In the 4th May 25 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
l See the remarkable resilience of war-wounded Israelis.
l Israeli fraud detection techniques exposed the proteins responsible for many diseases.
l Israeli neonatologists are saving the lives of babies in Ghana.
l Israel is the first country to provide an AI tutor to every 16-year-old student.
l An Israeli physical security system will be protecting the Netherlands.
l Israelis won multiple gold medals in four different sports.
l Israelis celebrated Independence Day despite massive (arson) fires.
· Click here to see the 27th Apr newsletter on (TY Steve) IsraelSeen, (TY Ruth) Ruthfully Yours (another great intro), (TY Aviva) United With Israel, (TY Ted Belman) 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.
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POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
Wounded doctor returns to work. Seven months after being severely injured in a Gaza helicopter crash and undergoing intense rehab, senior pediatrician Dr. Eyal Hayman has returned to work at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/406627 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/396323
After 16 years, wounded soldier returns to IDF. Aharon Karov, the most critically-injured soldier in Operation Cast Lead 16 years ago, has re-enlisted in the IDF as part of a team creating the Disabled Soldiers Department. Following Oct 7 2023 he helped create the "Continuing Life" initiative, to support the injured.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407428
Overcoming the odds at his wedding. Ziv, a 30-year-old Israeli engineer, overcame a Hezbollah missile attack that cost him his arm and spinal cord damage, defying odds to walk down the aisle and marry his bride Nitzan after intensive rehab.
“Operation Hug” resumes. Operation Hug (see here previously) has restarted thanks to Nefesh b’Nefesh, JNF-USA and Friends of the IDF. It brings to Israel parents of lone IDF soldiers, to be reunited with their loved ones. The initiative aims to offer soldiers the unmatched strength and comfort of a long-awaited embrace.
https://www.jns.org/operation-hug-resumes-reuniting-lone-soldiers-with-their-parents/ https://hug.nbn.org.il/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-851890
Young resilience awards. 26 children and teens, age 6 – 18) have received “Resilience Award for Children and Youth” for their actions promoting strength, persistence and determination during the Swords of Iron war. Half will also receive a personal scholarship. Three youth groups were also recognized.
https://www.jns.org/wire/resilience-award-bestowed-to-young-people-for-contributions-during-the-war/
Robotic bulldozers deployed in Gaza. The IDF has begun limited deployment in Gaza of the Robdozer - the robotic version of Caterpillar’s D9 bulldozer. These are used to clear roads and buildings of Hamas booby traps, plus to build defensive barriers around temporary IDF camps.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-new-unmanned-bulldozers-changing-the-paradigm-of-war-in-gaza/
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Identifying key proteins. Ben-Gurion University researchers have developed WGAND - an AI algorithm that can detect "anomalous" proteins that are associated with tissue-specific diseases. It involves "anomalous" behavior analysis, similar to methods that identify fraudulent financial transactions or suspicious user activity.
https://academic.oup.com/gigascience/article/doi/10.1093/gigascience/giaf034/8106436
Defibrillators installed on 150 trains. Magen David Adom and Israel Railways are installing defibrillators, for the first time, on more than 150 Israeli passenger trains to save lives in the event of cardiac issues. They have already equipped defibrillators at all 67 active Israeli train stations.
https://www.jns.org/magen-david-adom-and-israel-railways-install-defibrillators-on-150-trains/
Eye doctor saves heart patient on flight from Tbilisi. Dr Eyal Aloni, head of ophthalmology at Israel’s Barzilai Medical Center, saved a young man with a medical history of heart disease, who collapsed during a flight from Tbilisi, Georgia to Israel. He used medications that he carried, plus oxygen supplied by the crew.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407449
Ex-supermodel is now a paramedic. Israeli ex-supermodel Michaela Bercu featured here previously when she founded the app Tribu, which connects volunteering needs with those who wish to help. She recently completed the Magen David Adom paramedic course, and works two 8-hour shifts a week as a medical orderly.
https://www.israel21c.org/ex-supermodel-reinvents-herself-as-volunteer-paramedic/
Chewable gummy synbiotics. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s TopGum (see here previously) has launched no-added sugar, synbiotic” Gummiotics” in two natural flavors: orange and strawberry. They comprise probiotics and postbiotics, bound together in a natural, prebiotic fiber-based matrix, to provide gut-health benefits.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
IDF cosmetic updates. The IDF is revising long standing grooming and uniform standards. All soldiers will be permitted to grow neatly maintained beards, regardless of religious affiliation and female soldiers can use a wider variety of nail polish colors. The new Chief of Staff wishes to support a more inclusive environment.
https://www.jns.org/idf-to-overhaul-grooming-and-uniform-rules-in-modernization-push/
Huge shopping mall opens in Ramallah. (TY Hazel) The grand opening of the Icon Mall in the Palestinian Authority city of Ramallah was accompanied by music, mixed dancing, and fireworks. The mall is the largest in the PA-controlled region and even has a rooftop swimming pool.
https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/hjds5xe1xe https://iconmall.ps/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy262y3ot6g
Augmenting the Abraham Accords. Azerbaijan could be the next Muslim country to join the Abrahan Accords. Its international stature is increasing, as is its ties with Israel. After 7 Oct 2023, citizens gathered around the Israeli Embassy in Baku, expressing support and sympathy with flowers and memorial candles.
https://www.jns.org/azerbaijan-augmenting-the-abraham-accords/
Saving babies in Ghana. (TY Hazel) An Israeli team from “Neonatologists for Africa” is training Ghanaian health care workers in modern neonatal resuscitation amid harsh conditions. It aims to reduce Ghana’s infant mortality rate of 59 per 1,000 births (5.6 in the US; 2.7 in Israel).
https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/by6y3h11yle
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
An AI tutor for every 16-year-old. Israel is the world’s first country to give every K-12 student access to a private AI tutor. Israel’s eSelf (personalized AI agents) has partnered the Center for Educational Technology (see here previously). Harvard University (surprisingly?) is providing academic guidance.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/r1tkoce1gg https://www.eself.ai/ https://cet.ac.il/?lang=en
Vegan smoked salmon. Israel’s SimpliiGood by AlgaeCore Technologies (see here previously) is starting commercial production of its 100% plant-based smoked salmon analog composed of highly nutritious spirulina microalgae. It is the result of dual intellectually-protected technologies – decolorization and texturizing.
https://asiafoodjournal.com/a-new-wave-spirulina-smoked-salmon-goes-commercial/
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Xim91NqB3wPbr8EqNW-1dolRKBMZg7go
Early cherries. (TY TPS) Researchers from Israel’s Miguel and Volcani Institutes have advanced the flowering and ripening of the Royal Dawn cherry variety by about a month, to benefit Israeli cherry growers. They used temperature-controlled root containers to simulate and monitor different seasonal conditions.
https://worldisraelnews.com/israeli-researchers-harness-warm-winters-to-transform-cherry-farming/
Intelligent business management. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Similarweb (see here previously) has launched its App Intelligence solution, marking a significant advancement in unified digital analytics. It combines web and mobile app data, providing businesses with a holistic view of digital performance and user engagement.
Israeli deep tech startups to be Ignited. 10 Israeli startups were chosen (from 258 applicants) for the first cohort of the Ignite DeepTech, accelerator (see here previously). They are DYM Sense, MNDL Bio, SkyPulse Technologies, Twine Security, Jazz, Huskeys, Impala.ai, DataFlint, Troup AI, and Particle Lab.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rkfyr8o1le https://www.dymsense.com/
https://www.skypulse-tec.com/ https://www.twinesecurity.com/ https://www.dataflint.io/ https://troup-ai.com/
Making aviation safer. Israel’s Odysight (see here previously) is working to reduce airplane accidents and make aviation generally safer. Its AI-based visual sensing technology monitors the conditions and critical safety components of hard-to-reach environments, such as planes, for the early detection of potential malfunctions.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-startup-promising-to-make-our-airplanes-safer/
Keeping electrons spinning. (TY WIN) Hebrew University of Jerusalem scientists have discovered that low magnetic fields can maintain the spin of electrons used by quantum computers. When they encounter certain light, electrons often stop spinning, which would cause these computers to lose valuable data.
A smart view of the field. Israel’s Phytech has launched AI Advisor, its AI-powered irrigation advisor trained on real in-field data from Phytech’s IoT (Internet of Things) network of tree, fruit, soil, and climate sensors. Its advanced AI-driven irrigation solution is like having a super-agronomic intelligence and an army of advisors.
77 years of military innovation. For 77 years, Israel’s defense industry and military prowess have expanded and adapted to the times, leading the world in many technologies, and developing the systems to defend the nation against all enemies. https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-israels-defense-ministry-releases-independence-day-message-77-years-of-innovation/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Exporting fruit and veg to Azerbaijan. (TY TPS) For the first time, in 33 years of diplomatic ties, Israel will export fresh agricultural produce (mangoes, avocados, and peppers) to Azerbaijan. It opens a new door for Israeli agriculture on the Modern Silk Road and could expand to other countries along the route.
https://worldisraelnews.com/israel-launches-first-agricultural-shipments-to-azerbaijan/
Jerusalem rising. Jerusalem is on the brink of a dramatic transformation. Developers are racing to reshape the city with hundreds of new towers, light rail lines, and mixed-use districts. From urban renewal to skyline redefinition, the future of Jerusalem is unfolding - faster than most imagined.
https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/s1owjl4cyx
Launching Israeli startups in the US. (TY Atid-EDI) California-based Mercurius Media Capital (MMC) has launched Mercurius Bridge in Israel, empowering local startups and growth-stage companies with established product-market fit to expand into the U.S.
https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/israeli-startups-gain-strategic-us-market-entry-through-new-initiative-from-mercurius-media-capital-302403453.html https://www.mmc.us/mercuriusbridge/
Israel & Florida – a sunny relationship. The two sunshine states enjoy an extremely beneficial mutual business relationship. A study by the United States-Israel Business Alliance indicates that Florida hosts 429 Israeli-founded companies, employing some 8,200 people, which earned over $7 billion in 2024 - and growing.
https://www.jns.org/florida-and-israel-just-scratching-the-surface-in-economic-cooperation/
Cooling SoftBank’s servers. Japanese banking giant SoftBank has teamed up with Israel’s ZutaCore (see here previously) to use its synthetic fluid cooling solution to prevent the bank’s servers from overheating.
Netherlands approves Israeli security screening system. (TY OurCrowd) The Automated Prohibited Items Detection System) from Israel’s SeeTrue (see here previously) has been approved by Netherlands' National Coordinator for Security and Counter-Terrorism for use with the Analogic ConneCT.
Exits, takeovers, and mergers to 4th May 25: Israel’s Upwind has acquired Israel’s Nyx Security for an estimated $8-10 million;
Startup investment – to 4th May 25: Lightrun raised $70 million; Miggo Security raised $17 million; LayerX raised $11 million; Hopper Security raised $7.6 million; Bagel AI raised $5.5 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
The great outdoors. During Passover, 1.5 million Israelis visited parks and forests managed by KKL-JNF. The Re’im Recreation Area, which features the Nova music festival memorial, attracted more than 7,000 visitors daily. https://www.jns.org/wire/1-5-million-israelis-visited-forests-during-passover-despite-security-tensions/
No camels please. A wild dromedary trotted through Rosh HaAyin’s industrial park in central Israel, evading municipal veterinarians’ attempts to capture the animal. The camel calmly walked down the roads, as motorists drove around the animal and stunned pedestrians stared. It then returned to the Arab city of Kfar Kassem.
https://worldisraelnews.com/wild-camel-sparks-chaos-in-central-israel-city-evades-capture/
Israeli elected to international soccer committee. Israel Football Association Chairman Moshe “Shino” Zuares was elected to the UEFA Executive Committee, the top governing body of European soccer.
https://www.jns.org/israels-moshe-zuares-elected-to-top-uefa-committee/
European medals for marathon runners. (TY Hazel) Israel’s marathon runners won a historic four medals in the European Athletics Championships in Brussels. The men’s team won gold, while the women’s team won a silver medal.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-marathon-runners-win-four-medals-at-european-championships/
Gold for Israeli fencers; Swiss are poor losers. The Israeli U23 team (ranked 7th) won the Gold medal at the European fencing championships, decisively beating hosts Estonia, second-seed Sweden, Italy, and then Switzerland in the final. As Hatikvah was played, the Swiss team refused to acknowledge the Israeli victory.
https://worldisraelnews.com/swiss-fencers-turn-backs-on-israeli-team-after-championship-defeat/
World championship windsurfing gold. Israeli windsurfer Tamar Steinberg won the gold medal in the women’s iQFoil at the World Cup in Hyeres, France. Israel’s Sharon Kantor won bronze in the same event. It was Tamar’s second gold medal in a row, having won first place in Cadiz, Spain, last month.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-windsurfer-tamar-steinberg-wins-gold-at-world-championship/
Acrobatic performance for Israeli gymnasts. Israel's national acrobatic gymnastics team delivered a standout performance at the 2025 European Championships in Luxembourg, winning two gold medals and two silver. The senior men’s team won the all-around title; and the mixed pairs (Refaeli and Fridman) won the combined.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-850788
The first Israeli in the NHL. Zeev Buium took the ice yesterday for the Minnesota Wild, becoming the first NHL player born to Israeli parents to feature in a National (Ice) Hockey League game. Zeev’s older brother Shai plays in the AHL. https://forward.com/news/sports/713896/zeev-buium-jewish-hockey-debut/
THE JEWISH STATE
Former hostage puts on Tefillin at kidnap site. Eliya Cohen, who was freed from Hamas captivity earlier this year, returned to the roadside bomb shelter where he was abducted on Oct 7 2023, wrapping tefillin and reciting the Shema prayer at the very spot he was taken.
Sounding the Shofar before entering Gaza. The newly formed IDF Hashmonaim Brigade of Haredi soldiers has embarked on their first-ever mission into Gaza. Before going in, they recited prayers and blew the Shofar just as the Children of Israel did prior to Biblical battles. https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-newly-created-ultra-orthodox-brigade-sounds-shofar-before-first-ever-mission-to-gaza/
73 fun facts about Israel. To celebrate Israel’s birthday, Israel21c publicizes 73 weird, wacky and remarkable things about this tiny country in the Middle East you may not know, unless you’ve studied all these newsletters.
https://www.israel21c.org/73-fun-facts-about-israel/
It’s Judea and Samaria. Arkansas is the first US State to ban the Jordan-invented term “West Bank” when referring to the territory recaptured by Israel during the 1967 six-day war. Judea and Samaria are its Biblical names – Judea being the area south of Jerusalem, and Samaria the area to its north.
https://www.jns.org/arkansas-becomes-first-state-to-ban-agencies-from-saying-west-bank/
123 Bar Mitzvot for orphans at the Kotel. Thanks to Colel Chabad, 123 boys who had lost at least one parent came to the Western Wall to celebrate their 13th birthday (Bar Mitzvah). each one was danced to the Kotel, made the blessing on the Torah, and received tefillin and new clothing. Afterwards all enjoyed a banquet.
https://www.jns.org/wire/123-orphan-boys-celebrate-their-bar-mitzvah-at-the-western-wall/
Kosher Nosher. (TY Yanky) Burger King falsely advertised its Hod Hasharon branch as kosher. An Israeli court’s “sentence” was to order the restaurant chain to distribute $128,000 in meal vouchers to religious and non-religious IDF combat soldiers. The vouchers will be redeemable only at the chain’s kosher branches.
https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/h1dgcywc1x
It’s all happening in Jerusalem. (TY Sharon) So many events after Pesach in Israel’s capital, including Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day) and Yom Ha’atzmaut (Independence Day), albeit rehearsals and rescheduled events. New Ambassadors presenting credentials to President Herzog included from the USA, India, and Philippines.
https://rjstreets.com/2025/04/28/seven-new-ambassadors-to-israel-before-holocaust-remembrance-day/
Yom Ha’Atzmaut / Israel Independence Day. Many celebratory events went ahead despite the fires. Here are links to some of them.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/freed-hostage-agam-berger-opens-israels-77th-independence-day-with-powerful-violin-tribute/ https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-ben-shapiro-lights-torch-in-honor-of-israel-a-land-of-heroes-and-dreamers/ https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-idf-soldiers-stationed-in-rafah-thank-god-for-the-miracle-of-the-jewish-state/ https://unitedwithisrael.org/happy-independence-day/
https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-live-israel-independence-day-torch-lighting-ceremony/
https://www.jns.org/israel-celebrates-77th-independence-day-in-shadow-of-wildfires/
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/
