Israel Daily News, Tues. March 9, 2021
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4 min readMar 9, 2021
- Israel is teaming up with its Mediterranean neighbors Greece and Cyprus to build the world’s longest undersea power cable, linking their electricity grids. Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz and Natasa Pilides of Cyprus showed up to sign a memorandum of understanding for the 1200-kilometer EuroAsia Interconnector while Greece’s Kostas Skrekas joined the signing via over videoconference. The three countries believe this is a major leap forward in finding ways to integrate renewable energy resources. Steinitz says this new project will offer Israel electricity back-up coming from power grids in Europe for times of emergency. It’ll also significantly increase the country’s reliance on solar energy — or energy from the sun. The first phase of the project is expected to be operational by 2025.
- 3 Palestinian fishermen were killed on a boat off the coast of the Gaza Strip. And now, the Al Mezan Center For Human Rights, a Palestinian human rights group, is making a rare public request that Hamas publish the details of their investigation into the deaths of the three men who were working off the coast of Khan Younis. The human rights group made their own assessment and found the three fishermen sailed out into a well-known training area for armed groups in Gaza at 6 A.M. on Sunday. The human rights group found that the deaths were caused by an explosion two hours later, most probably from one of the militias operating in the area. The Haaretz article we reviewed said the fisherman had also been shot. But they are the only news outlet reporting that. All others say it was a misfired rocket.
- IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi announced yesterday — on International Women’s Day — his plans to increase the number of top female military officials by 50% in the coming 5 years. Kohavi, in his two years, has not built a track record of appointing women to senior positions in the Israeli army. According to a recent Haaretz tally, of the nearly 200 officers promoted to the rank of colonel under Kohavi, 19 have been women. There are currently no female major generals in the IDF, nor have there been since 2014. While the advancement of women in the high ranks of the army has stagnated in recent years, there is a growing trend of women serving in combat units and in other roles previously held by men. The increase in the number of women in combat units, a 250% rise in the past 6 years, has not been without criticism. Many conservatives believe the IDF is catering to a liberal agenda point of achieving gender equality, endangering national security. The IDF refutes these claims, affirming that women are needed in these important roles.
- Devastating news coming out of Tel Aviv. Sunday, Dr. Shimrit Perkol-Finkel, an esteemed marine biologist and mother of three was killed in a car accident while riding an electric scooter. Perkol-Finkel was best known for her work creating an innovative solution for eco friendly seawalls. She was a co-founder, CEO, and chief scientist of the environmental infrastructure startup ECOcrete. Perkol specialized in urban marine habitats and engineered concrete products to transform coastlines to be eco-friendly. She has been accredited and awarded by both the United Nations and the European Union for her work abroad. Senior Environmental Protection Ministry official Dror Zurel says, ““The environmental world lost a hero.”
- An Israeli public opinion poll shows that 76% of Israelis support the idea of a female prime minister. Na’amat, an Israeli women’s organization along with Geocartography Knowledge group released the poll for International women’s day Monday. Na’amat’s chair Hagit Pe’er says “We were happy to find that most of the public supports the idea of a woman leading the government of Israel.” The poll also reveals 60% of Israelis support the idea of a female defense minister and 37% “strongly” support the idea of a female prime minister. According to the Israel Women’s Network, women are still behind in the sphere of Israeli political and economic influence.
- A young boy from Beersheba found an amulet carved about 2,500 years ago while on a hike in Southern Israel. The boy’s mother, a licensed tour guide, recognized the rarity of the figurine and reported the discovery to the Israel Antiquities Authority. The IAA reports that only one other amulet of this kind had been discovered before, which resides in the National Treasures collection. The figurine depicts a naked woman wearing a scarf. Archaeologists have speculated that amulets like this were made as a symbol of fertility. They were made during a time when medical knowledge was scarce and infant mortality rates were high, so people made these with hopes it would bring them good luck.
- On Sunday, Israel began easing restrictions on air travel into the country. Ben Gurion Airport has been shut down since late January, with only some flights being able to enter the country via special permission. Now, Israel will begin letting in citizens who have been stranded abroad while the airport has been closed. 1,000 Israelis will be allowed to fly into the country daily, with that number climbing too 3,000 in a few days. Upon arrival, rather than quarantining in designated hotels, citizens will be allowed to self-isolate in their homes. Incoming flights will only be allowed from certain selected cities from around the globe. It stands to reason that regulations will continue to be eased in the coming months.
