Dispatch from Jerusalem

Israel’s Amazing Variety of Foods: Hot Avocado Soup

What’s new on the Israeli menu? The variety of foods in Israel is amazing due to the fact that her immigrants come from well over 100 nations, bringing their favorite recipes, which then get blended into new taste sensations.

Arabs Vandalize Judaism´s Holiest Site

An act of Islamic vandalism on a wall of Judaism’s holiest site, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, has elicited outrage on the part of archaeologists. In March, the word “Allah” was found carved into the eastern wall of the Temple Mount. The Arabic letters are approximately a foot tall (30.5 centimeters).

Israel Expects Middle Eastern war in 2006

Israel has expressed its belief that Iran and several of its Arab allies are preparing for a full-scale war against the Jewish state, possibly following the expected United States withdrawal from Iraq in 2006.

Unnamed U.S. officials told Middle East Newsline in April that, according to Israeli assessments, the departure of most American forces from the region will lead to increased tensions and provide an atmosphere ripe for an escalation of violence against Israel.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon “has relayed repeated messages to the U.S. administration that Iran and its Arab allies are preparing for war,” one official said.

Thieves Try to Sell Ancient Bones

First, the antiquities thieves sold stolen ancient burial boxes. Now, they are trying to sell the human bones inside them as well. Israel’s Antiquities Authority announced that they had thwarted an attempt by two Jerusalem Arab men to sell four Second-Temple ossuaries—and the human bones inside—to Zaka, Israel’s volunteer rescue and recovery organization, for reburial.

Pa TV Continues Incitement Against Israel and the U.S.

Official Palestinian Authority (PA)-sponsored television broadcast a sermon in April that accused Israel and the United States of seeking to conquer the Arab world.

“Our enemies want to occupy Arab and Islamic lands under their leadership,” Sheikh Ibrahim Mudayris declared in his weekly sermon. The imam (Islamic preacher) is on the payroll of the PA, according to Hebrew University Professor and Arab affairs expert Dr. Michael Widlanski, who translated the sermon.

Injected Genes stimulate Growth of New Blood Vessels

Genes injected into the heart of a cardiac patient stimulated the growth of new blood vessels in a first-ever operation performed at Rabin Medical Center, located in Petach Tikvah near Tel Aviv. The injection of the genes was carried out by using a cardiac catheter.

Clothes that Adjust to Body Temperature

An Israeli clothing manufacturer has designed a line of clothing using a fabric that automatically adjusts to a wearer’s personal body heat. The Bagir Company is using a high-technology wool blend designed to maintain a wearer’s comfort level regardless of the temperature of his surroundings.

Agricultural Production Jumps

Despite efforts to write off agriculture as an “old economy” industry, becoming less relevant in the high-tech era, figures released by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reveal that the Israeli agricultural sector is thriving and growing.

Water shortages and steep water price hikes have not hampered what the statistics show is a growth industry. The value of agricultural production jumped by 28.7% in the period from 1999 to 2004.

1.8 Million Tourists Expected in 2005

According to Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) and Ministry of Tourism, first-quarter 2005 tourist arrivals jumped 25% over the same period last year, with 373,000 visitors. The jump raised expectations of a total annual figure of 1.8 million tourists—higher than anticipated. Significant increases in tourist traffic were registered from Britain, Germany, the United States, France, Italy, and other countries.

Israeli Authorities Prevent Smuggling

An antiquities expert attempting to sneak an ancient measuring weight out of Israel was thwarted by a joint Postal Authority, Antiquities Authority, and Customs Bureau effort.