San Diego Jewish World
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 Vol. 1, No. 125

 EU's Solana in Israel for consultations

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assigns great importance to Solana's visit, against the backdrop of the EU's increased involvement in the region and the anticipated upgrade in bilateral relations between Israel and the EU.

The preceding story was provided by Israel's Ministry for Foreign Affairs

 



Firefighters battled Greek blazes,
saved village, won friends for Israel

TEL AVIV (Press Release)--After four days of grueling, round-the-clock activity in Greece, Israeli firefighters returned to Israel early Friday morning (31 August).

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni commended the firefighters and the Israeli embassy staff in Athens for their life-saving activities.

The preceding story was provided by Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 

Olmert, Cabinet members, help to
inaugurate Israel's new school year

RAMLA, Israel (Press Release)—Prime Minister Ehud Olmert this morning  visited schools in Ramla and Lod to mark the beginning of the school year.  He was accompanied by Education Minister Yuli Tamir, Interior Minister Meir Shetrit, Education Ministry Director-General Shmuel Abuav and Teachers Federation Chairman Yossi Wassermann.  
 
They visited the Achva School in Ramla where they met with first grade pupils and continued on to the DKL School in Lod for handicapped Jewish and Arab students. 

Prime Minister Olmert said: "I am pleased and moved to open the school year and am even happier that it has opened as scheduled.  Education is the State of Israel's top priority, along with security and dealing with social distress. This finds expression in the actions that we are undertaking and in the resources that we are investing in education. 

“The new reform that is underway this year, in cooperation with the Teachers Federation, is not at the expense of the steps that we have taken previously but is a significant addition that begins a new horizon for teachers, students and education in general.  To you, dear teachers, I can say that I know how difficult this work is.  But I can also describe to myself that it is also very satisfying, certainly for those of you that work with special-needs populations.  We can see what compassion, fostering and investment can do. 

“As I view the excellent teachers in Ramla and Lod, I reiterate that the belittling of the education system must stop.  Whoever does this does not recognize the excellent schools and the wonderful teachers that we have here.  Our schools are among the best in the world and many teachers have a sense of mission, dedication and are motivated by great love. 

The school year opened around the country and I am very pleased that in the end, parents in Sderot showed responsibility and sent their children to school.  We are anxious and concerned for the security of our children and for that of parents and teachers everywhere, especially in Sderot and the other communities near the Gaza Strip.  We will do everything, with the necessary balance and responsibility, to protect them."

The preceding story was provided by the office of Israel's Prime Minister

 


Austrian chancellor to visit Yad Vashem

JERUSALEM (Press Release)—The Chancellor of Austria, H.E. Dr. Alfred Gusenbauer, will visit Yad Vashem on Monday, September 3. He will be accompanied by Avner Shalev, Chairman of Yad Vashem.

His 90-minute schedule at Israel's national Holocaust memorial and museum includes a tour of the history museum and a visit to its Hall of Names; a wreath-laying ceremony at the Hall of Remembrance, a visit to the Children's Memorial, and the signing of the guest book at the exit of the Children's Memorial.

The preceding story was provided by Yad Vashem