Israeli Apartment Finding Group

People helping people live in Israel

This service is *free*

However if you feel that you have benefited from this service then you are invited to give a donation to the Frankforter Day Center for the Elderly, Jerusalem. Donations may be made out to Agudat Ezra Lekashish acct no. 12-105-959-456 at the First International Bank or directly to The Frankforter Center for the Aged, 80 Derech Bet Lechem, Jerusalem, POB 10074.

Flathunting has expanded services into; http://www.flathuntingisrael.com/ where ads have pictures enabled, you can rate both the apartment AND the owner! The listings now include the entire country listed by city and even neighborhood.

Or join the group and get up to date listings @

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Flathunting/

New Tel Aviv NightLife Video

Recent You Tube Videos on Tel Aviv NightLife.

Scopus Video Networks

TEL AVIV, Israel, April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Scopus Video Networks , announced today that it will be releasing its first quarter 2008 results on Monday, May 5, 2008.The

Company will also be hosting a conference call later that same day at 1:00pm ET. On the call, management will review and discuss the results, and will be available to answer investor questions.

To participate, please call one of the following teleconferencing numbers. Please begin placing your calls at least 10 minutes before the conference call commences. If you are unable to connect using the toll-free numbers, please try the international dial-in number.

US Dial-in Number: 1-866-652-8972

at:1:00pm Eastern Time, 10:00am Pacific Time, 6:00pm UK Time,8:00pm Israel TimeFor those unable to listen to the live call, a replay of the call will be available from the day after the call in the investor relations section of Scopus's website, at: http://www.scopus.net/About Scopus Video NetworksScopus Video Networks develops, markets, and supports digital video networking solutions that enable network operators to offer advanced video services to their subscribers. Scopus solutions support digital television, HDTV, live event coverage, and content distribution. Scopus' comprehensive digital video networking solutions offer intelligent video gateways, encoders, decoders, and network management platforms.

Scopus' solutions are designed to allow network operators to increase service revenues, improve customer retention, and minimize capital and operating expenses. Scopus customers include satellite, cable, and terrestrial operators; broadcasters; and telecom service providers. Scopus solutions are used by hundreds of network operators worldwide.

For more information visit: http://www.scopus.net/Company Contact: Investor Relations ContactMoshe Eisenberg Ehud Helft / Kenny GreenChief Financial Officer GK Investor RelationsTel: +972-3-900-7100 Tel: (US)+1-646-201-9246Moshee@scopus.net info@gkir.comScopus Video Networks Ltd

The prestigious magazine, Global Finance has chosen Leumi as one of the best banks in the Developed Markets for 2008

Leumi continues to capture international awards. After its recent selection as “Bank of the Year in Israel for 2007,” by the magazine, The Banker, from the Financial Times group, the magazine, Global Finance has chosen it as one of the best banks in the developed markets for 2008.
The magazine has released the names of the 27 banks throughout the world that earned this award in a press announcement in New York. Leumi is the only Israeli bank included in this respected list. A full report on the selection will be featured in the April issue of the magazine. In a press release, the magazine reported, “This year, the award-winning banks were attentive to their customers needs and attained superb results while laying the foundations for future success.”

The Global Finance editors selected the banks after comprehensive consultations with global bankers, financial managers and analysts. When selecting the banks, both objective factors, such as increasing the volume of assets, profitability, geographical extent of operations, strategic relationships, new business development and product innovation and subjective information, including opinions expressed by capital market experts, credit rating experts and banking and other advisers were considered.

Global Finance publisher, Joseph D. Gitapoto said that the banks were selected because of their superb achievements. “While global finance markets are difficult and the conditions in each market could be different, the winning banks are all commendable because of their commitment to providing solutions to customer requirements.”
The winning banks include:

US – J.P. Morgan Chase, Canada – RBC, Hong Kong – HSBC, Singapore – DBS, Japan – Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Holland – ING, Germany – Deutsche Bank, France – BNP Paribas, Italy – UniCredit and Switzerland – Credit Suisse.

Teva to Acquire Bentley Pharmaceuticals

Teva to Acquire Bentley Pharmaceuticals

Acquisition Will Provide Teva with a Strong Platform to Become a Leading Player in SpainJerusalem, Israel and Exeter, NH, March 31, 2008 - Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq: TEVA) and Bentley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: BNT) announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Teva will acquire Bentley.

The acquisition will take place following the spin-off of Bentley's drug delivery business to its shareholders, which Bentley announced on October 23, 2007. Teva will acquire Bentley, which at closing will consist solely of the generic pharmaceutical operations, for an aggregate cash purchase price of approximately $360 million. Shareholders of Bentley will receive approximately $15.02 per share in cash in the acquisition (which price is subject to potential adjustment, as described below), and also will receive shares of CPEX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. pursuant to the spin-off, which will occur before the acquisition. Bentley manufactures and markets a portfolio of approximately 130 pharmaceutical products in various dosages and strengths, as both branded generic and generic products, to physicians, pharmacists and hospitals. Bentley markets its products primarily in Spain, but also sells generic pharmaceuticals in other parts of the European Union. These efforts are supported by finished dosage and active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing facilities. Bentley's generic pharmaceutical operations generated revenues of approximately $114 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Commenting on today's transaction, Shlomo Yanai, Teva's President and Chief Executive Officer, said: "This is an important acquisition for Teva, as the combination of Teva Spain and Bentley will provide us with a platform to capture a leading position in the fast-growing Spanish generic pharmaceutical market. Spain was identified as one of our target markets in the strategic review we conducted last year. We are extremely pleased that we will have Bentley's strong management and work force, complementing our existing management team, to support our growth strategy."

For complete story.

Why Cultural Zionism

The evidence now indicates the following:

Based upon interviews( since 1973 ) of both Arab - Palestinians, and Israeli Students, and an American co - joined interviews of Jewish and Non-Jewish students at various institutions of higher education within Western, New York, and Ontario, Canada, I have established a working perception of the realities which exist within the Middle- East. It was from an article by Avramham Burg, The End of Zionism, republished in The Independent Media, Monday, September 15, 2003, from an article first publsihed in The Guardian, which got me going on this project.

Of course I wrote the only reaction, though sad'ly un-editied, to this, see www.indybay.org/news/2003/09/1646087_comment.php

Sad'der yet it was deleted. as of March 2, 2006, by the radical leftists who I discovered was herself Jewish.Moreover, and largely due to my other past associations with International Student/Scholars, agian within higher education of Western, New York, I have compared their experiences, and informaion reguarding Israel to the Arabs' and Israelis' interviews, especially from those who recieved their under graduate education in the Soviet Union. This comparison revealed a deeper and darker side. This under-lined the real danger in Mr. Avramham Burg's statements, and other similar articles within both the present media, and especially in the internet Independent Media it self. The follow through studies, as a result of all the interviews, which dicated the direction of research, as above proved to be shocking.Foremost discovery was a critical and alarming Judaic studies conducted by the Soviet Union on who or what are The Jewish Peoples', initiated by Joseph Stalin, who was to face a personal anxiety of acquiring a Jewish son - in - law, by his daughter's marriage, and further acknowledging in his eye his grandson is Jewish.

Later on, while Arab students were being educated in the Soviet Union, these Judaic studies were shared, and assisted in the early crafted development of the Soviet pedagogic alumni linkages to the infamous Anti - Zioinist Resolution.What these studies revealed is that in essence, there is a sort of collective vulnerability see more by clicking your mouse now and right here.

Moreover from the above link you can likewise give your own views of your own perceptions of what is cultural zionism.

Kidon.

The Israeli Economy Grows.

The Bank of Israel cuts the interest rate for April 2008 by 0.5 percentage points to 3.25 percent

The Bank of Israel announces that the interest rate for April 2008 will be reduced by 0.5 percentage points, to 3.25 percent. This step is taken in the context of the policy of maintaining price stability, in accordance with the inflation target of 1–3 percent a year.
Background conditions
Inflation data: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell by 0.2 percent in February, in line with earlier estimates, and rose by 3.6 percent in the last twelve months. The easing of energy prices in January and the appreciation of the shekel in the last few weeks acted to lower the February CPI, while the rise in food prices had the reverse effect. In the last twelve months the CPI excluding the energy and food components rose by only 0.9 percent.
Inflation and interest rate forecasts: Israeli forecasters expect, on average, that inflation in the next twelve months will be 2.7 percent, and that the interest rate for April will be cut by between a quarter of a percentage point and one percentage point; on average they expect a reduction of 0.5 percentage points in the interest rate. Inflation expectations for the next twelve months derived from the capital market rose from 2.4 percent in February to 2.7 percent in March. At the same time, expectations regarding the interest rate, derived from the capital market, are for a reduction in the next few months. Since the Bank’s different econometric models indicate differing scenarios, they received less than their usual weight in the discussions prior to this interest rate decision.
Real economic activity: The rapid rate of growth in Israel’s economy in the last few years continued and even strengthened in the last quarter of 2007, when GDP and business sector product increased by 6.1 percent and 7.7 percent respectively, in annual terms. Spearheading the growth in that quarter was the acceleration in exports and in investment. The composite state-of-the-economy index for February rose by 0.4 percent, indicating continued expansion, albeit at a lower rate than in 2007. Global economic developments, on the other hand, increase the probability of a lower rate of growth––less than 3.5 percent––in contrast to the rate of more than 5 percent recorded since the middle of 2003. The expected slowdown in Israel’s growth reflects the decline in exports and in private consumption expected to result from the slowdown in the global economy.
The labor market and wages: In the last quarter of 2007, unemployment fell to 6.7 percent in the last quarter of 2007, and the real wage and unit labor costs remained unchanged. The nominal wage rose by 2.9 percent in that quarter relative to the same quarter in 2006.
Budget policy: In February the domestic deficit totaled NIS 0.5 billion. Based on the seasonal path, the level hitherto is consistent with meeting the deficit target of up to 1.6 percent of GDP. Direct tax revenues fell by 12.1 percent compared with the corresponding period in 2007. The drop in direct tax revenues resulted mainly from unusually high non-recurring tax receipts at the beginning of 2007, and from the cuts in tax rates. Excluding the effect of these factors, tax revenues in the first two months of 2007 are higher than those expected in the budget forecast. The upward trend in revenue from indirect taxes continued.
The foreign exchange market: The strengthening of the shekel that started in mid-December 2007 continued, and in the period between the previous interest rate decision on 25 February and 23 March the shekel appreciated by 5.4 percent against the dollar, and by 1.5 percent against the euro. In the days immediately following the cut in the Bank of Israel interest rate for March 2008, the shekel weakened against those two currencies, but then strengthened again. Between March 10 and 12 it strengthened to an abnormal extent until the Bank’s intervention in the foreign exchange market on 13 and 14 March. Following that intervention, the shekel weakened against both the dollar and the euro. In that period most of the major currencies strengthened against the dollar, by up to 5 percent. Unlike in the previous month, the volatility of the shekel/dollar exchange rate declined this month. Trading in the foreign currency market stayed at about the same level as in the previous month––about $2.1 billion a day. On 20 March the Bank of Israel announced its intention to increase its foreign exchange reserves by about $10 billion by purchases of about $25 million a day on the market over the next two years.

The capital and money markets: Between the previous interest rate discussion on 25 February, and 23 March, the indices of the leading stock exchanges abroad recorded declines of up to 9 percent; the Tel Aviv 100 share price index fell by 8.6 percent. Yields on 10-year unindexed government bonds dropped again this month, to 5.63 percent, compared with 5.77 percent last month. The yield gap between these bonds and comparable US government bonds widened this month to 2.3 percentage points (compared with 1.9 percentage points last month). Israel's sovereign risk premium as measured by the five-year CDS premium continued to rise, and reached 0.9 percent, up from 0.8 percent prior to the previous interest rate decision. The CDS spread widened markedly also in the other emerging markets, and surpassed the levels prevailing at the start of the crisis.

The world economy: Macroeconomic data relating to the US economy indicate a significant deterioration, and expectations are for growth rates of less than one percent in both 2008 and 2009. At the same time commodity and energy prices continued rising steeply. The assessment by the Federal Reserve, however, is that the expected slowdown in the US will lead to a decline in inflation, so that its policy is essentially directed towards counteracting the economic slowdown and the liquidity crisis. At their last meeting, on 18 March, the Fed cut the interest rate by 0.75 percentage points to 2.25 percent, and the markets expect a further cut of about 0.5 percentage points in the next few months. The ECB, on the other hand, continues to regard inflation as the major risk, and it is therefore not expected to cut its interest rate. It should be noted that in contrast to the recent trend, most commodity and energy prices fell sharply in the last few days, and at the same time inflation expectations based on these prices also dropped. Since the beginning of March, the credit markets have deteriorated further.

The main considerations behind the decision

The decision to cut the interest rate for April by 0.5 percentage points is consistent with a return of inflation to within the target range of 1–3 percent inflation in the second half of the year.

The forces that served to moderate price increases last month––mainly the higher probability of a slowdown in the global economy and the strengthening of the shekel––continued to do so this month even more strongly. The increased intensity of these forces derives from the following:

1)
In light of the latest forecasts of a more severe slowdown in growth in the US and in the global economy, and hence of a slower expansion of world trade, the assessments of a slowdown in Israel’s growth rate––and its effect in moderating inflationary pressures, among other things by reducing both the demand for exports, mainly to the US, and domestic demand––have firmed.

2)
The degree of the strengthening of the shekel against other currencies since mid-December 2007 in itself acts to lower the pressures for price increases in the next few months, despite the weakening of the link between changes in the dollar exchange rate and the CPI.

3)
The global interest rate environment has fallen and is expected to continue to fall further. Thus a reduction in the Bank of Israel interest rate is required this month too due to the moderating effect on price rises in Israel of the interest rate differentials between Israel and abroad, via the strengthening of the shekel.

Subject to the reduction in inflationary pressures, as described above, and taking into consideration the Bank of Israel’s assessments that inflation will return to within the target range this year, the 0.5 percentage point cut in the interest rate is likely to support continued economic growth and employment.

The Bank of Israel will continue to monitor domestic and world economic developments closely with the intention of achieving the price stability target. Subject to this, the Bank will continue to support the attainment of a range of objectives of macroeconomic policy, in particular the encouragement of employment and growth. In addition, the Bank will continue to support the stability of the financial system.

Largest Book Fairs in France and Italy to Honor Israel

Nissan Ratzlav-Katz

In recognition of its 60th year of independence, the State of Israel will be the "guest of honor" at two of Europe's largest book fairs this year. Dozens of Israeli authors have been invited to France and Italy for the events. The two fairs, each of which regularly draws upwards of 200,000 people, will feature displays and activities about Hebrew literature and the culture of the Jewish State.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert are expected to open the five-day Paris Book Fair on March 14. According to organizers, 39 Israeli authors have been invited to France by the National Book Center and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The central Pavilion of Honor at the book festival is to be draped in the colors of Israel's national flag - blue and white. Within the pavilion, there will be debates, panel discussions, lectures, activities for youth, musical and theatrical performances, and film screenings. Of course, the fair will also feature a wide range of books for sale in French and Hebrew.

Recognition of Israel at the Paris Book Fair was long in coming. The State of Israel first offered itself and its Hebrew literature for consideration by the French organizers in 1998. After a decade of rejections, this year's decision was apparently reached both in recognition of Israeli literature, which has earned a positive global reputation, and in honor of Israel's 60th year.
Italy's largest book exhibition, the Turin International Book Fair, will also be honoring Israel this year. The event will open in the northern Italian city on May 8, which is the equivalent of the Hebrew date of Israel's Independence Day (Iyar 5).

In the promotional material for the fair, Israeli literature is described as having been received with "high favor" for many years. Specifically, the organizers cite four well-known Israeli novelists - David Grossman, Amos Oz, A. B. Yehoshua and Etgar Keret - for their contributions to contemporary culture. "But the cultural background of the country is obviously much more rich...." than any selection of its authors, they note.

"The 2008 fair will be an opportunity to get to know the culture of this country through historians, essayists, artists, musicians and scientists," according to the Turin Book Fair's promotional material. It will be "an opportunity for dialogue with the contribution of disparate voices to discuss and to focus on a possible model of coexistence."

During the fair, the Italian National Cinema Museum will be showing ten films about Israel and hosting musical performances of traditional klezmer music. "Do not miss events related to [Israeli] culinary traditions and kosher cuisine, its rituals and its symbols," the Turin Book Fair website concludes.

America's oldests Jewish residence.

The Mill House, located just off 9W, five miles north of Newburgh, NY, on the Hudson River, is the oldest house on the National Register of Historic Places in Orange County and the earliest surviving Jewish residence in North America. It has been continuously inhabited for more than 280 years.

It would indeed be difficult to find a landmark more richly intertwined with our complex history, or complex fate: site of an ancient Indian ceremonial ground; frontier trading post; earliest extant Jewish residence in North America; center of patriot activity in the American Revolution; home of writers and artists and men of affairs; the Mill House symbolizes and sums up our regional and national history. It is a most dramatic and absolutely irreplaceable incarnation of American history.

In 1714 Luis Moses Gomez, who had fled from the Spanish inquisition, purchased 6,000 acres of land along the Hudson Highlands where several Indian trails converged. Here he built a fieldstone block house into the side of a hill and by a stream that became known as Jews Creek.
The great walls of the house which are about three feet thick still stand today. Native Americans came to hold ceremonial rites at their campground at the Duyfils Danskammer (Devils Dance Chamber) on the shores of the Hudson on Gomezs property. For some thirty years Luis Gomez and his sons conducted a thriving fur trade from the fortress like house. Luis Moses Gomez became the first parnas (president) when the synagogue of New Yorks Spanish and Portuguese congregation was built. Among the family connections were poetess Emma Lazarus and Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo.

Before the Revolutionary War, Mill House was purchased Wolfert Acker, a Dutch-American who added a second storey and attic to Mill House with bricks made from clay found nearby. Acker served as a lieutenant in the New Marlborough Company of Minute Men and chairman of the Committee of Safety while General Washingtons army was camped close by in Newburgh. The house became a center for meetings of the new American patriots. After the war, Acker established a landing on the Hudson with a ferry to cross the river and a packet line to carry freight.

In the 19th century, gentleman farmer and William Henry Armstrong with his family made Mill House their home for five decades. They added the kitchen wing and walls to the property. At the Danskammer, painter, statesman and brother D. Maitland Armstrong lived.
The most famous owner in the 20th century was Dard Hunter, renowned craftsman and paper maker who, just before World War I, built a paper mill on the creek in the shape of a Devonshire cottage complete with a thatched roof. Students from all over the world came to learn from him as he made paper by hand, cut and cast type and handprinted his own books. The Gomez Foundation for Mill House has restored Hunters Mill and completed in 1997 the mill dam and bridge.

After World War II, the Starin family purchased the house with a G.I. loan. They raised their children here while Mildred Starin enriched the house, furnishings and garden and placed the site on the National Register.