On the other hand
The UNHRC prepares to issue its infamous blacklist of Israeli companies and businesses.
Meanwhile, we are proud to detail our own list of Israeli contributions to innovation and improving humanity.
Take your pick as to which list is more useful.
NEW TREATMENT FOR BURNS
Israeli doctors have pioneered a cutting-edge laser surgery technique to dramatically decrease scarring in child burn victims.
These Israeli-developed lasers use carbon dioxide (CO2) ablative lasers to safely and effectively reduce the devastating impact of scars in burned children. While the scars cannot be removed completely, laser treatments can improve their appearance dramatically by diminishing their size, stiffness and discolouration.
Using CO2 lasers on children’s burn scars is relatively new. In the past, laser treatment for scars required sedation whereas now a local anaesthetic cream is all that’s necessary.
NEW ISRAELI MANDARINS
This is not about Israelis of Chinese ethnicity. A new variety of orange called the Jaffa Orri Mandarin is taking North America by storm.
The Jaffa Orri was developed by scientists at the Israeli Volcani Center Agricultural Research Organization. Not only does the peel come off easily, but it also boasts a sweet juicy flavour and fleshy texture and has virtually no seeds. This mandarin was bred to have a particularly long shelf life and appears later in the season compared to other easy peelers – from January into May.
Over the past five seasons, citrus exports from Israel to North America have increased from 3,000 tons to 9,000 tons last season, of which about 5,300 tons are easy-to-peel mandarins. This season, export of Orri Jaffa mandarins alone is expected to reach 9,000 tons, constituting a potential 70% growth. It is currently exported to 45 countries. Most of the yield is exported to Europe (78%) – most prominently France (39%), the Netherlands, Scandinavia and Russia (7% each). About 18% of the fruit is shipped to North America, and 4% to the Asia Pacific.
Not so many years ago Jaffa oranges became the iconic symbol of Israeli agricultural exports. Many predicted that high tech would doom them. Instead, like all of Israel’s innovations these new varieties demonstrate the versatility and unique ability of Israel’s researchers to produce world-beating products.
GREAT NEWS FOR VEGANS & LACTOSE INTOLERANT
Israeli startup Yofix Probiotics Ltd. has started sales in Israel of its first dairy-free, soy-free range of yoghurt alternatives aimed at vegans and lactose-intolerant consumers.
The products — whose formulation is based on the fermentation of oats, lentils, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and coconut — use no processed ingredients, have no additives, colours or flavourings, and come in three flavours: berries, apple & cinnamon and banana & maple. To cater to Israeli taste, the products use refined sugar, but an eventual international version will be sugar-free, using just maple syrup and apple juice as sweeteners. Each yoghurt has 5% fat, and has the same or better nutritional value as dairy yoghurt, the company says.
The new alternative-yoghurt line is also environmentally friendly, the company says, with a small carbon footprint because it has no cow milk and, unlike almond or cashew milk which are used to make other alternative yoghurts, does not require a great amount of water. The production process is designed for zero waste; all raw materials utilized in production remain in the final product, giving the user a greater sense of fullness.
CHILDREN’S PARAPLEGIC RALLY
In another example of Israeli determination to achieve the impossible, severely disabled children were given the opportunity to make a dream come true. Watch this video and be inspired:
