Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz ordered the immediate shutdown af a Military antenna near Rehovot

"Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz ordered the immediate shutdown of a military antenna at Kibbutz Na'an, east of Rehovot, ending a six-month battle by kibbutz residents who demanded the antenna's removal. The Defense Ministry will begin dismantling the primary antenna over the course of the next year, and the remaining antennas in the area will be activated only in cases of an emergency. a'an residents have complained about the close proximity of the antennas used by the Israel Defense Forces. They say there is a link between the location of the antennas and the dozens of cases of cancer in Na'an and the nearby moshav of Sitriya.

Residents of Kibbutz Na'an and other communities in the Rehovot area have frequently protested against the antenna, which they say emits harmful radiation. Earlier this year, discussions between the residents and the Defense Ministry led to the decision to invite an external expert to examine whether there is a causal connection between the cancer cases and the level of radiation from the antennas.

Professor Eliyahu Richter from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found a deviation from the permitted level of radiation emitted from the antenna located in close proximity to Na'an.

Earlier this month, with the start of the academic year, parents in the area refused to send their children to a newly established school in Sitriya for fear of exposure to radiation. As an alternative, parents enlisted the aid of teachers to provide the children with out-of-school instruction in temporary facilities.

Parents also announced that the alternative study system would continue until the antennas are shut down.

"We must do everything in order to return the students from the school near the antenna to regular instruction as soon as possible," Mofaz said Wednesday.

"This is a goodwill gesture and we cannot ignore it," said Gidi Hillel, a resident of Sitriya, in reaction to the Defense Ministry's decision. "We intend on discussing this decision as well as its significance."

Hillel said that any decision regarding the return of students to the new school near the antenna will have to be made by all residents in the region.

Yifat Safriel, a nearby resident who is active in protesting the antennas, said she viewed the Defense Ministry's decision as a recognition of the problem.

"We ask to meet with the defense minister's chief of staff so that we can understand the significance of the decision," Safriel said. "We do not know when [the Defense Ministry] will declare an emergency, which will enable the antennas to operate again, and we do not know what the power level of the broadcast will be when it does operate again."

"We intend to convene and discuss the developments but, as of now, the school shutdown will continue," Safriel said.

Source: Yuval Azoulay. IDF antenna emitting excess radiation to be shut down. Haaretz.com (28 September 2005) [FullText]

Rehovot's Kaplan Hospital Employees at Strike

In a solidarity move with striking employees in Eilat’s Yosef-Tal Hospital, Clalit HMO employees will be implementing sanctions in the fourteen affiliate hospitals around the country.

As a result, the nursing staff in the hospitals will operate on a Sabbath limited schedule, canceling all clinics and non-emergency treatments. Support staff, maintenance and other personnel will also take part in the sanctions while physicians will work on a regular schedule.

The strike will include the following hospitals: Beilinson (Petach Tikvah), Schneider (Petach Tikvah), HaSharon (Tel Aviv), Beit Levinstein, HaEmek (Afula area), Carmel, Meir (Kfar Saba), Kaplan (Rehovot), Herzlfeld Geriatric Hospital, Rebecca Ziv (Tzfat) and Talbiah Psychiatric Hospital.

Source: HMO Sanctions in 14 Clalit Affiliated Hospitals. IsraelNN.com (26 September 2005) [FullText]

Rehovot Scientist served a keynote speaker at the US Science Congress

Prof. Michal Schwartz of the Weizmann Institute of Science, Proneuron's scientific founder is chosen as the keynote speaker at the First Joint Conference of the American Spinal Injury Association and The International Medical Society of Paraplegia

Rehovot (6 May 2002) Proneuron Biotechnologies, Inc. announced today that its scientific founder, Prof. Michal Schwartz, of the Neuroimmunology department at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, was chosen by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) to give the G. Heiner Sell Lecture at a plenary session of the 2002 Joint ASIA-IMSOP Annual Conference, held in Vancouver. The invitation to give this keynote presentation in front of the leading rehabilitation specialists was made in recognition of groundbreaking research on immune-modulation to promote spinal cord recovery following acute injuries. Prof. Schwartz and her team at the Weizmann Institute made the discovery that activated macrophages induce functional recovery in the damaged spinal cord of laboratory rats. Proneuron Biotechnologies, the exclusive licensee of the technology, subsequently developed the initial discovery into a human clinical program.

See http://www.proneuron.com for more information.

Contact: Nir Nimrodi, CEO, Tel. +972-8-9409550, Email: nir.nimrodi@proneuron.com

The Weizmann Institute of Science, in Rehovot, Israel, is one of the world's foremost centers of scientific research and graduate study. Its 2,500 scientists, students, technicians, and engineers pursue basic research in the quest for knowledge and the enhancement of humanity. New ways of fighting disease and hunger, protecting the environment, and harnessing alternative sources of energy are high
priorities at the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Contact: Yivsam Azgad, Spokesman, Tel. +972-8-934-3856, Email: Yivsam.Azgad@weizmann.ac.il , And News@Weizmann.ac.il , For more information please see http://Wis-Wander.weizmann.ac.il

News Archive: Rehovot woman suspected of plotting to kill violent spouse

"A REHOVOT woman suspected of plotting to kill her violent husband was remanded yesterday by Rehovot Magistrate's Court for 10 days.

The woman, Marina Denisiyensky, 32, was arrested with two other suspects, Roman Deniroki and Alexander Donyiev, who were remanded for the same period on suspicion of extortion and their alleged part in the murder plot.

Denisiyensky's husband is currently awaiting trial on two charges of violence against his wife..."

Source: Raine Marcus. Rehovot woman suspected of plotting to kill violent spouse . Jerusalem Post (19 September 1996) [Search FullText]

Google Sued for a Key Word?

"Well-known Haifa graphologist Anna Koren yesterday filed a lawsuit against international search giant Google and the Bnei Brak-based Sela Group, which operates a graphology course.

According to the suit, Koren discovered a few weeks ago that Sela-controlled company Youniverse bought ad space from the Google search engine. Koren claims that the space was purchased "exploiting Anna Koren's name as a search term. Entering the combination `Anna Koren' into the search engine, produces a 'sponsored link' to Koren rival Youniverse above the search results."

Haaretz found that Google search results for Anna Koren - in Hebrew on the engine's Israeli site - do appear with an ad for Youniverse, labeled "sponsored link."

According to Koren's attorney, after the prominent graphologist discovered this, she approached Google and Sela Group, asking them to immediately cease and desist the use of her name. In addition, she demanded compensation for damages, but this demand was rejected.

The lawsuit demands compensation and an immediate stop to the use of Anna Koren's name and reputation in connection with promoting sales of the other company.

Said Koren in a press release: "For 30 years I have fought to have graphology recognized as a professional and scientific field. My name is now associated with a place that teaches holistic fields like astrology, palm reading and Tarot card reading. I do not accept this, I do not agree to this, and I am therefore suing them."

The lawsuit states that it is legitimate for the defendants to use search terms such as "graphology institute" or "graphology," but not to exploit the reputation Koren has built over the years - through lectures and professional opinions she provides all over the world.

No defense has been filed in court. However, Sela has stated: "Although we have not yet received the lawsuit, and we are not familiar with Ms. Koren's specific claims, our preliminary response is that it is not improper to use a legal service that Google offers anyone. Had we thought for even a moment that using this service was unethical or illegal ... we would never have used it in the first place."

Source: David Ratner. Graphologist sues Google, local company for exploitation. Haaretz.com (5 September 2005) [FullText]

P.S. Please note that Anna Koren is not just scientist or academic person, as one may conclude after reading quoted article by Haaretz. Anna Koren is apparently a succesful business woman leading Anna Koren Graphology Center Ltd. We easily discovered this by performing web search with the key word Anna Koren using www.google.co.il. The page meta data at Google search results reads as follows: "The GRAPHOLOGY CENTER was founded by Anna Koren, a foremost world expert in graphology, in Haifa, Israel in 1976. Today, with over 1000 clients in Europe, US, Australia, Cyprus and Israel it is the largest graphological center in the world." Does such observation make sense of suing one commercial entity by an LTD? Otherwise why would regular academician bring a business to a court? One may also wonder what is the ethics behind Anna Koren's Center public presentation of the Handwriting Analysis of Bill Clinton and others?

Rehovot Public Protest to Reinstate Unfairly Disrupted Egged Express Bus Service to Bar-Ilan University

When: Each Friday morning 9:20 AM (5 minute protest)
Where: Herzog Street corner HaGra St.
How: Cross the street in front of the 319 bus, waving our hands with an Israeli flag.

Why: Our Dati Leumi way of life is under attack by extremist Haredi elements. They have succeeded in canceling the Bar Ilan University (BIU) bus stop on the Bnei-Brak express bus line. While they claim this is because of immodestly dressed women (rarely happens), it is because BIU (integrating Torah with modern life styles) is the greatest threat to their way of life.

If we do not succeed in reinstating the BIU bus stop on the express route, we are in effect abandoning easy access for our kids to get a Dati Leumi education at BIU. We should not be surprised if this is not the last thing we lose to the never ending extremists, who are trying to impose their way of life on us.

On February 1, 2005, EGGED surrendered to Rehovot Haredi extremists and cancelled the BIU bus stop on the Rehovot-Bnei Brak express line (#318). EGGED replaced the # 318 bus that served BIU to and from Rehovot with the # 319 that follows the same route and time schedule exactly, but avoids stopping at BIU. Instead, EGGED renamed the # 317 local the # 318 and added a few extra buses - to provide only a quarter of the daily service for travelers between Rehovot and BIU. EGGED thus demonstrated their support of the extremist Haredi elements and their complete disregard of the needs (and legal rights) of the Dati Leumi community.

Unfortunately, to date, little progress has been made by the Dati Leumi community to reverse EGGED’s mistaken actions. We have received NO support from the Chief Rabbi of Rehovot, despite our request that he write a simple letter to EGGED requesting that they reinstate the BIU bus stop. EGGED would be very happy to receive such a letter since they are losing money on the duplicate service they are offering. Simply put, EGGED has been forced to choose between two different worlds – and so far they have chosen the Haredi world. Help us make EGGED realize that their decision was wrong.

Signed by: Rabbi Prof Yechezkel Babkoff, Rabbi Prof Aryeh Frimer, Prof Sanford Sampson, Prof David Kessler, Prof Jeremy Schiff, Prof Ron Ungar, Prof Heshy Basch, Prof Yaffa Machnes, Dr. Avi Caspi, Tammar Machnes, Barak Reif, and Henry Schwarzbaum. Presented image shows the protest held 16 September 2005

Rescued Gaza Pets find Temporary Homes in Rehovot

"It's not every day that a goose is relocated to a new home, or for that matter hundreds of other dogs, cats, turkeys, chickens, lizards, ducks and parakeets. However, that's exactly what's been happening to animals in Gush Katif, who have not been evacuated by soldiers or police, but rather by volunteer workers in animal protection organizations like Noach and Kol Chai, who have volunteered to save these animals from starvation in the abandoned homes.

It is a slow process and workers are having an especially difficult time knowing exactly how many animals still have to be saved. According to Tali Lavie of Kol Chai, so far "over 100 animals have been rescued." But there are hundreds more that still need to be taken out of their homes and placed into shelters because their owners are not able to bring them into hotels.

As Gush Katif pet owners wait until they are once again able to retrieve their animals, shelters are becoming increasingly crowded. Shelly Gluzman, chairperson of Noach, the animal rights umbrella organization, believes that it is becoming imperative that new shelters be built. "The shelters simply can no longer hold the amount of animals coming in," she said.

Until these organizations are able to relocate the owners of these animals, the animals will remain in shelters throughout the country including Jerusalem, Rehovot, and Rishon Lezion."

Source: Anav Silverman. Pets rescued from empty Gaza homes (25 August 2005) [FullText]

Tnuva has invested NIS 35 million into its dairy factory in Rehovot

"Tnuva has invested NIS 35 million into its dairy factory in Rehovot to develop the group's new SHOCK cold chocolate product line in an attempt to become market leader for dairy products in the next two years. "We have invested in new technology and equipment. We see here an opportunity and strong potential to become the leader in the market for dairy drinks within the next two years," said Liad Cohen, managing director of the group's dairy division. Under the logo "It is time to wake up," the morning SHOCK chocolate line will offer cold dairy chocolate drinks in five flavors: chocolate, chocolate coffee, chocolate pecan, chocolate nougat and coffee light.

"We will invest NIS 4m. in marketing and advertising the new product line. We have been working on this product launch for the past two years and we expect to expand this market, which has been slowing down since 2002," said Hagit Adler, marketing and business manager of Tnuva's dairy division. The annual volume of the chocolate and milk drinks market stands at about NIS 300m. The launch marks the third time over the past few years that Tnuva is making an attempt to become the market leader in the chocolate and dairy drinks market, which has been led by Yotvata of Strauss-Elite with a market share of about 65 percent. Today Tnuva has about 30% market share via its Carlo, Buddy and milk product line. Tnuva expects its share in the dairy and chocolate drinks market to grow to 40% by the end of 2006."

Source: Sharon Wrobel. Tnuva launches new product line. JPost.com (1 September 2005) [FullText]

10 Year Ago: Tnuva Suspends Rehovot Plant Manager

"TNUVA suspended the manager of its Rehovot plant yesterday, after an internal investigatory committee found that a "minute" amount of silicon compound had been added to its 1 percent-fat long-life milk.

The Health Ministry's Food Service Division has not yet concluded its own test on samples of the milk processed over the past few months, but the ministry spokeswoman called the addition of silicon "extremely serious."

The matter was first disclosed by Ma'ariv, which tested the milk and found "significant" amounts of dimethyl siloxane in the 1%-fat milk ... "

Source: Judy Siegel. Tnuva Suspends Rehovot Plant Manager. Jerusalem Post (11 September 1995) [Search FullText]

Rehovot led as the highest spending city 2004 with at least one mobile phone per household

or in 2004 Rehovot led as the highest spending city

"Of Israel's 14 largest cities, Rishon Lezion spends the most money per household monthly, according to a survey released Monday by the Central Bureau of Statistics.

Averaging an expenditure of NIS 11,724, Rishon Lezion families spend more than those in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Rehovot, Ashkelon, Jerusalem, Holon, Petah Tikvah, Beersheba, Bat Yam, Netanya, Ashdod and Ramat Gan. The fourteen cities were surveyed over the past year by the Central Bureau of Statistics. CBS has conducted such a survey every five to seven years since the early 1950s, and yearly since 1997.

Of the cities, four have populations over 200,000: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and Rishon Lezion, while the remaining 10 are home to 100,000-200,000 people.

The thriftiest of the cities was Bat Yam, spending an average NIS 7,512 per household monthly. Comparatively, in 2004 Rehovot led as the highest spending city, at NIS 10,957 per month. The survey also compared housing and found the most cramped living conditions in Bnei Brak, where houses accommodated the most residents per square meter.

The most expensive dwellings, on average, were in Ramat Gan, while the lowest average rents were in Beersheba. Tel Aviv residents paid the highest average rent, the survey found.

Despite the crowdedness of Bnei Brak, the highest percentage of households there owned freezers. The highest number of households in Petah Tikvah owned air conditioners, compared to the fewest in Jerusalem.

The most households owned at least one cellular phone in Rehovot, while in Holon the most households had cable television."

Source: Sari Cohen. Rishon Lezion households spend most monthly. www.JPost.com (5 September 2005) [FullText]

Soldier killed in Rehovot

"A 34-year-old Be'er Sheva man died Saturday after he fell from a jet ski near the Zikim Beach, south of Ashkelon. A medical rescue team that was called to the scene declared him dead after unsuccessfully trying to resuscitate him. The man was identified as Yigal Ivgi. He purchased the jet ski several days ago and spent the day at the beach with family and friends. Sderot police, who are investigating the incident, tracked down the victim's parents.

Early Saturday, a soldier was killed in Rehovot after the car they were riding in veered from its lane and hit a cart attached to a parked vehicle. Another person was hurt in the accident.

Two women, aged 50 and 39, were seriously injured in a car crash in Ashdod. Eight other people were hurt in the accident. Northern police arrested a 23-year-old man from the village of Ibleen who was caught driving at a speed of 181 kilometers-per-hour near Haifa. The man?s license was revoked for 30 days and he will face a judge Sunday. In Police issued 600 tickets to traffic offenders overnight Friday and arrested 13 drunk drivers. Nine drivers had their licenses revoked for serious offenses and 17 vehicles were taken off the road for technical faults."

Source: Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz ServiceBe'er Sheva man, 34, drowns after falling from his jet ski. Haaretz (4 September 2005) [FullText]

Rehovot Resident Arrested on Suspicion of Raping 8-year-old

"A 36-year-old Rehovot resident was detained overnight on suspicion of raping an eight-year-old girl on Monday. He allegedly met the girl on the street, asked her to help him find a certain address, and raped her upon reaching the destination. Police arrived at the scene after hearing the girl's screams and arrested the man, who later admitted to the rape, Army Radio reported."

Source: Man arrested on suspicion of raping 8-year-old. JPost.com (30 August 2005) [FullText]