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- Written by Silvia Golan
Young people from around the world who are currently in Israel as part of the MDA Overseas Program, and who work to save lives on MDA ambulances, arrived yesterday (Sun) for a volunteer day at the MDA Headquarters in Ramla. During the day, they assisted in packing medical kits and carried out additional tasks in the Logistics Division, expanded their knowledge about MDA’s activities during the current operation and about the organization’s work since the beginning of the "Swords of Iron" war. At the end of the volunteer day, they also donated blood.
The "MDA Overseas Program" began in 1991 during the Gulf War, when the Jewish Agency emissary in Montreal, Avner Bar-Hama, approached Magen David Adom and proposed an initiative to send young people from McGill University to assist during the war. These young volunteers underwent first aid training in Canada and then arrived in Israel to volunteer with Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency medical service. That delegation became the pioneer of the project, which later became known as the "MDA Overseas Program" and has since become a tradition that has trained about 17,000 young people from the Jewish diaspora.
In 2002, it was decided to dedicate the program to the memory of Yohai Porat z"l, who served as the program coordinator in Israel and was killed on 03.03.2002 during an operational activity in the Wadi al-Haramiya area in the Binyamin region.
The MDA program operates in cooperation with "The Israeli Experience", "Talalim", "Destination Israel", and the "Masa" program, and each year enables about 500 young men and women, Jewish and non-Jewish, aged 18–28 from around the world to volunteer with Magen David Adom. The volunteers arrive in Israel for approximately two months, during which they complete a first aid provider course. Afterward, they serve as volunteers on MDA ambulances for about five weeks. Some return to Israel and complete the MDA EMT course, and many of them eventually make Aliyah and settle in Israel.
Photo credit MDA Spokesperson
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- Written by Silvia Golan & Stephen Abrahams
The opening event of the year of the Circle of Friends of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation for 2026, directed by Yona Bartel, was held at the impressive Microsoft campus in Herzliya Pituach, Israel.
Together with Hemi Peres, the center's chairman, Campus CEO Michal Bauman opened with a dazzling overview before Eran Yariv, head of artificial intelligence, Adi Mor-Biran, Director of The Garage Israel, Middle East, Africa and India, revealed groundbreaking innovation underway.
The Circle of Friends took a tour of the amazing building and learned about the latest developments in the field of AI. Among the participants: the Padani family, Michal Forer, Galia Albin, the Oren family, Reuven and Michaela Schiff, Brigadier General Nissim Barda, Baruch Shekalim–Director of the Aerospace Industry, Dalia Neeman, Dana Margalit, Hedva Tzadikariou and more. Yona Bartel reminded the audience that this year marks the tenth anniversary of Peres' passing and that it will be full of special events, including the naming of a square in his name in Paris, with the main state event being on September 8th in the Greatest of the Nations section of the House of Lords in London. The visit was at the Microsoft Israel Research and Development campus in Herzliya.
Michal Braverman-Blumenstik, CEO of Microsoft Israel R&D and CTO of the Global Security Division gave a lecture titled: “The Next Generation of AI: What Will Collaboration Between Humans and AI Agents Look Like?” She also presented Microsoft's Innovation Leadership Model to the Friends of the Peace Prize Circle. During the talk, she said: “Innovation is not a one-time event, but a culture. In the age of AI, when we give people the space to experiment, the smart tools, and the trust to dare – we don’t just develop products, we shape the future.”
Eran Yariv, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Group at Microsoft Israel, also gave a special lecture on the history of artificial intelligence from its inception 70 years ago and the evolution of large language models: from automatic completion to deep thinking
The Microsoft Herzliya, Israel, building is the only dog-friendly Microsoft building in the world; it also has a swimming pool and an ecological garden
https://www.peres-center.org/en/
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https://www.instagram.com/perescenter/
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Photos by Silvia G. Golan
More Pics at Facebook Diplomacy Israel / Israel Diplo / Silvia G. Golan
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- Written by Silvia G Golan
With a $1 Million Investment, the Technion Inaugurates a VLSI Laboratory for Chip Design
The laboratory, operating at the Viterbi Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was upgraded with the support of Apple, Intel, and NVIDIA
The Technion inaugurated the renovated VLSI Laboratory at the Andrew and Erna Viterbi Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The field of VLSI (Very Large-Scale Integration) - the creation of complex, multi-component integrated circuits—lies at the core of the development of advanced chips.
The laboratory was upgraded through an investment of approximately $1 million from Apple, Intel, and NVIDIA. The upgrade included renovation of the facilities, the addition of personnel, and the renewal of equipment. The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan, Faculty Dean Prof. Shahar Kvatinsky, the VLSI Laboratory’s Academic Director Prof. Ran Ginosar, and senior executives from the three companies - all Technion alumni: Tamir Azarzar, Senior Vice President of Chip Design at NVIDIA; Karin Eibschitz Segal, CEO of Intel Israel and Corporate Vice President at Intel; and Rony Friedman, GM of Apple Israel.
Over the years, the Viterbi Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering has trained the scientific and technological leadership that has made a decisive contribution to establishing Israel’s status as a “Startup Nation” and as a global center for chip development. The faculty’s researchers and alumni have played a leading role in the evolution of the semiconductor industry and continue to do so in the development of chips and computing architectures for the era of artificial intelligence. The combination of deep foundational knowledge, mathematical excellence, creativity, and engineering innovation gives the faculty’s graduates - who integrate into and lead Israel’s high-tech industry - a sustained competitive advantage at the forefront of global technology.
The VLSI Laboratory focuses on the development of advanced computing architectures and large-scale integrated systems, including in-memory computing, hardware acceleration of artificial intelligence, hardware security, and highly energy-efficient systems. The companies’ investment in the laboratory reflects a deep commitment to training the next generation of VLSI engineers in Israel. This partnership between academia and industry is designed to provide students with practical knowledge at the cutting edge of technology and to ensure a strong pipeline of engineers who will lead chip development in the years ahead.
The inauguration of the laboratory marks a strategic step in deepening the connection between advanced academic research, education, and Israeli and global industry, and in strengthening the Technion’s position as a leading force in shaping the fields of microelectronics and computational hardware in Israel and worldwide.
- From left to right: Tamir Azarzar, Senior Vice President of Chip Design at NVIDIA; outgoing Dean Prof. Idit Keidar; Rony Friedman, GM of Apple Israel; Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan; Karin Eibschitz Segal, CEO of Intel Israel and Corporate Vice President at Intel; incoming Dean of the Faculty Prof. Shahar Kvatinsky; and Technion Senior Executive Vice President Prof. Danny Raz
Photo credit: Sharon Tzur, Technion Spokesperson’s Office
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- Written by Silvia Golan & Stephen Abrahams
International Mediterranean Tourism Market (IMTM) is Israel's flagship Tourism marketplace and one of the leading exhibitions in the Eastern Mediterranean. It galvanizes the Israeli Tourism industry and consolidates it under one single roof connecting global destinations with one of the world's most travel savvy markets. IMTM is where the Israeli market meets the world - an event not to be missed!
IMTIM is the largest tourism exhibition in the Middle East and this year will feature impressive pavilions, B2B meetings, professional conferences and an agent programme that will bring hundreds of decision makers from around the globe to Israel.
After two complex years in Israel, the tourism industry is marking a historic turning point namely the significant presence of global airlines and a huge jump compared to last year especially in the number of visitors and exhibitors from abroad making IMTM 2026 the largest and most significant event since the start of the last war on the 7th of October 2023. This year will mark the 32nd year since its inception and will open on Tuesday, the 3rd of February till the 4th of February 2026 at the EXPO in Tel Aviv. Despite the challenges war confronts the tourism industry with, this year's exhibition is presenting a large presence of countries, participants and senior officials from around the world as part of their willingness to create business with Israel.
Popular airlines such as Etihad which is Abu Dhabi's national airline, Aegean Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines will participate. Budget airlines such as Sky Express and Air Europa will also have representation. Countries including Greece, Georgia, The People's Republic of China , Canada, U.S.A., India, The Republic of China, Vietnam, Slovakia, Hungary, Zambia, Cyprus, Romania and Azerbaijan secured their places months before the official registration opened. A variety of Israeli airlines such as EL AL, Israir, Arkia alongside local authorities and municipalities such as Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Rosh Hanikra, Ashdod, Modi'in, Maccabim, Reut, Jerusalem, Zichron Yaakov, Petach Tikva, Pardes Hanna Binyamina, the Dead Sea, Netanya.
This year there was a high demand in visitor registration in the field of pilgrimage tourism which very much is expected to shape the industry in the forthcoming year, marking the recovery and growth of local and international markets. Mr. Eyal Shmueli, I.T.N. 's publisher stated that Israel is enjoying an increase in the participation of countries in this year's expo which is a milestone in Israel's return to international tourism after a challenging period without inbound tourism and airlines that cancelled flights. We are entering renewed growth as IMTM is a bridge for tourism between Israel and the world.
About IMTM
IMTM is Israel’s flagship tourism marketplace and one of the leading international tourism exhibitions in the Eastern Mediterranean. It brings the industry together under one roof and connects global destinations with one of the world’s most travel-savvy audiences. IMTM is where the Israeli market meets the world - the one event not to be missed.
IMTM is Israel’s flagship tourism marketplace and one of the leading international tourism exhibitions in the Eastern Mediterranean. It brings the industry together under one roof and connects global destinations with one of the world’s most travel-savvy audiences. IMTM is where the Israeli market meets the world - the one event not to be missed.
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- Written by Michael Jankelowitz Liaison to International Media. 39th World Zionist Congress.
The 39th World Zionist Congress has overwhelmingly elected the new leadership of the World Zionist Organization: Rabbi Doron Perez and Yaakov Hagoel were chosen to serve as chairmen of the Zionist Executive, each for half a term.
After an election process that lasted about a year across the world and in Israel, the leadership of the World Zionist Organization (WZO) was elected. By a large majority of 480 votes in favor, 14 against, and 5 abstentions, Rabbi Doron Perez and Yaakov Hagoel were elected as chairmen of the executive, each serving for half a term. Dr. Yizhar Hess was elected as deputy and acting chairman.
Rabbi Doron Perez, 55, was born in South Africa. He is the chairman of the World Mizrachi Movement, a member of the WZO Executive, head of the Department for Spiritual Services in the Diaspora, and a member of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel.
He lost his son, IDF hero Captain Daniel Perez z”l, in the “Swords of Iron” War. Daniel was killed and abducted to Gaza, and his body was brought to burial in recent weeks.
Yaakov Hagoel, 54, was born in Israel. He currently serves as chairman of the World Zionist Organization. Previously, he was deputy chairman of the Zionist Executive, head of the Department for Israel and Combating Antisemitism, and Chairman of the World Betar Movement. He also served as acting chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel between 2021 and 2022.
The elections in the diaspora for the World Zionist Congress reached a record number of votes, with approximately 265,000 Jews expressing their commitment to the future of the Jewish People, the State of Israel, and the strengthening of Israel- Diaspora relations.
The World Zionist Congress is considered the supreme legislative and decision-making body of the World Zionist Organization — a kind of "global Jewish parliament.” It serves as the central platform for setting the movement’s policies, strengthening the bond between Israel and the Diaspora, and promoting Zionist values in the 21st century.
www.facebook.com/WZOhebrew/
Photo credit — Yaakov Hagoel: Oz Schechter
Photo credit — Rabbi Doron Perez: Courtesy
