Business & Economy

Sarkozy the G Whiz

Nicolas Sarkozy hopes that his stewardship of the G8 and G20 will sufficiently impress voters to keep him in the Elysee Palace

Leap in Gasoline Prices Hits Commuters Where It Hurts

Israeli commuters got hit in the pocket Sunday, whether they ride in private vehicles or were conscientous about using public transportation.

Egypt Discovers New Deep-Water Gas Field

Egypt announced this week the discovery of a new gas field in the Deepwater West Nile Delta area.

Lebanon's Leftist Newspaper Protected by Hizbullah

Lebanon’s leftist newspaper, Al Akhbar, is the latest media outlet to grab a fistful of WikiLeaks documents and make waves, but not with Hizbullah.

2010 Record Year for Tourism to Israel

The holy city of Jerusalem is the most visited city and the Western Wall the most popular site in the country, says the Tourism Ministry.

Alert Airport Customs Police Foil Zimbabwe Diamond Smuggling

Alert authorities at Ben Gurion Airport foil an attempt to smuggle $140,000 worth of non-certified diamonds from the Marange field in Zimbabwe.

Record Holiday Tourism to Bethlehem

PA and Israeli officials both say this holiday season saw a record number of tourists in Bethlehem.

Greek Parliament Passes Austerity Budget

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou soldiers on with the austerity plan despite massive popular discontent.

Joint Israel-PA Project to Clean Up Sewage in Jordan Valley

A joint project begins between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, aimed at cleaning up sewage in the Jordan Valley village of Ouja.

China Ride's to the Euro's Rescue

China is intervening to shore up the battered Euro. This is enlightened self-interest

Strong Objections to Fischer’s ’Political’ Currency

Stanley Fischer’s political agenda calls for Rabin and Begin’s pictures to grace Israeli currency, but he never asked Begin’s family. It objects.

Russian Gas Firm Trying to Invest in Israel and Iran

Can a company invest in Israel and Iran at the same time? Russia’ Gazprom, which is eyeing Israeli gas fields, defies sanctions and works in Iran.

Rabin, Begin on New Currency in Honor of their ‘Peace Pacts’

Stanley Fischer has approved putting images of Rabin and Begin on new currency because they “made peace” with Arafat and Egypt.

It's All Israel's Fault: PA Blames Israel for Need to Seek Aid

A PA donor conference is planned for April 2011. PA blames Israel for PA reliance on foreign aid while Norway calls for PA transparence.

Bethlehem Mayor's Christmas Wish: Sanctions on Israel

In honor of Christmas, the mayor of Bethlehem lights a tree and calls to boycott Israel.

Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg is TIME Person of the Year

Jewish-born Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, one of the planet’s youngest billionaires, has been named TIME Magazine’s 2010 Person of the Year.

Bernanke Praises His Teacher: Israeli Bank Governor Fischer

Israeli Central Bank Governor Stanley Fischer earns praises from his former student, Federal Reserve Bank chief Ben Bernanke.

Cabinet Cuts Carmel Red Tape

Actions to rehabilitate and assist citizens who were hurt in the Carmel fire are exempted from tenders.

Nir Etzion in Flames, Severe Damage in Other Northern Areas

As the Sabbath approached, Nir Etzion residents joined the thousands evacuated from their Carmel Mountain Range homes.

Desperately Seeking Real Chanukah Donuts in Jerusalem

USA vs. Israel: Homesick Americans who are pining for good, old-fashioned "real" donuts can find them in Jerusalem from now on, even on Chanukah .

New Zealand Govt Relents, Agrees to Allow Kosher Slaughter

Jews in New Zealand will be able to obtain kosher chickens again after the government agreed to allow the resumption of shechita, kosher slaughter.

Slurpees Immigrated to Israel... How About You?

Freezee, the Slurpee style slush drink, can be found in a number of stores in Israel. Some say that this helps them come and stay in Israel.

Egyptian Dependence on US Wheat is Growing

Egyptian demand for American wheat is growing. The country having become the third largest importer of the U.S. grain this month.

Gambia Cuts Ties with Iran, Expels Iranian Diplomats

The tiny African nation of Gambia has cut all ties with Iran and given its diplomats 48 hours to leave.

Russian Company Seeks Stake in Israeli Gas Field

Russia's Gazprom is in talks to buy shares in the development of Israel's natural gas field.

Whistleblower Vanunu to Be Awarded Medal of Honor in Berlin

Israeli whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu is being awarded a medal of honor for the act of treason against Israel that sent him to jail 25 years ago.

Scientists Drill 1,200 Meters Down Under Dead Sea

Scientists are drilling a 1,200-meter bore hole under the northern Dead Sea in a search for the region's geological, climatic and cultural past.

Old MacDonald Brought Back the Pig in Britain

Toy pigs on children's farms temporarily became a political no-no for the politically correct in Britain, but customer ire changed the picture.

Google Chooses Israel for YouTube Marketing Trial

Google has chosen Israel for a video advertising pilot program using the self-broadcast, video sharing YouTube site.

Second Fire in 10 Days Hits Golan Cattle Farmers

A week and a half after a large fire in Nahal Semek, 2,500 acres of grazing land go up in smoke in Nahal El Al.

Aerospace Security Conference in Jerusalem

When the threat level is high, Israel must rise to the challenge, says the head of an aerospace technology conference taking place in Jerusalem.

TEDxTalpiot: Promoting Ideas Worth Spreading in Jerusalem

A quiet revolution is going on in Israel, fueled by the country’s leading thinkers and doers, who encourage and mentor the next generation.

US Energy Specialists in Israel for Update on New Advances

US energy specialists are in Israel to discuss the nation’s top breakthroughs in the field of renewable, alternative energy.

Russia Munches on Israel’s Carrots

Bugs Bunny would have loved them: Russia gobbles up 9,000 tons of Israeli-grown carrots that are the twice the usual size. Don’t forget potatoes.

Take a Bus Across the Ocean to the Holy Land

Canadian children last week boarded a bus to travel to the Holy Land – so to speak – in a new tourism campaign by the State of Israel.

‘Statistical Poverty’ Grows

The number of Israel in "poverty” has grown again, but the statistical calculations in effect make the "circle of poverty” eternal.

Synagogue Bomb Defused 17 Minutes Before Time Ran Out

Officials say packages addressed to Chicago synagogues may not have been intended to reach them.

Trials of an Israeli Train Traveller

Israel is slowly learning to be a service society, but it's hard in a cultural melting pot. The courts have decided to speed up the process.

Canadian Politician Fights Anti-Semitism with Philanthropy

Canadian ex-Senator Jerry Grafstein and his wife Carole are determined to fight anti-Semitism with two Israel-Canada initiatives.

Israel, Lebanon Battle Over Gas Field

A new battlefield is growing between Israel and Lebanon over a mammoth gas field discovered off the coast of Haifa.

OPEC Looks at $100-a-Barrel Oil as US Fights against Recession

Libya adds fuel to OPEC pressure to hike the price of oil to $100 a barrel, which could spark a new round of inflation and recession.

Wide Support for Banning ‘Made in China’ Israeli Flags

A bill for an Israeli flag that really is Israeli --meaning not made in China – passes a Cabinet-level committee Monday.

Country May Go On Huge Strike Tuesday

Mega-Labor union Histadrut calls strike to pressure Finance Ministry in negotiations over public sector wage hike.

Caterpillar Delays Bulldozer Deliveries Over Corrie Trial

The American company that supplies the IDF with bulldozers is holding up delivery until the Rachel Corrie civil trial ends.

South African Cleric Urges Opera Troupe Boycott of Israel

Cape Town Opera company rejects South African cleric Desmond Tutu's call on the to boycott Israel and cancel its visit next month to Tel Aviv.

Kashrut Alert: No to Grape Children's Liquid Tylenol

Kosher consumers are being warned to avoid Canadian-produced Children's Liquid Tylenol due to a change in the formula.

Israeli Startup Creates Cell Phone Radiation Shield

An Israeli startup has created a product that although small in physical size, may produce a big impact on the general market.

IDF Dances with Fatah Over Gaza

The IDF is coordinating efforts with the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority to re-install it in Gaza and improve life there without involving Hamas.

Oregon Looks to Israel for Clean Tech Sales

The governor of Oregon is looking for business in Israel, focusing on the West Coast state’s clean tech, security and defense industries.

22 Jewish Groups Listed on 2009 Philanthropy 400

Just 22 Jewish organizations made the 2009 list of groups selected for the U.S.-based Chronicle of Philanthropy 400 this year.

Israeli Stock Analyst Ranked Number Two in US

Israeli Tal Liani has been named by Insitutional Investor as the number two stock market analyst in the US for the third straight year.

OECD Conference Opens in Jerusalem despite PA Call for Ban

Most OECD members ignore a PA call to boycott a conference in Jerusalem, but no tours will be led to areas in the capital claimed by the PA.

Steinitz Presents 'Very Different' State Budget

Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz presented the 2011-2012 state budget - and said it was significantly different than recent ones.

New Survey Indicates Large Oil Field Buried Under Negev Sand

A new survey indicates $2 billion worth of oil may be sitting under Western Negev sand. Meanwhile, Mediterranean drilling launches a new era.

Israel Invites Chilean Miners to Visit for Christian Holidays

The Tourism Ministry has invited the 33 Chilean miners, who survived underground for 68 days, to visit Israel to give thanks for their rescue.

Ground Zero Mosque Developer Facing Fiscal Woes

The Ground Zero mosque developer is being sued by a bank for defaulting on a $100,000 credit line. His firm was forced to move from its office.

Iran Becomes President of OPEC

The 12 member nations of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries have elected Iran to become the organization's 2011 president.

International Uproar Over Jerusalem Building Approvals

The international community calls on Israel to freeze construction in areas of Jerusalem claimed by the PA for its hoped-for state.

Lev Leviev Sells 50% of Africa-Israel Hotels to Investors' Group

Lev Leviev has sold 50 percent of Africa-Israel Investments' fully-owned subsidiary, Africa-Israel Hotels, to a Belgian investors' group.

US Grants $1M to Abraham Fund Co-Existence Project

The US federal government has granted nearly a million dollars to the Abraham Fund to support a three-year Arab-Israeli co-existence project.