BDS death is imminent

[Roudy]

Considering that BDS is being outlawed throughout the US and starting to be in Europe, let us count the ways that BDS is starting to look like a rotten corpse. Looks like what BDS was dreaming for Israel has become it's own fate!



Political BDS fails

Bassem Eid of Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group explains why BDS is bad for Palestinains

All 100 US senators sign letter asking for equal treatment of Israel at the U.N.

All 100 U.S. senators signed a letter released Friday asking U.N. Secretary General António Guterres to address what the lawmakers call entrenched bias against Israel at the world body.

The unanimous message notes that the United States is the largest contributor to the United Nations but does not threaten the withholding of U.S. dues. Still, it uses strong language to insist that the United Nations rectify what the senators said is unequal treatment of Israel on human rights and other grounds.

“Through words and actions, we urge you to ensure that Israel is treated neither better nor worse than any other U.N. member in good standing,” the letter said.

Texas House committee unanimously passes anti-BDS bill

The Texas Senate passed on March 23 a similar bill opposing BDS by a 25-4 vote. Texas Governor Greg Abbott is expected to sign a finalized anti-BDS law from the legislative chambers.

Kansas House votes to block contracting with Israel boycotters

A measure that would block the state from contracting with those who boycott Israel has won approval in the Kansas House.

HB 2409 would prohibit state agencies and departments from entering into contracts with anyone who is boycotting Israel. The state would require written certificates from service, supply, IT and construction contractors that they weren’t boycotting the Jewish state.

House members approved it 116-9 Wednesday. The bill now goes to the Senate.

French bank said to have dropped major BDS account

NEW YORK – One of the world’s largest banks, the Paris-based BNP Paribas, may have closed the account last year of a French organization that advocates boycotting Israel. After the former president of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF) sent a letter to BNP in May 2016, the donation section on the organization’s CAPJPO-Europalestine website was scrubbed of the BNP account.

Israeli journalist Jean Patrick Grumberg, a reporter for the French-language American website Dreuz.info, told The Jerusalem Post on Friday that “CAPJPO removed the link to the page with their bank information… It’s possible that BNP quietly closed the CAPJPO bank account after receiving the letter from CRIF.”

Economic BDS fails

Phenomenal economic growth picked up after #BDS began its smear.





Invest in BDS-banned companies and make LOTS of money!

Here are all of the publicly traded companies I could find listed on the BDSList.org site, and their stock prices from a year ago and today, with the percentage gain or loss. (Some are only listed on the Tel Aviv Exchange.)




If you would have invested equal amounts in all these companies a year ago, you would have made an astounding 50% profit. (The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 16% in that time period. The top funds rated by Kiplinger for the past year made about 30%.)

Israeli SaaS co dapulse raises $25m

Israeli SaaS startup dapulse has announced that it has raised $25 million in its Series B financing round, bringing its total funding to $34.1 million. The round was led by New York-based private equity and venture capital firm Insight Venture Partners with participation from existing Series A investors Genesis and Entree Capital. The company will use the funding to scale its rapid growth, expand its product offering, and ultimately, impact thousands of new businesses.

Bucking boycotts, Ohio to snap up record $61 million in Israel bonds

State of Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel said Monday he will purchase an unmatched $61 million in Israel bonds to hit back at the boycott movement against the Jewish state, and because the bonds are a good investment.

The purchase will be the largest single government purchase of Israel bonds in Ohio history and, following acquisitions in previous years, will leave the the state with more Israel bonds than any other US government body in the country.

Air Malta to launch Tel Aviv route

Air Malta will begin scheduled services between Malta and Tel Aviv from April 21. The Maltese carrier will operate up to three weekly flights during the summer 2017 between Ben Gurion international airport and Valletta.

Air Malta chief commercial officer Paul Sies said, “We are thrilled that we can announce Tel Aviv as our new destination for this season. We have been operating regularly on this route offering Malta as a charter destination in Israel for years, working closely with leading Israeli tour operators. Now the market has matured enough that we can start offering this destination as a scheduled service, providing opportunities to visit the rest of Israel including Jerusalem and the Holy Land.”

SeatGeek buys Israeli ticketing co TopTix for $56m

TopTix, which processes 80 million tickets annually in 16 countries, will continue operating in Israel.

New York based ticketing platform company SeatGeek has announced the acquisition of Israeli ticketing software company TopTix for $56 million. The acquisition by SeatGeek was financed by a new $57 million Series D investment round in SeatGeek led by Glynn Capital, with participation from existing investors Accel, Causeway Media Partners, Haystack Partners, Mousse Partners, and Technology Crossover Ventures.

Israeli economy ranked 3rd most stable in the world for 2016

Index published by Bloomberg financial news agency cites near-zero inflation and a low unemployment rate as stabilizing factors • Israel follows Hong Kong, South Korea in the rankings • Oil-rich Venezuela named least stable economy for 2016.

Check Point beats the analysts again

Check Point provides cyber security solutions. The company outperformed the forecasts in both its top and bottom lines, with $435 million in revenue, 8% more than in the first quarter of 2016, and a non-GAAP net profit of $202 million, $1.20 per share, also 8% more than in the corresponding quarter last year. Cash flow was up 10% to $355 million

Cultural and Technological BDS fails

European Judo Championships to be held in Israel

The European Judo Union has confirmed that Israel will host the European Championships next year.

However, the approval comes with a receipt of NIS 6 million worth of guarantees by the Israeli government, who must demonstrate the economic ability to host the event.

In May, the President of the European Judo Union, Sergey Soloveychik, will arrive in Israel to meet with Minister of Culture and Sport Miri Regev in order to finalize details.

‘Bobbi Jene” about Israeli dancer wins Tribeca Best Documentary

All five of this year’s feature category winners are from female directors including Best International Narrative Feature Son of Sofia, the Albert Maysles New Documentary Director Award for A Suitable Girl and Best Documentary Feature Bobbi Jene.

The docu follows dancer Bobbi Jene Smith returning to the U.S. after starring for the famous Israeli dance company Batsheva. The Elvira Lind-helmed docu also won the cinematography and editing prize in the Documentary competition.

The world’s eyes are on Israel for photonics innovations

OASIS 2017 in February attracted 1,500 academics, researchers and industrialists – about 100 of them from Europe – and 60 exhibitors, half of them Israeli. American physicist William Moerner, 2014 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry, was a keynote speaker.

“There are very few conferences of this size in Europe, so it’s amazing for a tiny country like Israel,” says Katzir, who received an award at the conference for his scientific achievements.

Oops! Britney Spears gig forces Israeli Labour party to delay leadership contest

…the Spears concert appears to have cornered the market in security guards and ushers, leaving Labour unable to find staff to secure its election event as well as concern over heavy traffic anticipated from those attending her gig.

The party will now hold its primary a day later.

A Labour party spokesperson told the Times of Israel that the decision to postpone would “make it easier for people to reach polling stations”, and confirmed “a difficulty in recruiting security guards”.

Glowing bacteria are used to hunt landmines in Hebrew U study

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem say they may have found a way to remotely detect unexploded landmines by using a combination of lasers and molecularly engineered bacteria that glow in proximity to the explosives.

They enclosed the bacteria in small polymeric beads, which were then scattered across the surface of a test field in which real antipersonnel landmines were buried. Using a laser-based scanning system, the test field was remotely scanned and the researchers were able to determine the location of the buried explosives.

Israeli MRI co Aspect Imaging raises $30m

Israeli compact MRI systems developer Aspect Imaging has announced the closing of a $30 million financing round. The funds, raised from previous investors, will be used to complete development of Aspect’s Embrace™ Neonatal MRI system and its new Stroke-dedicated MRI System. Founded in 2014, and based in Hevel Modi’in near Tel Aviv, the company has raised $150 million to date including the latest round and $20 million last July.

New film Boycott THIS! had its initial theatrical release at the end of March

“If you don’t know what BDS stands for, remove the ‘D,’” conservative Christian comedian Brad Stine says in the new film Boycott THIS! which had its initial theatrical release at the end of March.

In the Proclaiming Justice to The Nations “docu-tainment,” Stine and the animated “Facts Man” travel around Israel and the rest of the world speaking to those on the front lines of those targeted by the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Colored with clips from comedic films and popular songs, Stine takes his act to Palestinians working in Israeli companies in Judea and Samaria, students on American college campuses and Israeli rescue teams such as ISRAID, speaking to a wide array of leading figures who help make sense of this anti-Jewish crusade.

Log intelligence co OverOps raises $30m

Israeli application reliability and log intelligence company OverOps announced today that it has closed a $30 million Series C financing round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from Menlo Ventures. Both were previous investors in OverOps, which has now raised $52 million.

 

[Roudy]

More BDS failures in 2016, I mean successes (if you're an IslamoNazi). Ha ha ha!



Economic

• VW Invests $300 million in Israeli rideshare Gett

German auto giant Volkswagen has made a $300 million investment in Israeli rideshare start-up Gett, which has a presence in more than 60 countries worldwide including London, Moscow and New York.

The deal will see the two companies form a “strategic partnership,” which will allow them to share data and explore collaboration for future projects. Volkswagen will offer Gett’s services to business customers, while Gett drivers will be able to buy discounted VW cars to use as taxis.

Volkswagen said the deal was part of a move towards modernizing the company’s technological and business platforms.

• UK healthcare company BTG plc for $110 million

Cancer treatment company Galil Medical has been acquired by UK healthcare company BTG plc for $110 million. Galil Medical, which has its development operations in Yokneam near Haifa, has developed cryoablation systems and needles for treating kidney, prostate and other types of cancer. BTG, traded on the London Stock Exchange and Nasdaq specializes in cancer treatments and medical devices and has a market cap of $2.2 billion.

Political

• Universities, Academics in Italy, Scotland, Canada and US Pushing Back Against BDS Movement

In response to widespread efforts to isolate Israel spearheaded by the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, a number of universities around the world have taken a stand this past week in support of the Jewish state.

On Monday, it was reported by Israeli daily Haaretz that Italy will bring its largest ever delegation of academics to Israel in what Italian officials say is a move aimed at countering BDS. The joint academic initiative comes on the heels of a petition signed by some 300 Italian academics who called on Italian universities to cancel agreements with their Israeli counterparts.

“It’s an unprecedented effort to respond concretely on a very delicate issue. We believe that research and universities should be free and open to dialogue and exchange,” Francesco Talo, Italy’s ambassador to Israel, told Haaretz. “We thought that the best answer would be action: to concretely do exactly the opposite of what some people ask us to do and bring a significant number of Italian researchers and academics to Israel. Everybody is free to say what they want, but we will respond with actions.”

• Swiss Parliament launches inquiry into anti-Israeli NGO funding

The front-page story [in Switzerland’s Basler Zeitung on Monday] by veteran journalist Dominik Feusi, headlined “Resistance in Parliament against money for Israel-critical campaigns,” stated that MP Christian Imark had introduced a motion supported by 41 lawmakers from across the political spectrum calling on the FDFA to stop all direct or indirect funding to organizations that sponsor “racist and anti-Semitic actions” or are involved in BDS campaigns.

The move could bring about a sea change in Swiss funding for scores of anti-Israel NGOs operating in Israel and in the disputed territories.

• Israeli supporters shut down BDS flash mob in London

Arutz Sheva reports: Things didn’t go quite as planned for a group of anti-Israel activists, who hoped to force the closure of an Israeli-owned shop in honor of “Nakba Day” – the day dedicated to mourning the failure of combined Arab armies to destroy the State of Israel at birth.

But they weren’t prepared for the response by pro-Israel activists, who turned the tables on the BDS flash mob.

Having learned of the event via social media, the Israel Advocacy Movement mobilized far more activists – including a number of pro-Israel Muslims – seriously outnumbering the bewildered group of far-left and Islamist extremists. Adding insult to injury, the pro-Israel campaigners used the opportunity to flood the Israeli shop with customers, defying the drowned-out calls for a boycott.

• United Methodist Church (USA) withdraws from US Campaign to En the Israeli Occupation

StandWithUs applauds the United Methodist Church (UMC) for voting to withdraw its membership, and end all financial support and staff participation in the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation. The petition was passed with a vote of 478 in favor and 318 against at the UMC General Conference, taking place in Portland, Oregon from May 10th-20th. The vote represents a major defeat for anti-Israel groups in the United States.

The petition, titled, “End Coalition Support,” calls the US Campaign a, “one-sided political coalition,” and notes that, “its agenda includes seeking ‘to isolate Israel economically, socially, and culturally,’ and promoting ‘comprehensive divestment’ against Israel, while overlooking anti-Israel aggression.” The petition concludes by recognizing that, “blaming only one side while ignoring the wrongdoing of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran will not advance the cause of peace.”

• Methodist church meeting votes down four BDS resolutions

The United Methodist Church has rejected several resolutions calling for the 12-million-member Protestant church to divest from companies engaging in business with Israel over its treatment of Palestinians.

Church committees over the weekend voted down four Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions resolutions brought to a vote at the church’s quadrennial United Methodist Church General Conference in Portland, Oregon, taking place this week.

The resolutions would have seen UMC divestment from three companies that pro-Palestinian activists have accused of working with Israeli security forces to sustain Israel’s West Bank settlement enterprise: Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard and Motorola.

Instead, the Finance Committee opted to favor a petition that had been amended into a general commitment to responsible investment of church funds.

A number of groups, including one called United Methodist Kairos Response, who prepared the resolutions for this year’s conference, had lobbied for the divestment measures at the 10-day church policy-making forum.

Similar BDS petitions in the UMC failed in both 2008 and 2012.

• Biggest BDS Fail Ever?

But, at last, there is some good news to report out of Vassar. Students secured enough signatures to bring both the resolution and the amendment to a referendum. To be honest, I felt certain that, at the very least, the BDS resolution would pass. I know of almost no campus at which the pro-BDS forces have seemed stronger. But both measures failed convincingly. The resolution, lost 573-503, and the amendment failed 601-475.

The margin was not nearly as great as it was in the BDS loss at Bowdoin last April, in which BDS gained a mere, humiliating, 14 percent of the vote. Still, Vassar must be a devastating loss not only for pro-boycott Vassar students but for BDS movement enthusiasts nationally. Recall that Vassar is the place where even an ardent supporter of the boycott was shocked at the extent of anti-Israel sentiment he encountered there: “the spirit of that young progressive space was that Israel is a blot on civilization… If a student had gotten up and said, I love Israel, he or she would have been mocked and scorned into silence.” Selling BDS there should have been like selling water in the desert.

Though the BDS movement has suffered many setbacks, the failure at Vassar may be its biggest failure yet.

Cultural, Scientific and Technological

• Jerusalem doctors help Palestinian child with rare foot defect

An eight-year-old Palestinian boy from Beit Jala, who suffered from a rare defect in his foot, is now relived of his pains, thanks to an unusual operation recently carried out at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center.

The young patient, Hana Zeitun, who has not left his home for years due to his condition, can now get out and play with his friends.

“We, family members, used to take turns massaging his foot night and day to try to alleviate his pain. This was the only thing that reduced his pain along with huge amounts of pain killers. But now the leg has recovered from the surgery and the pain is much reduced,” said Zeitun’s father, Malki.

Hana suffered from arteriovenous malformation (AVM), an abnormal connection between his arteries, taking oxygen from his heart and veins and carrying blood with carbon dioxide and wastes back to the heart – thus bypassing the capillary system.

• Springsteen guitarist slams ‘obnoxious idiots’ who back BDS

Amid rumors that Bruce Springsteen will perform in Tel Aviv this summer, he and his E Street band have come under fire from supporters of boycotting Israel.

On Monday, band guitarist Steven Van Zandt — who is also known for playing a mobster on HBO’s “The Sopranos” — responded in typically direct style. In a series of tweets, he called Israel boycotters “politically ignorant obnoxious idiots”.

You and the other Israel boycotters are politically ignorant obnoxious idiots. Israel is one of our two friends> patrick on Twitter

— Stevie Van Zandt (@StevieVanZandt) May 2, 2016

• Elton John delights in fourth Israeli performance

On Thursday, the British pop icon performed some of his greatest hits in Yarkon Park as part of his world tour “Wonderful Crazy Night” (which is also the name of his latest album). The show included some of the singer’s hits beginning from the 70s as well as his more contemporary songs.

• A flurry of performers coming to Israel in June

Brian Wilson – Beach Boy June 8

South Africans “Die Antwoord” – June 8

Simply Red – June 14th

Foreigner – June 14 th and 15th

Alice Cooper – June 16

Zakk Wilde – June 22

Sergio Mendes – June 24 -25

Barry Manilow – June 30th

• Israel Has a Chance to Become the World IoT (Internet of Things) Leader

A few days ago, on May, 19, Grove Ventures, one of the largest and most successful Israeli high-tech companies, co-founded a $100 million venture capital fund for investment into the fields of IoT, artificial intelligence and cloud computing. The fund is supported by an international investment base including companies originating in Israel, Japan, the USA, China, Europe and Taiwan.

• Houzz wins Google’s Play Award

Israeli-made app, Houzz, is a winner in Google’s newly minted Play Awards for the best Android apps. Houzz, founded in 2009 in Tel Aviv by Israeli couple Adi Tatarko and Alon Cohen, took top honors in the Best App category.

The Google Play team chose the free platform for home remodeling that brings together both professionals and homeowners via mobile, local and social tools. Other apps in the running in the Best App category included Colorfy, BuzzFeed News, and Yummly.

• Oramed shares jump 25% on NASDAQ following successful Phase 2 trial

Israeli drug development company Oramed (Nasdaq: ORMP) announced Wednesday the success of its Phase IIb study for its insulin capsule. The primary goal of the trial to reduce blood insulin levels at nighttime was achieved, without a significant increase in hypoglycemic events (a drop in blood sugar below the healthy amount).

Its Nasdaq share price jumped by 25% as the news of the announcement spread. Oramed is preparing for the third phase of clinical trials. The success of Phase IIb means the company will receive the second portion of the investment from Chinese company HTIT, partly owned by Sinopharm, which had committed to investing up to $50 million in Oramed based on the achievement of certain conditions.

 

[montelatici]

"In 1964 it (the Apartheid Boycott campaign) sponsored a major international conference on economic sanctions against South Africa, convened by activist and writer Ronald Segal. The conference was a major event chaired by the Foreign Minister of Tunisia, with delegates from over 40 countries. But it was boycotted by the UK, USA and South Africa’s other major trade partners."

The Anti-Apartheid Movement in the 1960s

 

[MJB12741]

Considering that BDS is being outlawed throughout the US and starting to be in Europe, let us count the ways that BDS is starting to look like a rotten corpse. Looks like what BDS was dreaming for Israel has become it's own fate!



Political BDS fails

Bassem Eid of Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group explains why BDS is bad for Palestinains

All 100 US senators sign letter asking for equal treatment of Israel at the U.N.

All 100 U.S. senators signed a letter released Friday asking U.N. Secretary General António Guterres to address what the lawmakers call entrenched bias against Israel at the world body.

The unanimous message notes that the United States is the largest contributor to the United Nations but does not threaten the withholding of U.S. dues. Still, it uses strong language to insist that the United Nations rectify what the senators said is unequal treatment of Israel on human rights and other grounds.

“Through words and actions, we urge you to ensure that Israel is treated neither better nor worse than any other U.N. member in good standing,” the letter said.

Texas House committee unanimously passes anti-BDS bill

The Texas Senate passed on March 23 a similar bill opposing BDS by a 25-4 vote. Texas Governor Greg Abbott is expected to sign a finalized anti-BDS law from the legislative chambers.

Kansas House votes to block contracting with Israel boycotters

A measure that would block the state from contracting with those who boycott Israel has won approval in the Kansas House.

HB 2409 would prohibit state agencies and departments from entering into contracts with anyone who is boycotting Israel. The state would require written certificates from service, supply, IT and construction contractors that they weren’t boycotting the Jewish state.

House members approved it 116-9 Wednesday. The bill now goes to the Senate.

French bank said to have dropped major BDS account

NEW YORK – One of the world’s largest banks, the Paris-based BNP Paribas, may have closed the account last year of a French organization that advocates boycotting Israel. After the former president of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF) sent a letter to BNP in May 2016, the donation section on the organization’s CAPJPO-Europalestine website was scrubbed of the BNP account.

Israeli journalist Jean Patrick Grumberg, a reporter for the French-language American website Dreuz.info, told The Jerusalem Post on Friday that “CAPJPO removed the link to the page with their bank information… It’s possible that BNP quietly closed the CAPJPO bank account after receiving the letter from CRIF.”

Economic BDS fails

Phenomenal economic growth picked up after #BDS began its smear.





Invest in BDS-banned companies and make LOTS of money!

Here are all of the publicly traded companies I could find listed on the BDSList.org site, and their stock prices from a year ago and today, with the percentage gain or loss. (Some are only listed on the Tel Aviv Exchange.)




If you would have invested equal amounts in all these companies a year ago, you would have made an astounding 50% profit. (The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 16% in that time period. The top funds rated by Kiplinger for the past year made about 30%.)

Israeli SaaS co dapulse raises $25m

Israeli SaaS startup dapulse has announced that it has raised $25 million in its Series B financing round, bringing its total funding to $34.1 million. The round was led by New York-based private equity and venture capital firm Insight Venture Partners with participation from existing Series A investors Genesis and Entree Capital. The company will use the funding to scale its rapid growth, expand its product offering, and ultimately, impact thousands of new businesses.

Bucking boycotts, Ohio to snap up record $61 million in Israel bonds

State of Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel said Monday he will purchase an unmatched $61 million in Israel bonds to hit back at the boycott movement against the Jewish state, and because the bonds are a good investment.

The purchase will be the largest single government purchase of Israel bonds in Ohio history and, following acquisitions in previous years, will leave the the state with more Israel bonds than any other US government body in the country.

Air Malta to launch Tel Aviv route

Air Malta will begin scheduled services between Malta and Tel Aviv from April 21. The Maltese carrier will operate up to three weekly flights during the summer 2017 between Ben Gurion international airport and Valletta.

Air Malta chief commercial officer Paul Sies said, “We are thrilled that we can announce Tel Aviv as our new destination for this season. We have been operating regularly on this route offering Malta as a charter destination in Israel for years, working closely with leading Israeli tour operators. Now the market has matured enough that we can start offering this destination as a scheduled service, providing opportunities to visit the rest of Israel including Jerusalem and the Holy Land.”

SeatGeek buys Israeli ticketing co TopTix for $56m

TopTix, which processes 80 million tickets annually in 16 countries, will continue operating in Israel.

New York based ticketing platform company SeatGeek has announced the acquisition of Israeli ticketing software company TopTix for $56 million. The acquisition by SeatGeek was financed by a new $57 million Series D investment round in SeatGeek led by Glynn Capital, with participation from existing investors Accel, Causeway Media Partners, Haystack Partners, Mousse Partners, and Technology Crossover Ventures.

Israeli economy ranked 3rd most stable in the world for 2016

Index published by Bloomberg financial news agency cites near-zero inflation and a low unemployment rate as stabilizing factors • Israel follows Hong Kong, South Korea in the rankings • Oil-rich Venezuela named least stable economy for 2016.

Check Point beats the analysts again

Check Point provides cyber security solutions. The company outperformed the forecasts in both its top and bottom lines, with $435 million in revenue, 8% more than in the first quarter of 2016, and a non-GAAP net profit of $202 million, $1.20 per share, also 8% more than in the corresponding quarter last year. Cash flow was up 10% to $355 million

Cultural and Technological BDS fails

European Judo Championships to be held in Israel

The European Judo Union has confirmed that Israel will host the European Championships next year.

However, the approval comes with a receipt of NIS 6 million worth of guarantees by the Israeli government, who must demonstrate the economic ability to host the event.

In May, the President of the European Judo Union, Sergey Soloveychik, will arrive in Israel to meet with Minister of Culture and Sport Miri Regev in order to finalize details.

‘Bobbi Jene” about Israeli dancer wins Tribeca Best Documentary

All five of this year’s feature category winners are from female directors including Best International Narrative Feature Son of Sofia, the Albert Maysles New Documentary Director Award for A Suitable Girl and Best Documentary Feature Bobbi Jene.

The docu follows dancer Bobbi Jene Smith returning to the U.S. after starring for the famous Israeli dance company Batsheva. The Elvira Lind-helmed docu also won the cinematography and editing prize in the Documentary competition.

The world’s eyes are on Israel for photonics innovations

OASIS 2017 in February attracted 1,500 academics, researchers and industrialists – about 100 of them from Europe – and 60 exhibitors, half of them Israeli. American physicist William Moerner, 2014 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry, was a keynote speaker.

“There are very few conferences of this size in Europe, so it’s amazing for a tiny country like Israel,” says Katzir, who received an award at the conference for his scientific achievements.

Oops! Britney Spears gig forces Israeli Labour party to delay leadership contest

…the Spears concert appears to have cornered the market in security guards and ushers, leaving Labour unable to find staff to secure its election event as well as concern over heavy traffic anticipated from those attending her gig.

The party will now hold its primary a day later.

A Labour party spokesperson told the Times of Israel that the decision to postpone would “make it easier for people to reach polling stations”, and confirmed “a difficulty in recruiting security guards”.

Glowing bacteria are used to hunt landmines in Hebrew U study

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem say they may have found a way to remotely detect unexploded landmines by using a combination of lasers and molecularly engineered bacteria that glow in proximity to the explosives.

They enclosed the bacteria in small polymeric beads, which were then scattered across the surface of a test field in which real antipersonnel landmines were buried. Using a laser-based scanning system, the test field was remotely scanned and the researchers were able to determine the location of the buried explosives.

Israeli MRI co Aspect Imaging raises $30m

Israeli compact MRI systems developer Aspect Imaging has announced the closing of a $30 million financing round. The funds, raised from previous investors, will be used to complete development of Aspect’s Embrace™ Neonatal MRI system and its new Stroke-dedicated MRI System. Founded in 2014, and based in Hevel Modi’in near Tel Aviv, the company has raised $150 million to date including the latest round and $20 million last July.

New film Boycott THIS! had its initial theatrical release at the end of March

“If you don’t know what BDS stands for, remove the ‘D,’” conservative Christian comedian Brad Stine says in the new film Boycott THIS! which had its initial theatrical release at the end of March.

In the Proclaiming Justice to The Nations “docu-tainment,” Stine and the animated “Facts Man” travel around Israel and the rest of the world speaking to those on the front lines of those targeted by the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Colored with clips from comedic films and popular songs, Stine takes his act to Palestinians working in Israeli companies in Judea and Samaria, students on American college campuses and Israeli rescue teams such as ISRAID, speaking to a wide array of leading figures who help make sense of this anti-Jewish crusade.

Log intelligence co OverOps raises $30m

Israeli application reliability and log intelligence company OverOps announced today that it has closed a $30 million Series C financing round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from Menlo Ventures. Both were previous investors in OverOps, which has now raised $52 million.

Oh no! Without the BDS movement all those new investments that have been pouring into Israel will decline. LONG LIVE THE BDS MOVEMENT!

 

[Roudy]

"In 1964 it (the Apartheid Boycott campaign) sponsored a major international conference on economic sanctions against South Africa, convened by activist and writer Ronald Segal. The conference was a major event chaired by the Foreign Minister of Tunisia, with delegates from over 40 countries. But it was boycotted by the UK, USA and South Africa’s other major trade partners."

The Anti-Apartheid Movement in the 1960s

Apparently Monte did not get the memo, instead of going forward, BDS has gone backwards, outlawed all across America, and now the Europeans are beginning to realize it's nothing but a front for antisemtism and Islamic terrorists.

Here's to dancing all over the rotten corpse of BDS!

 

[Roudy]

Considering that BDS is being outlawed throughout the US and starting to be in Europe, let us count the ways that BDS is starting to look like a rotten corpse. Looks like what BDS was dreaming for Israel has become it's own fate!



Political BDS fails

Bassem Eid of Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group explains why BDS is bad for Palestinains

All 100 US senators sign letter asking for equal treatment of Israel at the U.N.

All 100 U.S. senators signed a letter released Friday asking U.N. Secretary General António Guterres to address what the lawmakers call entrenched bias against Israel at the world body.

The unanimous message notes that the United States is the largest contributor to the United Nations but does not threaten the withholding of U.S. dues. Still, it uses strong language to insist that the United Nations rectify what the senators said is unequal treatment of Israel on human rights and other grounds.

“Through words and actions, we urge you to ensure that Israel is treated neither better nor worse than any other U.N. member in good standing,” the letter said.

Texas House committee unanimously passes anti-BDS bill

The Texas Senate passed on March 23 a similar bill opposing BDS by a 25-4 vote. Texas Governor Greg Abbott is expected to sign a finalized anti-BDS law from the legislative chambers.

Kansas House votes to block contracting with Israel boycotters

A measure that would block the state from contracting with those who boycott Israel has won approval in the Kansas House.

HB 2409 would prohibit state agencies and departments from entering into contracts with anyone who is boycotting Israel. The state would require written certificates from service, supply, IT and construction contractors that they weren’t boycotting the Jewish state.

House members approved it 116-9 Wednesday. The bill now goes to the Senate.

French bank said to have dropped major BDS account

NEW YORK – One of the world’s largest banks, the Paris-based BNP Paribas, may have closed the account last year of a French organization that advocates boycotting Israel. After the former president of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF) sent a letter to BNP in May 2016, the donation section on the organization’s CAPJPO-Europalestine website was scrubbed of the BNP account.

Israeli journalist Jean Patrick Grumberg, a reporter for the French-language American website Dreuz.info, told The Jerusalem Post on Friday that “CAPJPO removed the link to the page with their bank information… It’s possible that BNP quietly closed the CAPJPO bank account after receiving the letter from CRIF.”

Economic BDS fails

Phenomenal economic growth picked up after #BDS began its smear.





Invest in BDS-banned companies and make LOTS of money!

Here are all of the publicly traded companies I could find listed on the BDSList.org site, and their stock prices from a year ago and today, with the percentage gain or loss. (Some are only listed on the Tel Aviv Exchange.)




If you would have invested equal amounts in all these companies a year ago, you would have made an astounding 50% profit. (The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 16% in that time period. The top funds rated by Kiplinger for the past year made about 30%.)

Israeli SaaS co dapulse raises $25m

Israeli SaaS startup dapulse has announced that it has raised $25 million in its Series B financing round, bringing its total funding to $34.1 million. The round was led by New York-based private equity and venture capital firm Insight Venture Partners with participation from existing Series A investors Genesis and Entree Capital. The company will use the funding to scale its rapid growth, expand its product offering, and ultimately, impact thousands of new businesses.

Bucking boycotts, Ohio to snap up record $61 million in Israel bonds

State of Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel said Monday he will purchase an unmatched $61 million in Israel bonds to hit back at the boycott movement against the Jewish state, and because the bonds are a good investment.

The purchase will be the largest single government purchase of Israel bonds in Ohio history and, following acquisitions in previous years, will leave the the state with more Israel bonds than any other US government body in the country.

Air Malta to launch Tel Aviv route

Air Malta will begin scheduled services between Malta and Tel Aviv from April 21. The Maltese carrier will operate up to three weekly flights during the summer 2017 between Ben Gurion international airport and Valletta.

Air Malta chief commercial officer Paul Sies said, “We are thrilled that we can announce Tel Aviv as our new destination for this season. We have been operating regularly on this route offering Malta as a charter destination in Israel for years, working closely with leading Israeli tour operators. Now the market has matured enough that we can start offering this destination as a scheduled service, providing opportunities to visit the rest of Israel including Jerusalem and the Holy Land.”

SeatGeek buys Israeli ticketing co TopTix for $56m

TopTix, which processes 80 million tickets annually in 16 countries, will continue operating in Israel.

New York based ticketing platform company SeatGeek has announced the acquisition of Israeli ticketing software company TopTix for $56 million. The acquisition by SeatGeek was financed by a new $57 million Series D investment round in SeatGeek led by Glynn Capital, with participation from existing investors Accel, Causeway Media Partners, Haystack Partners, Mousse Partners, and Technology Crossover Ventures.

Israeli economy ranked 3rd most stable in the world for 2016

Index published by Bloomberg financial news agency cites near-zero inflation and a low unemployment rate as stabilizing factors • Israel follows Hong Kong, South Korea in the rankings • Oil-rich Venezuela named least stable economy for 2016.

Check Point beats the analysts again

Check Point provides cyber security solutions. The company outperformed the forecasts in both its top and bottom lines, with $435 million in revenue, 8% more than in the first quarter of 2016, and a non-GAAP net profit of $202 million, $1.20 per share, also 8% more than in the corresponding quarter last year. Cash flow was up 10% to $355 million

Cultural and Technological BDS fails

European Judo Championships to be held in Israel

The European Judo Union has confirmed that Israel will host the European Championships next year.

However, the approval comes with a receipt of NIS 6 million worth of guarantees by the Israeli government, who must demonstrate the economic ability to host the event.

In May, the President of the European Judo Union, Sergey Soloveychik, will arrive in Israel to meet with Minister of Culture and Sport Miri Regev in order to finalize details.

‘Bobbi Jene” about Israeli dancer wins Tribeca Best Documentary

All five of this year’s feature category winners are from female directors including Best International Narrative Feature Son of Sofia, the Albert Maysles New Documentary Director Award for A Suitable Girl and Best Documentary Feature Bobbi Jene.

The docu follows dancer Bobbi Jene Smith returning to the U.S. after starring for the famous Israeli dance company Batsheva. The Elvira Lind-helmed docu also won the cinematography and editing prize in the Documentary competition.

The world’s eyes are on Israel for photonics innovations

OASIS 2017 in February attracted 1,500 academics, researchers and industrialists – about 100 of them from Europe – and 60 exhibitors, half of them Israeli. American physicist William Moerner, 2014 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry, was a keynote speaker.

“There are very few conferences of this size in Europe, so it’s amazing for a tiny country like Israel,” says Katzir, who received an award at the conference for his scientific achievements.

Oops! Britney Spears gig forces Israeli Labour party to delay leadership contest

…the Spears concert appears to have cornered the market in security guards and ushers, leaving Labour unable to find staff to secure its election event as well as concern over heavy traffic anticipated from those attending her gig.

The party will now hold its primary a day later.

A Labour party spokesperson told the Times of Israel that the decision to postpone would “make it easier for people to reach polling stations”, and confirmed “a difficulty in recruiting security guards”.

Glowing bacteria are used to hunt landmines in Hebrew U study

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem say they may have found a way to remotely detect unexploded landmines by using a combination of lasers and molecularly engineered bacteria that glow in proximity to the explosives.

They enclosed the bacteria in small polymeric beads, which were then scattered across the surface of a test field in which real antipersonnel landmines were buried. Using a laser-based scanning system, the test field was remotely scanned and the researchers were able to determine the location of the buried explosives.

Israeli MRI co Aspect Imaging raises $30m

Israeli compact MRI systems developer Aspect Imaging has announced the closing of a $30 million financing round. The funds, raised from previous investors, will be used to complete development of Aspect’s Embrace™ Neonatal MRI system and its new Stroke-dedicated MRI System. Founded in 2014, and based in Hevel Modi’in near Tel Aviv, the company has raised $150 million to date including the latest round and $20 million last July.

New film Boycott THIS! had its initial theatrical release at the end of March

“If you don’t know what BDS stands for, remove the ‘D,’” conservative Christian comedian Brad Stine says in the new film Boycott THIS! which had its initial theatrical release at the end of March.

In the Proclaiming Justice to The Nations “docu-tainment,” Stine and the animated “Facts Man” travel around Israel and the rest of the world speaking to those on the front lines of those targeted by the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Colored with clips from comedic films and popular songs, Stine takes his act to Palestinians working in Israeli companies in Judea and Samaria, students on American college campuses and Israeli rescue teams such as ISRAID, speaking to a wide array of leading figures who help make sense of this anti-Jewish crusade.

Log intelligence co OverOps raises $30m

Israeli application reliability and log intelligence company OverOps announced today that it has closed a $30 million Series C financing round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from Menlo Ventures. Both were previous investors in OverOps, which has now raised $52 million.

Oh no! Without the BDS movement all those new investments that have been pouring into Israel will decline. LONG LIVE THE BDS MOVEMENT!

And yet, poor Monte still thinks BDS is succeeding.

Funny how he keeps a straight face while everything around the anti-Israel movement is crumbling, one by one.

Even many Arab states are now working with Israel behind the scenes!

Ya gotta love it!

 

[MJB12741]

"In 1964 it (the Apartheid Boycott campaign) sponsored a major international conference on economic sanctions against South Africa, convened by activist and writer Ronald Segal. The conference was a major event chaired by the Foreign Minister of Tunisia, with delegates from over 40 countries. But it was boycotted by the UK, USA and South Africa’s other major trade partners."

The Anti-Apartheid Movement in the 1960s

Apparently Monte did not get the memo, instead of going forward, BDS has gone backwards, outlawed all across America, and now the Europeans are beginning to realize it's nothing but a front for antisemtism and Islamic terrorists.

Here's to dancing all over the rotten corpse of BDS!

The end of the BDS Movement would be a disaster for Israel. Once it began so many peace loving countries supported Israel with new investments, mostly foreign. What a victory for Monte & his ilk if this movement ends.

 

[Roudy]

Apartheid! Squawk! Apartheid! Squawk!

 

[fanger]

As BDS turns 12 this week, here are 12 indicators of our movement’s growing impact from 2017 to mark the occasion:

1. A UN report established that Israel has imposed a system of apartheid on the entire Palestinian people and called for BDS measures to end this apartheid regime.
   
   
2. The Mennonite Church USA just voted by a 98% majority to divest from companies that profit from the Israeli occupation, following several mainline churches that have adopted similar policies in recent years, including thePresbyterian Church USA, the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church. The Mennonite resolution also urges church members to boycott products produced in illegal Israeli settlements built on stolen Palestinian land.
   
   
3. Right to Boycott wins: The Spanish parliament affirmed that the right to advocate for Palestinian rights through BDS is protected under freedom of speech and association. The UK government was defeated in court by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and its allies in a ruling that deems it unlawful for the government to restrict the right of local authorities to divest from companies complicit in Israel’s violations of Palestinian human rights. The Swiss parliament blocked Israel lobby efforts to criminalize support for BDS.
   
   
4. Norway’s largest trade union federation, representing close to one million workers, endorsed a full boycott of Israel to achieve Palestinian rights under international law.
   
   
5. The Lebanese doctors’ syndicate dropped G4S, the world’s largest private security company, following a campaign by boycott activists in Lebanon concerned with the company’s ongoing complicity in Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights.
   
   G4S also suffered its first loss in Ecuador, where a research institute dropped its contract with the company following a BDS campaign. A California transportationboard dropped its contract with G4S after a human rights and labor coalition, including BDS activists, highlighted the company’s role in violating human rights in Palestine and the United States.
   
   These developments follow many BDS successes in previous years against G4S in Jordan, Colombia, Finland, UK, South Africa, the European Parliament, among other countries and institutions, which compelled the company to sell most of its illegal Israeli operations.
   
   
6. Israel’s largest public transportation operator lost a 190 million euro contract to run public transportation in the Netherlands.
   
   
7. The Barcelona city council adopted ethical procurement guidelines that exclude companies involved in Israel’s military occupation. In the past year, dozens of city councils across the Spanish state declar
   Read the rest here.....BDS Movement Turns 12, Marks Anniversary With List of 12 Wins in 2017