London Olympics, Secured By Israel

While most of the worlds attention will be focused upon the 2008 Olympics being hosted in Beijing, London is preparing to host the event four years down the road in 2012.

In order to make sure that the event runs "as smooth as possible," it looks as if the British are seeking Israeli advice when it comes to security.

(Israel National News) The Israel-Britain Chamber of Commerce has announced plans to include Israeli security companies as part of the 2012 Olympic Games, to be held in London. [...]

Brosh said a deal to include Israeli companies in the security arrangements for the 2012 games would be worth approximately $150 million.

 

Israel seems to have a lot of experience when it comes to providing security for events (large and small) which may have something to do with "the love" it receives from its rowdy neighbors. ;-)

Israel is also helping the Chinese secure the Beijing Olympics, which may be a sign of an interesting trend appearing around the world (hint, hint).

250 More Jews Make Aliyah!

Jewish citizens from both the United States and the United Kingdom are now exiting their former lands in order to adopt Israel as their new home land.

(Ynet News) Two hundred new immigrants from the US and additional 75 from England arrived at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport Tuesday morning on two specially-chartered flights sponsored by Nefesh B'Nefesh. [...]

According to Nefesh B'Nefesh, a record 3,200 are expected to make aliyah from North America in 2007.

If pictures are worth a thousand words, then Jacob Richman's photographic roundup of the event would fill volumes.

Hopefully more Jews of the Diaspora will consider making Aliya (or moving towards Israel), but if they are hesitant about moving they could always consider taking a sneak peak through Taglit-Birthright Israel (thanks to Adelson's generous donation) or similar organizations.

Update: Inserted link to Ynet News (I must be getting really tired! LOL)

Israel To Buy West Bank Gas

It looks like a British company has discovered some gas off the coast of the Gaza strip.

Although nothing has yet been finalized yet, BG Group is in the process of getting agreements between both Israel and the PA as this find could not only help ease Israel's energy strain, but help bring the West Bank out of its current poverty.

(Globes Online) BG Group (NYSE: BRG; LSE: BG) is poised to sign a $4 billion 15-year contract deal to supply Palestinian gas to Israel from a discovery off the Gaza coastline, London daily "The Times" reported yesterday.

"The Times" added that the contract "will provide 10% of Israel’s annual energy requirement, and the Palestinians would receive total royalties of $1 billion. The Gaza field, it said, "holds one trillion cubic feet of gas, the equivalent of 150 million barrels of oil, equivalent to a large North Sea field."

Of course, the current situation in the region has to "tone down" a bit, but this discovery may convince both sides to cool their jets enough to work out an economic deal.

Reuters Buys Out Clear Forest? Huh?

Reuters Group, which owns the Reuters News service seems to have purchased and Israeli startup called Clear Forest.

(Globes Online) Reuters Group plc (LSE: RTR; Nasdaq:PTRSY) has acquired Israeli text analysis technology developer ClearForest Ltd. for about $30 million. The companies are due to announce the deal today, before trading begins on Nasdaq. [...]

ClearForest's unstructured data management software creates usable data for decision-making. The company's solution marks the key points in a text, such as persons, companies, or events, and turns them into a structured text that is easier to analyze for research and business intelligence purposes by a company.

Clear Forest has a press release about this over here, and they seem to be really excited about joining the Reuters family.

Jewish Kids With Down Syndrome Receive Help

Although this pertains mainly to the UK, I thought it was a nice enough article to mention here.

(Jerusalem Post) The Leads Trust, a charitable organization that promotes the language and educational achievements of Jewish children with Down's, was founded by Rabbi Michael Bernstein, the father of a child with Down's syndrome.

The new trust will provide a range of educational and awareness services and programs, the first of which will enable any Jewish child with Down's throughout the UK to receive specialist speech and language therapy. Sessions are heavily subsidized through private donations and will be delivered by therapists with specific training and experience in working with children with Down's.

It is a good sign to see Jewish leaders helping those who are not as fortunate as they are within their community. Hopefully we will be able to see program grow, and perhaps expand into the promise land itself (as I am unsure whether something similar exists in Israel).

Lost World War Two Art Returned

It looks like three pieces of Jewish art has been returned back into kosher hands after having been stolen during world war two by the Nazi's.

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency) The drawings to be given back by the Courtauld Institute of Art, valued at up to $23,519, are attributed to 17th-century painters Giuseppe Bibiena and Carl Ruthart.

A third drawing, by 17th-century painter Frans van Mieris the Elder, is being given by the heirs to the institute in an act of good will.

The Courtauld, which never contested the heirs' claim filed a year ago, said it wasn't aware of the paintings' origins when it obtained them through a 1952 bequest from Sir Robert Witt.

Much thanks to the London Art institute for helping out the families regarding this situation. It's amazing how much art the Jews produced before (and sometimes during) the second world war.

It's good to see these paintings, some valued in the thousands of dollars (or shekels), be returned to their families (and hopefully we will see more of this in the future).