. Israel’s PolyPid (see here previously) reported positive Phase III trial results on its delayed-release antibiotic treatment applied at the site of surgical infections. The reduction in the risk of infection after surgery was 58% in the 800-patient trial.
100,000 bacteria vs virus tests. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s MeMed (see here previously) reached a major milestone of more than 100,000 patients tested with its MeMed BV, the company’s flagship technology that accurately distinguishes between bacterial and viral infections in just 15 minutes.
How paracetamol works. For decades, scientists believed that paracetamol relieved discomfort by working only in the brain and spinal cord. Now, Hebrew University of Jerusalem scientists show that the AM404 active metabolite which it releases, shuts off sodium channels to stop pain signals while they are still at nerve endings.
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2413811122
Doctors return on cargo ship. Dozens of doctors, who were at a European medical conference, have boarded a merchant ship on a special rescue voyage back to Israel. Among them are doctors from Sourasky (Ichilov) Medical Center, Rambam Health Care Campus, and Sheba Medical Center.
https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/syrcegjexg
BGU trains more doctors. Israel’s Ben-Gurion University has partnered with the Sagol Network to launch the Sagol Medical School for International Health. Its 4-year MD program, open to all Israeli citizens, uses hi-tech, global health, and AI to train Israel’s medical leaders. Currently, some 160 students are enrolled in the school.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Educating children with and without disabilities. Israel’s Beit Issie Shapiro (see here previously) has launched Beit Raz. Designed to integrate infants, with and without disabilities, from birth to age 3, the campus includes an early intervention center; a daycare center; inclusive play areas, and the Wohl Therapy Center.
https://www.jns.org/beit-issie-shapiro-opens-inclusive-early-childhood-campus/
Empowering vulnerable youth. Goldie Sternbuch is founder and CEO of Quantum, an Israeli nonprofit dedicated to uplifting young, vulnerable, Israelis. Its Beit Shemesh Q Center, operates in partnership with Susan’s House. It is a launchpad where participants earn salaries while learning marketable skills.
https://www.jns.org/goldie-sternbuch-empowering-israels-vulnerable-youth-through-enterprise/
https://www.quantumisrael.org/initiatives/q-centers
A beacon of co-existence. (TY Yanky) Israel’s President Herzog said Soroka Hospital (hit by Iranian missile) serves the entire Negev region, caring for Israelis of all faiths and the Palestinians who come especially to be treated there. Its devoted staff - Jews and Arabs - work side by side in harmony, united by the mission to heal.
Christians fund Druze memorial. Pro-Israel Christian student organization Passages (see here previously) has donated $100,000 to a Druze foundation to honor the victims of last year’s Hezbollah rocket attack on Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, which killed 12 Druze children. It will help fund numerous projects.
https://www.jns.org/christian-student-group-gives-100000-to-golan-heights-druze-memorial/
An international Israeli-Arab scientist. Christian Arab Israeli Professor Haitham Amal has been awarded a research chair in brain science from the Hebrew University, funded by the Satell Family Foundation. He is currently a visiting professor at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital.
https://www.jns.org/hope-is-the-research-says-hebrew-u-professor-who-studies-autism-alzheimers/
Another Syrian girl saved. A 12-year-old Syrian girl was given urgent heart treatment at Haifa’s Rambam Medical Center. The IDF coordinated with the “Yitro – Jews for Druze” organization to secretly evacuate the girl and her mother from Southern Syria. She was discharged four days later and is now back in Syria.
https://www.jns.org/idf-israeli-doctors-save-critically-ill-syrian-girl-in-secret-rescue/
Standing ovation for Argentine President. History was made when the Knesset hosted the first Argentine President to address the full plenum. After tributes from the Knesset Speaker, the Prime Minister and the Opposition leader, President Milei distinguished good from evil, and praised Israel’s freedom and democracy.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/409815 https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-857226
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Preventing identity fraud via the SIM. Israel’s Unibeam has launched a SIM-based identity verification method that works with both physical SIM cards and eSIMs. Unibeam uses the secure chip in SIM or eSIM cards to cryptographically verify users’ identities. It can prevent AI impersonation scams and fake frauds.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/r1miv6mmgx https://unibeam.com/
Perpetual power for robots. (TY Hazel) Mor Peretz, an injured IDF veteran-turned professor, has founded CaPow and developed a way to power robots “en route” eliminating the need to stop for recharging. It eliminates charging processes and downtime, plus backup robots, while ensuring constant 100% throughput.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_FC7tojgnQ https://capow.energy/
Your breath is like a fingerprint. (TY Hazel) Weizmann Institute researchers have developed a device to recognize people’s unique respiration, enabling scientists to determine physical health, depression & anxiety. How you breathe is almost as individual as your fingerprint, similar to voice recognition.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Inflation & deficit fall. Israel’s Consumer Price Index fell 0.3% in May, below analysts' expectations. It brings annual inflation in Israel down to 3.1%. The largest fall (2.4%) was in transport and communications. Israel’s fiscal deficit fell to 5.1% due to a NIS 1.6 billion dividend by state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-inflation-falls-unexpectedly-housing-prices-lower-1001512959
New record for forex reserves. Due to a revaluation, Israel’s foreign exchange reserves at the end of May 2025 rose to over $223 billion – a new record level, and an increase of nearly $1.6 billion at the end of Apr. The Shekel is at its strongest level against the dollar for over two years.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israels-forex-reserves-hit-new-record-in-may-1001512260
Futile block by France at Paris Air Show. France blocked access to the displays of five Israeli companies: at the Paris Air Show - Elbit, Rafael, Israel Aerospace Industries, UVision, and Aeronautics. The publicity only gave publicity to the Israeli companies who attracted much business to their “battle-tested” systems.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israeli-us-weapons-prove-themselves-in-iran-strikes-1001512893
Subsidized rescue rates. Bank Leumi has arranged a Mano cruise liner to bring back some 1,500 Israelis stranded abroad. Registration for the cruise will be open to everyone at a subsidized fee (600 euros per person), and to bank customers at a discount (300 euros per person).
https://www.shemesh.co.il/en/highlights/rescue-flights-cruise-ships-starting-tomorrow-thursday
A fifth Israeli airline. The Israeli owners of Cyprus-based TUS Airways and Greece-based Bluebird Airways have received a commercial license to start TUS IL. It will become the fifth Israeli carrier, aiming to begin operations from Tel Aviv in 2026. It will focus on the European market and later add flights to the Gulf region.
https://www.jns.org/fifth-israeli-airline-to-launch-next-year/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/409645
Exits, takeovers, and mergers to 15th Jun 25: Qualcomm’s takeover of UK’s Alphawave includes Israeli semiconductor Banias Labs, which was acquired by Alphawave in 2022 and now has 90 Israeli employees (mainly optical networking and digital signal processing engineers). Israel’s Tipalti has acquired Israel’s Statement for $35-45 million. Israel’s Wix acquired Israel’s Base44 for $80 million;
Startup investment – to 15th Jun 25: Cyera raised $540 million (valuation $6 billion); Coralogix has raised $115 million (new Unicorn); Carbyne is raising $100 million; Guardz raised $56 million; Visby Medical raised $55 million; Beewise raised $50 million; Tastewise raised $50 million; Hypernative raised $40 million; Unibeam raised $6 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Israel Festival. After nine days of events in Jerusalem, the 64th Israel Festival will follow up with four days in the Upper Galilee and Golan Heights, and then three in the Western Negev. Its unique mix of performance art and music, theater and dance will reflect the perspective of the country’s current circumstances.
Roman sarcophagus discovered in Caesarea. In a rare archaeological find, a 1,700-year-old sarcophagus depicting a drinking game between Hercules and Dionysus, was discovered near the ancient city of Caesarea. Israel Antiquities Authority staff said the discovery “felt like something straight out of a movie”.
Cherry picking season. (TY Yanky) Cherry picking in kibbutz Kfar Etzion, just 45 minutes from Tel Aviv, is a rare opportunity to pick premium cherries. The kibbutz also hosts a fun festival for kids, a forest pool, a 400-meter zipline, wine tours, and even igloo accommodations. See article for other attractions in the same area.
https://www.jpost.com/consumerism/article-855392
Whale shark returns, again. A whale shark – the largest fish in the world, and an endangered species – was spotted off the Eilat coast in what appears to be its annual visit to Israel (see here previously). Whale sharks grow to over 18 meters in length, weigh 15 tons on average, and are believed to live for over a century.
https://www.jns.org/endangered-whale-shark-spotted-off-the-eilat-coast/
Water babies. (TY Nevet) Both Israel’s men and women had big wins in their first two qualifying round matches in the 2026 European Water Polo Championships. Israel’s men beat Switzerland 23-13 and then beat Bulgaria 16-9. The women beat Sweden 22-8 and then Slovakia 21-11.
https://europeanaquatics.org/mens-european-qualifiers-deliver-goals-galore-on-day-two/
https://results.microplustimingservices.com/ewpc2026q/#/schedule-bydate/ASF
Quad wheelchair champion. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Guy Sasson made history once again at Roland Garros, capturing his second consecutive Quad Wheelchair Singles title with a commanding 6-4, 7-5 victory over top-seeded Dutchman Niels Vink. A day earlier he had partnered Vink to win the doubles title.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-856994
Israeli World Cup soccer win. Israel’s multi-ethnic soccer team beat Estonia 3-1 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Tallin to move into second place in the table. Dan Biton scored two goals and Muhammed Abu Fani the 3rd. Israel’s captain Eli Dasa is the first captain of Israel to be of Ethiopian-Jewish origin.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-defeats-estonia-3-1-in-2026-world-cup-qualifier/
https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/b1gafcz7ll
THE JEWISH STATE
Hospital unit evacuated hours before missile hits. (TY Yanky) An Iranian missile destroyed a surgical ward at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva. Miraculously, Health Ministry Director General Moshe Bar Siman-Tov ordered the entire floor to be evacuated of patients the previous evening, as he said it was not safe.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-858257
Look what was untouched. Rescued unscathed from Iranian missiles were Torah scrolls from a Holon synagogue, several babies, pets, and at least three sets of Tefillin (phylacteries).
https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/israel-news/2414596/watch-sifrei-torah-are-evacuated-from-holon-shul-damaged-in-missile-strike.html https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410336
https://unitedwithisrael.org/baby-and-young-boy-from-miraculously-rescued-from-collapsed-building-in-ramat-gan/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/06/19/my-boy-is-fine-infant-found-in-rubble-after-missile-barrage/
What happens when a missile strikes. All that was left of the Rothstein family home were two sets of tefillin (phylacteries) and their family of 10. Kind strangers invited them home to bathe, launder and change their filthy clothes. Men on motorbikes went to get baby formula. “They were like angels”, said Mrs. Rotstein.
5 more armored ambulances. The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews donated five new armored ambulances at a cost of nearly 6 million shekels to Israeli emergency services Magen David Adom. The ambulances will be assigned to communities still facing ongoing threats, including Gaza border and the north.
https://www.jns.org/wire/ifcj-delivers-five-armored-ambulances-to-magen-david-adom/
World’s largest Torah ark. A Jewish-American philanthropist, a follower of the Bobov Hasidic dynasty, has funded the construction of the largest (and most expensive) Torah Ark (Aron HaKodesh). Inaugurated in Rishon LeZion, it is crafted from 2.5 tons of pure silver, with gold-plated sections adorned in 24-karat gold.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/409507 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNxMUxFQJwc
Mazal Tov. Rabbi Leo Dee who has retained his positivity even after his wife and two daughters were murdered by terrorists in Apr 2023 has now announced his engagement to Aliza Teplitsky. Rabbi Dee wrote in a message in Hebrew: "For everything, G-d, we thank you." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410331
How to help Israel. Here are some sites where newsletter readers can donate to Israeli organizations that provide vital help to Israelis at this difficult time. Many thanks to those who have already contributed and to those who are helping by donating their own valuable time and resources.
Friends of the IDF (US donors): https://www.fidf.org/
or IDF Soldiers Fund in Israel: https://www.ufis.org.il/en/donation-en/ (select the English speakers’ option)
American Friends of Magen David Adom (US donors): https://afmda.org/
or Magen David Adom (Israel): https://www.mdais.org/en/donation
Zaka (US donors): https://donate.zakatelaviv.org/give/525578/ or (Israeli donors): https://charidy.com/zaka
or (Canadian donors): https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/bellevue-foundation/
United Hatzalah: https://israelrescue.org/campaign/israel-at-war-2/ or Canada https://www.uhcanada.org/
Donate a medic bag, save a life https://israelrescue.org/campaign/medicbag/
Leket Food Israel: https://www.leket.org/en/
JNF USA - https://my.jnf.org/gaza-emergency/Donate or Canada https://jnf.ca/
Orthodox Union - https://www.charidy.com/ouisraelcrisis
Schneider Children’s Hospital: https://www.fos.org.il/en/donate (Israelis)
https://system.smartgiving.org.uk/charities/8530/make-donation (UK)
https://chaischneider.org/donate/ (USA)
Rambam Medical Center (Haifa) https://aforam.org/ways-to-give/ (US)
https://www.rambam.org.il/en/support_rambam/donate_now/ (Rest of the World)
Hadassah Hospital Israel: https://www.hadassah.org/
Laniado Hospital (Netanya) https://my.israelgives.org/en/fundme/EmergencyLaniado
Buy Israel Bonds to support the Jewish State. (TY Larry B)
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/state-of-israel-bonds
USA - https://www.israelbonds.com/
Europe - https://israelbondsintl.com/
Canada - https://www.israelbonds.ca/
