Saturday, March 5, 2011

Israel - Follow The Money

1.An Apple a day....

Israel and Syria may officially be at war with one another, but that isn’t preventing a bustling apple trade between the two countries. Starting yesterday, February 15, and lasting three weeks, all apples grown by Israeli farmers on the Golan Heights will be exported to Syria. An estimated 12,000 tons of apples will be exported every day. Of course, the Syrians will not do business directly with the Israelis, so the apples are transfered through third parties, the UN and the International Red Cross.

2.Israeli Economy Booming

Israel's GDP rose at an unprecedented pace of 7.8%,on an annualized, seasonally adjusted basis, in the fourth quarter of 2010, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported today. GDP rose by an annualized 5.4% in the second half of last year, after rising 5% in the first half, and 3.4% in the second half of 2009.

Comment: That friends, is a booming economy. Quite frankly, the one thing that can save arab economies from long term destruction, is a peace agreement with Israel. But like my cousin Hilton says..."there is no cure for stupid".

3.Intel signs $300m procurement deal in Israel

Intel Corporation (Nasdaq: INTC) has signed a new reciprocal procurement deal in Israel. Intel Israel general manager Maxine Fassberg today signed the five-year $300 million agreement with Industrial Cooperation Authority director general Bina Bar-On. Bar-On said, "The great news emerging from this new agreement touches on Israeli vendors who will be recognized by giants like Intel. Since 1996, Intel has led in reciprocal procurement, making over $5 billion in procurements in Israel," said Bar-On.

Comment: Keep bashing away BDS. The more you bash, the more Israel succeeds. Please remove yourselves from facebook....


4.CSR of UK buys Zoran for $679 million

British company CSR plc, based in Cambridge, is to buy Israeli chip company Zoran Corp. (Nasdaq: ZRAN) for $679 million, the two companies announced last night. Zoran is managed by founder Levy Gerzberg. CSR is a supplier of wireless connectivity and location chips. It sells Bluetooth, GPS, FM, Wi-Fi and audio devices.

5.Israel tests Arrow 2 anti-missile system

Israel's defense establishment has completed a successful test of the Arrow 2 ballistic missile defense system on Tuesday. Using an interceptor missile, the operators were successful in destroying a target missile launched from a ship at sea. The system check was conducted at a designated field in the US.

COMMENT: For some or other reason, Tom Friedman of the almost bankrupt NYT seems to think that Israel is a child in an adults world, lecturing Israel on what it owes The US. Maybe so Mr. friedman, the difference being that Israel pays its debts.

6.Better Place unveils Danish electric car prices

Better Place today launched its European visitors center, together with Renault, and the programs that it will offer subscribers in Denmark. The price of the electric car itself - the Renault Fluence - will be €27,500 (NIS 138,000). The price, which is tax exempt, is considered a bargain for Danes who are normally required to pay 180% purchase tax and VAT on new cars.

7.IDF celebrates Armored Corps history: Trophy system successful 

For Israel this is huge. Defence forces around the world must be in awe of this development. The Trophy (ASPRO-A) system, also known as ‘Windbreaker’, protected a Merkava 4 tank of the IDF from the missile attack, according to news reports.The defence system, produced by Israel’s Rafael company in partnership with US’s General Dynamics, uses sensors and radar to track an incoming missile and fires interceptor missiles that neutralise the hostile weapon before it can strike the tank. The IDF’s Stryker armourded fighting vehicle fitted with Trophy, withstood numerous missiles and rocket attacks under a six-week test and evaluation programme conducted by the US Office of Secretary of Defence (OSD).

COMMENT: And they say Israel is of no strategic benefit to the US... What other ally can develop such equipment? The financial implications, to put it mildly, are considerable.

To survive it is often necessary to fight and to fight you have to dirty yourself - George Orwell 

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