Dear Task Force members and friends,
As we prepare for our next study trip to Israel, scheduled for 10-14 February 2013 and this time focused on ‘mixed cities’, we are delighted to have received a personal endorsement from Rabbi Gideon Sylvester, United Synagogue Israel Rabbi. In a letter to us, he says: “It has been my great privilege to join with rabbinic colleagues from the United Synagogue on two of the missions run by the UK Task Force. Each of these trips has offered insightful, nuanced and sophisticated examinations of some of Israel's thorniest problems, bringing speakers from a wide range of perspectives from the far right to the far left and offering participants a unique opportunity to wrestle with difficult issues in an open and informed way.” If you would like to join our next trip or receive more details, please drop me a line on info@uktaskforce.org.
I am pleased to announce that Michael Wegier, the new Chief Executive Officer of UJIA, will be taking over from Doug Krikler as the new Co-Chair of the UK Task Force. Having made Aliyah from London in 1989, Michael has spent the last five years as the Executive Director of Melitz, an educational institute based in Jerusalem.
For details of our forthcoming events, with speakers including the UK Ambassador to Israel, Matthew Gould; Aya ben Amos from the Abraham Fund Initiatives; and Rabbi Professor Naftali Rothenberg, from the Van Leer Insititue in Jerusalem, make sure you check out our website and Facebook page.
Best wishes,
Alice Wood, Director, UK Task Force |
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Shadow cabinet meets with Arab high-tech
Last week, we organised a session on the integration of Arab citizens of Is rael into high-tech during the Labour Friends of Israel shadow cabinet delegation to Israel, which was part of the UK-Israel Economic Dialogue initiated by Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls. Delegates included Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, Rt Hon David Lammy MP, Chuka Umunna MP, Lord Maurice Glasman and Trevor Chinn CVO.
During the session, delegates learnt about various Israeli government, private sector and civil society initiatives to help Arab engineering graduates into high-tech jobs. Speakers included Aiman Seif, General Director of the Authority for the Economic Development of Minority Sectors in the Prime Minister's Office; Jimmy Levy, founder of Galil Software, the largest software company in the Arab sector; and Smadar Nehab, founder of Tsofen, an NGO working to integrate Arab graduates into the high-tech sector. Read more |
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The Organisation for Economic and Development (OECD) in a preliminary health care report, has determined that Israel possesses one of the best health care systems in the world. However, the report points to inequalities between Arabs and Jews and recommends that more efforts be made to ensure equity and accessibility to health care. Israel’s Deputy Health Minister, Ya’acov Litzman, welcomed the report for its praise of the system and noted that he would act to make the suggested improvements. Read more
Majdi Halabi, the Israeli Druze soldier that went missing in 2005, has been laid to rest after his remains were found near the Druze village of Isfiya nearly three weeks ago. Two thousand Arabs and Jews attended the funeral and Defence Minister Ehud Barak expressed his condolences to the family, stating: “We all, in the IDF and the security community, share the deep grief upon learning of the death of your son… I sympathise with your pain and send a warm embrace to the entire family.” The Israeli Foreign Ministry had long believed that Majdi had been kidnapped and earlier this year, was working on a deal with three prisoners, one of whom was jailed for murder, who had claimed to know what happened to Private Halabi. Read more
Amal Ayoub, an Arab scientist from Nazareth, has received financial support to commence trials for testing her unique method to help cure cancer using nanoparticles of gold. Pini Orbach, a representative from Arkin Holdings, who are funding the trial, stated that: “We decided to invest in Metallo Therapy because we believe it has innovative technology for treating cancer, excellent basic science and management with the necessary skills. We also believe that the Arab community has much talent in the life sciences, and that investments of this kind will help promote Jewish-Arab cooperation in various fields.” Read more |
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Getting a fairer deal for Arab graduates
The UK Task Force hosted a drinks reception and discussion with Yael Kohn-Sharon and Kheir Abdel Razek from Kav Mashve on 13 September. Kav Mashve is a coalition of employers in Israel dedicated to creating a business environment that provides equal opportunities to Arab university graduates. Yael and Kheir gave an informative presentation to 25 audience members on challenges facing Arab graduates in Israel and what Kav Mashve is doing to help. Read more |
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Members Lunch with UK Ambassador to Israel
UK Ambassador to Israel, Matthew Gould, will be speaking at an exclusive Task Force members lunch at the Board of Deputies of British Jews on Monday 22 October.
Since the beginning of his tenure, Ambassador Gould has been a firm friend of the Task Force and we are very pleased to host him in London for a private meeting with our members. The lunch will also be an opportunity for us to update attendees on our progress over the past year and inform them of forthcoming activities. |
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