POSITIVE NEWS FROM ISRAEL FROM MICHAEL ORDMAN
www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com
After World War II, between 1945 and 1960, three dozen nations in Asia and Africa achieved autonomy or outright independence from their European colonial rulers. Israel was decolonized from England in May 1948 after 30 years of oppressive and duplicitous rule.
Despite wars and genocidal terrorism from Arab enemies, Israel is one of the crown jewels of the break-up of the British, French, Belgian and Portuguese empires. It is a diverse democracy with outsize contributions to healing the scourges of famine, drought, disease, and natural disasters throughout the globe as Michael Ordman discloses in his weekly postings. rsk
Civilian startups are battlefield life-savers. (TY WIN) The IDF is turning civilian tech into battlefield tools, thanks to Innotal – a program that fast-tracks Israeli startups into military service. It integrates breakthrough civilian technologies – medical, food tech, energy, drones, AI, logistics, infrastructure and more.
https://tps.co.il/articles/medical-drones-ai-therapy-and-foodtech-israeli-civilian-startups-are-becoming-battlefield-lifesavers/ https://ddrd-mafat.mod.gov.il/en/mafat-for-startups/innotal
https://www.jfeed.com/news-israel/idf-tech-innovations-gaza-operations
From lab to battlefield in 18 months. (TY JNS) The inside story of the unprecedented successful development timescale of Israel’s new laser defense system. Already operational for several months, the rapidly deployed system’s success rates surpassed all projections. https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/05/29/how-israels-secret-laser-weapon-went-from-lab-to-battlefield-in-18-months/
Promoted to Brigadier at 80. At 80 years old, lifelong armored corps veteran Moshe Peled was busy hauling tanks on reserve duty – until the IDF Chief of Staff surprised him with a promotion to Reserve Brigadier General in front of his proud family. IDSF article reflects his dedication and loyalty to the Jewish State.
https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-elderly-idf-armored-division-reservist-honored-with-surprise-promotion/
https://idsf.org.il/en/interviews-en/playing-into-the-hands-of-hamas/
Teens rebuild farm of fallen hero. The first Israel Youth Conference of HaShomer HaChadash (see here previously) opened with hundreds of teens from across Israel rehabilitating the Philip Farm in the Negev. The farm’s manager, Yochai Hershberg, fell fighting Hamas on Oct 7 2023 and the farm had been unattended since.
https://www.jns.org/wire/from-loss-to-legacy-teens-rebuild-farm-of-fallen-hero-in-israels-south/
The first brit milah since Oct 7. Itay and Moran, who survived Oct 7 2023 at Israel’s Kibbutz Be’eri, held the first brit milah ceremony there since the attack. They named their newborn son Bar Shavit after Moran’s parents Yuval and Maayan Bar – murdered by Hamas, and Shavit Lev – the IDF soldier who rescued them.
https://www.ynetnews.com/jewish-world/article/hjwk8t6glg
Kibbutz Nir Oz celebrates Shavuot. For the first time since Oct 7 2023, Kibbutz Nir Oz residents gathered to mark the Shavuot holiday in the community’s fields. The traditional agricultural exhibition was led by former Israeli hostage Gadi Moses who blessed the volunteers and Thai workers.
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-856222
“Eternity of Israel”. An exhibition of Israeli resilience replaces the usual posters that are displayed on the walls of the departure escalator at Ben Gurion airport. “Eternity of Israel” takes passengers on a journey through history showing how the nation survives and recovers from every tragedy, as it will after Oct 7 2023.
https://www.israelunwired.com/ben-gurion-airport-is-featuring-something-that-will-blow-you-away/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT-zteZi1GQ
It wasn’t bad before. Arab blogger Hoda Jannat exposes the truth about Gaza before Hamas launched its attack on Oct 7. https://www.jewishpress.com/news/eye-on-palestine/hamas/the-gaza-you-thought-you-knew-versus-the-real-gaza/2023/12/25/
IDF mission to save girl’s life. A Golani IDF battalion commander sent a 21-year-old commando from the Gaza front line to donate life-saving bone marrow to a 5-year-old girl battling leukemia. His saliva sample, taken on IDF induction, was a genetic match and the transplant took place at Hadassah Ein Kerem.
https://www.jns.org/golani-commando-pulled-from-gaza-to-save-a-life-at-hadassah/
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Making an Israeli invention even better. The Israeli-invented CAR-T cancer treatment is saving thousands of lives today. The patient’s own immune T-cells are extracted, increased and put back in the patient. Ben Gurion University researchers have extended T-cell longevity using different shaped surfaces for the growth medium.
https://phys.org/news/2025-06-nanostructures-boost-car-cell-potency.html
https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.202412482
The immune cells that promote cancer. Tel Aviv University researchers have advanced the 2015 research by Hebrew University scientists (see here previously) and isolated the specific neutrophils that support cancer progression. It boosts the development of new therapies and adds a biomarker for early detection of the disease.
https://emergexint.tau.ac.il/neutrophil_immune_cancer_research
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43018-025-00924-3
Antibiotics in the “garbage”. More about the discovery (see here previously) by Israeli scientists of the natural antibiotic properties of the proteasome – a protein complex known as the “garbage can” of many cells because it removes non-working proteins. Its antibiotic function, however, was previously unknown.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israeli-scientists-discovery-could-lead-to-new-antibiotics-1001504039
Teva promotes its pipeline. Current treatments from Israel’s Teva include Austedo (involuntary movements), Ajovy (migraine), and Uzedy (schizophrenia). It expects soon to launch Olanzapine (schizophrenia), Duvakitug (IBD), Dari (asthma), Emrusolmin (Multiple System Atrophy), and has fast-tracked TEV-53408 (Celiac).
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-teva-gives-aggressive-guidance-on-1001511802
Healing the healers. Teva has also has partnered with Israel’s Momentum over the past 20 months to run the “Support the Soul” program for 1,300 mental health professionals. It gives therapists training and safe spaces to release the trauma they absorb from their patients; plus therapy support tools. No Teva remedies involved.
https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/hj4mluffll
Kids & teens can save lives too. United Hatzalah’s Leight Legacy Heroes Program empowers kids and teens across America to save lives. Each participant is challenged to raise $180 which will sponsor an oxygen tank for a medic in Israel – vital for emergency responses. It also teaches tzedakah and strengthens links to Israel.
https://israelrescue.org/heroes
Mobile clinic in the South. Israeli emergency medical NGO United Hatzalah has unveiled a groundbreaking mobile emergency clinic in Ofakim. The clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art treatment beds, smart triage, and medical tech that doubles the capacity of a standard ambulance. It is staffed by doctors and paramedics.
https://israfan.com/p/united-hatzalah-mobile-clinic-israel
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Dream fulfilled for child with special needs. Canine handlers from Israel’s Dog Unit gave a special show for an Israeli child with special needs at the IDU base in Kfar Tapuach. The event also involved dozens of female IDF lookouts serving in the Samaria Regional Brigade, along with officers from the Israel Police’s Ariel station.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/409216
56,000 Canadians walk for Israel. Over 56,000 people marched through Toronto during the city’s 56th Annual Walk With Israel event. There were various performances, spaces commemorating the Oct 7 2023 victims, calls for the release of the hostages, and booths showcasing Israeli culture and the Jewish community.
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-855526#google_vignette
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVuDR-Z1sHI
Caravan inspires non-Jews. The JNF-USA’s Caravan for Democracy (see here previously) is still bringing young non-Jews to experience Israel for themselves. Read here how it transformed Arianna-Rosie Bourgoin who had already founded Christians United for Israel on campus at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth.
https://www.jns.org/wire/what-israel-taught-me-a-christian-students-transformative-journey/
Australian volunteer firefighter trains Israelis. Timothy Wainwright, an Australian volunteer firefighter, has conducted seven training missions in Israel since 2019. He founded the non-profit Operation Fire Support (OFS) to teach civilian communities how to effectively fight wildfires with limited resources.
https://www.jns.org/australian-firefighter-trains-israelis-to-combat-forest-fires/
https://www.operationfiresupport.org/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Israel’s first national energy storage institute. A first-of-its-kind initiative, the National Institute for Energy and Electrochemical Storage, was inaugurated at Bar-Ilan University in partnership with Israel’s Technion Institute. It aims to develop energy and climate solutions in batteries, hydrogen, carbon capture, and beyond.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-nis-130-million-center-will-pioneer-energy-storage-as-renewables-gain-ground/
11 of 30 most promising global cyber startups. Notable Capital’s “Rising in Cyber 2025” list of the 30 most promising global cyber startups includes eleven Israeli companies. The list is drawn from a pool of 275 firms nominated by top cybersecurity investors, together with the New York Stock Exchange and Morgan Stanley.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/11-israeli-startups-dominate-list-of-most-promising-global-cybersecurity-firms/
Recycling farm waste in Africa. (TY WIN & I24 News) New video highlighting Israel’s HomeBioGas (see here previously). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn25qYvFHfg
Pea protein for meat alternatives. Israel’s Meala FoodTech (see here previously) has partnered with Swiss-Dutch dsm-firmenich to launch Vertis ™ PB Pea – a groundbreaking texturizing pea protein. It is designed to replace modified binders like hydrocolloids, maintaining natural ingredients in plant-based meat alternatives .
https://vegconomist.com/ingredients/meala-dsm-firmenich-introduce-pea-protein-texturizer-simplify-binding-texture-plant-based-meat/
The end of the line. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Better Online Solutions (BOS) streamlines and enhances supply chain operations with robotic packaging, and RFID labelling and tracking. BOS has just secured new orders worth $270,000 from two food manufacturing customers for automated end-of-line systems.
https://www.boscom.com/bos-secures-orders-for-robotic-packing-and-palletizing-systems/
Why are employees leaving? (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Elvee is the world’s first AI platform to solve employee attrition. Its analysis led to a unique AI solution monitoring 25,000 data points related to employees. It achieves nearly 90% accuracy rate in identifying workplace issues and successfully resolving issues that lead to attrition.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elvee-debuts-worlds-only-ai-employee-attrition-prevention-platform-302452286.html https://elvee.ai/
15 years too early. Israel’s Better Place went bankrupt in 2010 as its car battery swap concept was too novel an idea to catch on. Now Chinese carmaker NIO is setting up a battery switching station network in Israel, expanding the 3,400 it operates in China and 250 others worldwide, mainly in Europe.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-nio-revives-better-place-style-battery-swap-station-network-1001511958
Plugging the data leaks. Israel’s Mind.io (see here previously) is marketed as the first-ever data security platform that puts data loss prevention (DLP) and insider risk management (IRM) programs on autopilot, so a company can automatically identify, detect and prevent data leaks at machine speed.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israeli-data-loss-prevention-co-mind-raises-30m-1001511987
https://mind.io/
New under the sun. Blueberries usually grow in cold climates. But Israeli farmer Amichai planted over 1,000 blueberry trees in Hamra in the hot Jordan Valley – a region where blueberries don’t naturally grow. And with determination and innovation, they’re thriving. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pro0LtLqpHU
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Deficit reduced again. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s fiscal deficit narrowed in the twelve months to the end of April 2025, for the seventh consecutive month, to 5.1% of GDP, or NIS 104.7 billion from 5.2% at end of March.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israels-fiscal-deficit-narrows-for-seventh-straight-month-1001510072
Defying the odds – the resilience of Israel’s economy. (TY Yanky) Only an opinion piece, but the facts are undeniable. The shekel is as strong as pre-Oct 7 2023; so is Israeli credit spending and house purchases; Israel’s unemployment is low; and the Tel Aviv Stock market has outperformed New York’s.
https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/assisted-living-facilities/article-855353
EU relies on Israel. Israel’s defense exports in 2024 were a record $14.8 billion, up about 11.7% from 2023 and double the amount five years ago. 54% of exports went to Europe (up from 35% in 2023 – UK, France, Spain, and Ireland take note). Exports to Abraham Accords countries increased to 12% (3% in 2023).
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israels-defense-exports-hit-new-record-in-2024-1001512004
$75 million to invest in Israeli cybersecurity. Israeli-US venture capital fund Merlin Ventures (see here previously) has closed its $75 million second fund, which will focus on investments in growth stage Israeli cybersecurity companies. In addition, Merlin’s Genesis Program will grow the startups in its portfolio.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-merlin-ventures-closes-75m-israel-vc-fund-1001512073
United is back. United Airlines is restarting flights from Newark to Tel Aviv on Jun 5, earlier than expected, following a thorough safety review. AirBaltic also announced that it will resume its flights to Israel on Jun 6.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/409278
El Al to start flights to Argentina. El Al plans to launch direct flights from Tel Aviv to Buenos Aires, says Argentina’s ambassador to Israel, Axel Wahnish. An official announcement will be made during Argentine President Javiel Milei’s Jun 9-11 visit to Israel. The Argentine leader is one of Israel’s strongest supporters.
https://www.jns.org/el-al-to-launch-flights-to-argentina/
$1 billion revenue for Deel. Israeli HR and payroll tech startup Deel (see here previously) has reached a $1 billion annual revenue run rate as of the first quarter of 2025, marking a significant milestone for the six-year-old company. Deel says it now serves 35,000+ customers and 1.25 million workers in over 150 countries.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/mkl1xfyoe
Exits, takeovers, and mergers to 8th Jun 25:. Netherlands-based QIAGEN acquired Israel’s Genoox for a minimum of $70 million; Israel’s compliance startup Scytale acquired Israel’s IT audit software startup AudITech for $15 million. US Qualcomm has finally taken over Israel’s Autotalks for “hundreds of millions of dollars” after the 2023 acquisition was abandoned due to US regulatory issues in 2024. Israel’s Cellebrite is to acquire US-based Arm-based virtualization Corellium for $170 million.
Startup investment – to 8th Jun 25: Zero Networks raised $55 million; Buildots raised $45 million; Speedata raised $44 million; Mind.io raised $30 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Art Garfunkel captivates Tel Aviv audience. US singer Art Garfunkel (now 83), of the legendary duo Simon & Garfunkel, performed at Yarkon Park Tel Aviv in the first visit by a major international artist to Israel since Oct 7 2023. His songs included “The Sound of Silence,” “The Boxer” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
https://www.jns.org/art-garfunkel-captivates-tel-aviv-audience/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3urThnsY224 (in 2025 at 83 in Tel Aviv)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by6Qp9q7w-0 (in 2015 at 73 in Tel Aviv)
Horton Hears a Jew. This satirical reimagining of Dr. Seuss’ classic, “Horton Hears a Who”, tells the story of a people who refuse to be erased – delivered with gravitas, heart, and a touch of Seussian sass by Eylon Levy and Israel’s Spokeskid, 10-year-old Independence Day torch-lighter Ben Carasso.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjAB1-dSdEM
Check mate. (TY Hazel) Young Israeli chess champion Noam Sasson (11) (see here previously) won the 4th international U20 tournament in Vigevano, Italy. 161 participants from 7 countries competed.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16dQVxj7yp/
Other sporting successes. Israelis won gold at the Wheel Gymnastics World Championships in Leipzig. Mei Shibi won the Formula 3 Championship race at Varano, Italy. Aya Vainer (13) won the motocross race in Catalunya, Spain. Plus European medals in artistic swimming (bronze) and junior rhythmic gymnastics (silver).
https://wheelgymnastics.sport/event/team-world-championships-2025/
https://www.facebook.com/FollowTeamIsrael
THE JEWISH STATE
Visionary educators. Six Israeli school teachers from the state’s religious sector were bestowed an award for excellence in innovative Jewish education by the Tzemach David Foundation at Jerusalem’s Bible Lands Museum. Foundation President David Magerman re-routed his philanthropy from U.S. colleges to Israel.
https://www.jns.org/six-israeli-teachers-receive-awards-for-excellence-in-innovative-jewish-education/
Tefillin for Hostages. The “Tefillin for Every Hostage” project was launched by the mother of hostage Bar Kupershtein, held in Gaza for 600+ days. Volunteers who previously didn’t wear tefillin (phylacteries) choose a hostage in whose name they will wear them daily for. “Bar Tefillin” stations have been set up all over Israel.
https://www.jns.org/herzog-hosts-participants-of-tefillin-for-hostages-project/
Jerusalem Day photos the MSM didn’t show you. (TY Sharon). The Real Jerusalem Streets shows readers what the Yom Yerushalayim march really was like this year. Families, children, seminary girls, happy people.
https://rjstreets.com/2025/06/01/jerusalem-day-2025-photos-mainstream-media-did-not-share/
Pulse of Israel solidarity trip & conference. Join Avi Abelow for a day or the whole week (Jun 16 – 21). Experience GEVURAH – Strength, Courage, resilience, and unwavering Jewish spirit that has defined our people for generations, exhibited during this war. https://pulseofisrael.com/pulse-trip/
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